Church Innovations and Growth: Books That Have Shaped Leadership Network, Part 3

Who are the conceptual thinkers that have helped shape Leadership Network's unique approach of moving from ideas to implementation to impact? Since our founding in 1984 we have become the nation’s leading catalyst for connecting innovative church leaders. Our primary conceptual pioneers are Peter Drucker, Everett Rogers, and Lyle Schaller.

Leadership Network's CEO, Dave Travis (pictured right), recently presented a list that he describes as some of the key titles that have shaped, and will continue to shape, our work with our clients (church leaders we serve, also known as innovation partners).

In the last few days we shared Part 1 and Part 2 of this list. Over the next two days we will share two more parts of this list with you (with subsequent issues here: Part 4, and Part 5). We hope you can benefit from this list personally, while also getting a deeper look at the heart and soul of Leadership Network.

Part 3: Church Innovations and Growth                                                                                  

• Effective Church Leadership – Kennon Callahan
  The theories in this book have proven prescient over time. Some of his thinking applies only to mainline churches. Especially dig into the first half of the book on Missionary Outposts and how Life and Leadership are related.

• Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code – Sam Chand
  This book is a fundamental reading to understand the impact the culture has on the church.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).

• Church Unique – Will Mancini
  This one was the natural extension of the mission, vision trends of the previous generation.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).

                      

• The Present Future – Reggie McNeal
  The questions and understandings Reggie articulates are yet to be worked through but the book continues to have great resonance.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).

• Simple Church – Thom Ranier and Eric Geiger
  This work emphasizes stripping out every program that doesn’t work. Still very much influencing the churches we serve.
   
• The Multisite Church Revolution – Geoff Surratt, Greg Ligon and Warren Bird
  The foundational work in the field, still popular, still relevant.
  Part of Leadership Network Innovation Series (Zondervan).
   
• The Externally Focused Church – Rick Rusaw and Eric Swanson
  A good primer to the field. Honorable mention to Church Without Walls by Laurie Beshore.
   
• Missional Renaissance – Reggie McNeal
  It's a good description of an important landscape.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).

                      

• Contagious Generosity – Chris Willard and Jim Sheppard
  The key work on generous churches.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• Viral Churches – Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird
  A great combination of research and stories about church planting. Essential for anyone interested in developing a church planting network or a church multiplication movement.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• Better Together – Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird
  A spinoff in many ways of the multisite books but focusing on church mergers. Unique in how it focuses on those merger models that work, very practical in how to walk through a merger.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• Building a Healthy Multi-Ethnic Church – Mark DeYmaz
  Mark is a strong and passionate writer on this important issue. There are a few follow ons as well by Mark and others.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• Church 3.0 – Neil Cole
  I wanted to pick one of Neil’s books because I feel the simple/house/micro movements are having a significant impact. I think this one applies well across some other contexts.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• What’s Next – Dave Travis
  Not to be self-serving but you can read this in an hour and catch some of the things we are addressing in a brief format. It highlights 20 years of trends we've watched and anticipate in large and growing churches.
   
• Beyond Megachurch Myths – Scott Thumma and Dave Travis
  It's still the best research based book about very large churches, a core element of our client base.
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).
   
• To Transform a City – Eric Swanson and Sam Williams
  This is an area that we have helped along at various points.
   
• Baby Boomers and Beyond – Amy Hanson
  Ministry to and with aging boomers. Best church-focused book on this demographic
  Part of Leadership Network Publications (Jossey-Bass).