Spiritual Dynamics Bookshelf: An Annotated Bibliography (FASTEN, 2007) Resource Type: brief annotated bibliography Audience: Church and ministry leaders wanting an introduction to some key books regarding the spiritual dynamics of church-based transformational community ministry ********************************** · Making Room for Life, Randy Frazee (Zondervan, 2004) Although the book is not specifically about transformational community ministry, it is important for church leaders in terms of encouraging their congregants towards more Biblical lifestyles that eschew the culture’s frenetic pace. Frazee looks at the sources of Christian hyper-busyness and confronts popular notions about parenting and family that have created families that don’t fellowship or eat together, but are always on the run to productive and “constructive” activities. Churches whose parishioners can learn to get control of their schedules and set a more Biblical pace of life will be better positioned to be available for the kind of intentional, relational approach to ministry on which effective community impact is grounded.
· Revolution of Character: Discovering Christ’s Pattern for Spiritual Transformation, Don Simpson and Dallas Willard (NavPress, 2005) This book is essentially a popular paraphrasing of Dallas Willard’s classic (but heady) tome, Renovation of the Heart. It makes Willard’s theology more accessible to the average lay reader. It lays out a clear path for spiritual transformation. Again, this book is not specifically about transformational community ministry, but one that can help Christians develop the mindset, disciplines, and worldview that can undergird their personal involvement in missional churches eager to serve God by serving their communities. · Saving Souls, Serving Society: Understanding the Faith Factor in Church-Based Social Ministry, Heidi Rolland Unruh and Ronald Sider. (Oxford, 2005). www.oup.com/us. $35 Unruh and Sider provide in this book a fairly advanced study of church-based social ministries, especially the role faith plays in these ministries. They give case studies of 15 Philadelphia-area examples and then cover the topic more broadly. They discuss the different ways faith can influence a ministry, the different manifestations of faith in ministry, and the different relationships that can exist between evangelism and social action within ministries. The book ends with some compelling arguments for the effectiveness of faith in social ministry as well as some issues that warrant further study in this field.
· The Leader’s Journey: Accepting the Call to Personal and Congregational Transformation, Jim Herrington, R. Robert Creech, and Trisha Taylor. Jossey-Bass, 2003. www.josseybass.com. $23.95 Part of the Leadership Network series, this book guides pastors and ministry leaders to become more effective and Christ-centered with a blend of Scriptural principles, psychological insight and real-life stories. The authors describe the “living system” dynamics at work in pastor’s personal and professional lives, including practical advice on calming anxiety and growing in emotional maturity. Readers are then led to explore their own family patterns that play a part in their lives. The final chapters describe the role that spiritual disciplines and the community of faith play in a leader’s transformation. Each chapter includes self-assessment questions to help readers apply the concepts and practices into their own lives and congregations. | 
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