Church Growth and Health
Recommended Reading for Ministry Developers
Resources recommended as starting places in the various areas are marked with an asterisk (*).
Ahlen, J. Timothy, and J. V. Thomas. One Church, Many Congregations: The Key Church
Strategy. Abingdon Press, 1999.
Arn, Win. The Church Growth Ratio Book. Pasadena: Church Growth, 1987.
Arn, Win. The Pastor's Church Growth Handbook. Church Growth Press, 1979.
Arn, Win. The Pastor's Church Growth Handbook. Vol. II. Church Growth Press, 1982.
Barna, George. The Frog in the Kettle: What Christians Need to Know about Life in the Year
2000. Ventura: Regal Books, 1990.
Barna, George. Turn-around Churches: How to Overcome Barriers to Growth and Bring New Life to an Established Church. Regal Books, 1993.
Bontrager, G. Edwin, and Nathan D. Showalter.It Can Happen Today! Principles of Church
Growth from the Book of Acts. Herald Press,1986.
Callahan, Kennon L. Building for Effective Mission: A Complete Guide for Congregations on Brick and Morter Issues. Jossey-Bass, 1997.
Clegg, Tom, and Warren Bird.Lost in America: How You and Your Church Can Impact the World Next Door.Group Publishing, 2001.
Conn, Harvie M., ed. Theological Perspectives of Church Growth. Presbyterian and Reformed, 1976.
Dempsey, Ron D. Faith Outside the Walls: Why People Don't Come and Why the Church Must Listen. Smyth & Helwys Publishing, Inc., 1997.
Dever, Mark. Nine Marks of a Healthy Church.Crossway Books, 2004.
Dever, Mark and Paul Alexander.The Deliberate Church: Building Your Ministry on the Gospel. Crossway Books, 2005.
Drummond, Lewis. Ripe for Harvest: The Role of Spiritual Awakening in Church Growth. Broadman & Holman, 2001.
George, Carl F. How to Break Growth Barriers: Capturing Overlooked Opportunities for Church Growth. Baker Books, 1993.
Gibbs, Eddie. I Believe in Church Growth. Eerdmans, 1982.
Hilliard, Donald, Jr., Church Growth from an African-American Perspective. Judson
Press, 2006.
Horton, Michael Scott, ed. Power Religion: The Selling Out of the Evangelical Church? Moody Press, 1992.
Hudnut, Robert K. Church Growth Is Not the Point. Harper & Row, 1975.
Hull, Bill. The Disciple-Making Pastor.2 nd ed. Fleming H. Revell, 2000.
Hull, Bill. The Disciple-making Church. Fleming H. Revell, 1998.
Hunter, George G., III. Church for the Unchurched: The Rebirth of "Apostolic Congregations" Across the American Mission Field. Abingdon Press, 1996.
Hunter, Kent R. Foundations for Church Growth. Leader Publishing Co., 1983.
Hunter, Kent R. Your Church Has Personality: Find Your Focus—Maximize Your Mission. Fairway Press, 1997.
Hybels, Lynne, and Bill Hybels.Rediscovering Church: The Story and Vision of Willow Creek
Community Church. Zondervan, 1995.
Kelley, Dean M. Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. Rev. ed. Mercer University, 1986.
Kimball, Dan. They Like Jesus But Not the Church: Insights from Emerging Generations. Zondervan, 2007.
Logan, Robert E. Beyond Church Growth: Action Plans for Developing a Dynamic Church. Fleming H. Revell, 1989.
Mann, Alice. The In-Between Church: Navigating Size Transitions in Congregations.
The Alban Institute, 1998.
McGavran, Donald A. The Bridges of God. Rev. ed. Friendship Press, 1981.
McGavran, Donald A. How Churches Grow. Friendship Press, 1966.
*McGavran, Donald A. Understanding Church Growth. 3rd ed. Revised by C. Peter Wagner. Eerdmans, 1990.
*McGavran, Donald A. Effective Evangelism: A Theological Mandate. Presbyterian and Reformed Publishing Co., 1988.
McGavran, Donald A., and Win Arn.How to Grow a Church. Regal Books, 1973.
McGavran, Donald A., and George G. Hunter, III.Church Growth: Strategies That Work. Abingdon Press, 1980.
McIntosh, Gary. Make Room for the Boom . . . or Bust: Six Church Models for Reaching Three Generations. Fleming H. Revell, 1997.
*McIntosh, Gary.One Size Doesn't Fit All: Bringing Out the Best in Any Size Church.Fleming H. Revell, 1999.
McIntosh, Gary.Three Generations: Riding the Waves of Change in Your Church. Fleming H. Revell, 1995.
*McIntosh, Gary, ed. Evaluating the Church Growth Movement: Five Views. Zondervan, 2004.
McIntosh, Gary L., Biblical Church Growth: How You Can Work with God to Build a
Faithful Church.Baker, 2003.
McQuilkin, J. Robertson. Measuring the Church Growth Movement: How Biblical Is It?Moody
Press, 1974.
Mims, Gene. The Kingdom Focused Church. Broadman and Holman Publishers, 2003.
Osborn, Larry. Sticky Church.Zondervan, 2008.
Patzia, Arthur G. The Emergence of the Church: Context, Growth, Leadership & Worship. Inter-varsity Press, 2001.
Payne, Claude E., and Hamilton Beazley. Reclaiming the Great Commission: A Practical Model for Transforming Denominations and Congregations.Jossey-Bass, 2000.
*Peters, George W. A Theology of Church Growth.Zondervan, 1981.
Poe, Harry L. The Gospel and Its Meaning: A Theology for Evangelism and Church Growth. Zondervan, 1996.
Rainer, Thom S. The Bridger Generation. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1997.
Rainer, Thom S. The Book of Church Growth: History, Theology, and Principles. Broadman Press, 1993.
Rainer, Thom S. Effective Evangelistic Churches: Successful Churches Reveal What Works, and What Doesn't. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1996.
Rainer, Thom S.High Expectations: The Remarkable Secret of Keeping People in Your Church. Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.
Schwarz, Christian A. Natural Church Development: A Guide to Eight Essential Qualities of Healthy Churches. ChurchSmart Resources, 2000.
Stanley, Andy, and Ed Young.Can We Do That?: 24 Innovative Practices That Will Change the Way You Do Church. Howard Publishing Co., 2002.
Stetzer, Ed and David Putman.Breaking the Missional Code: When Churches Become Missionaries in Their Community. B & H, 2006.
Stetzer, Ed and Mike Dodson.Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can Too. B & H Publishing, 2007.
Stetzer, Ed. Planting New Testament Churches in a Post-Modern Age.BroadmanHolman, 2003.
Stewart, Carlyle Fielding. African American Church Growth: 12 Principles of Prophetic Ministry. Abingdon Press, 1994.
Sullivan, Bill.New Perspectives on Breaking the 200 Barrier.Beacon Hill Press, 2005.
Tippett, Alan R. Church Growth and the Word of God: The Biblical Basis of the Church Growth Viewpoint. Eerdmans, 1973.
Towns, Elmer. Ten of Today's Most Innovative Churches.Regal Books, 1990.
Towns, Elmer. Ten Sunday Schools that Dared to Change: How Churches Are Changing Paradigms to Reach a New Generation. Regal Books, 1993.
Towns, Elmer L., C. Peter Wagner, and Thom S. Rainer.Everychurch Guide to Growth.
B& H Publishing, 1998.
Towns, Elmer L., ed. Evangelism and Church Growth: A Practical Encyclopedia.
Regal Books, 1995.
Wagner, C. Peter. The Acts of the Holy Spirit Series: A New Look at Acts—God's Training manual for Every Christian. Vols. I-III, Regal Books, 1994-1995.
Wagner, C. Peter. Church Growth and the Whole Gospel: A Biblical Mandate. Harper & Row, 1981.
*Wagner, C. Peter. Leading Your Church to Growth.Regal Books, 1984.
*Wagner, C. Peter. Strategies for Church Growth: Tools for Effective Mission and Evangelism. Ventura: Regal Books, 1987.
Wagner, C. Peter. The Healthy Church. Regal Books, 1996.
Wagner, C. Peter. Your Church Can Grow: Seven Vital Signs of a Healthy Church. Regal Books, 1976.
Wagner, C. Peter. Your Spiritual Gifts Can Help Your Church Grow. Regal Books, 1979.
Wagner, C. Peter. Church Growth: State of the Art. Tyndale House Publishers, 1986.
Warren, Rick. The Purpose Driven Church: Growth without Compromising Your Message and Mission. Zondervan, 1995.