The face of America is growing rapidly more diverse, and many churches are wondering what it means to carry out the Great Commission in a community where different ethnicities are represented. Being the Church in a Multi-Ethnic Community is an introductory guide, a basic primer for pastors and congregation leaders who are wrestling with how to reach the ethnic groups next door and welcome them into the multi-ethnic body of Christ. Gary L. McIntosh and Alan McMahan offer a research-based overview of the issues, challenges, and essential principles for developing multi-ethnic churches in the United States.

All churches like to think that theirs is the friendliest in town. But do visitors see it that way? Church consultant Gary McIntosh invites readers to take a look at their church through the eyes of visitors and potential visitors. His starting point, grounded in an understanding of God as a “welcomer,” is that churches should see those who enter their doors as not merely visitors, but as guests, and themselves as gracious hosts. This practical book offers sound advice on assessing and improving the ways in which churches attract people, welcome them, do follow-up, and bring them into the church family. It also offers suggestions for making a welcoming attitude part of the very fabric of the local church.

Is your church performing at its highest level? Just as a physically healthy person might not actually be fit enough to run a 5K, so churches can appear healthy–with no obvious issues, maintaining a healthy size–but not exhibit fitness. A fit church is one that is not satisfied with merely coasting along with no problems. A fit church is actively making disciples, maturing in faith, developing strong leaders, reaching out to the community, and more. Building the Body unveils the twelve characteristics of fit churches and shows pastors and church leaders how to move their church through five levels of fitness, from beginner all the way to elite.

The expertise of veteran church consultant and best-selling author Gary McIntosh is now available in an easily portable format. McIntosh offers readers his invaluable insights on the church in order to help leaders make their churches more effective. It’s just like hiring your own church consultant, but at a fraction of the cost. This at-a-glance practical guidebook helps pastors and church leaders with a wide variety of issues. Short, to-the point chapters examine trends and ministry methods that can be easily adapted to fit every church’s needs.

Church leaders are frustrated! Larger churches are bogged down by the weight of their own organizations, and smaller churches struggle with an inability to get things moving. Medium-sized churches tend to get tangled up in their programming. Pastors and church leaders across the country are in the same plight. As a result, their churches stagnate. Veteran leadership expert Gary L. McIntosh provides help to leaders of churches, regardless of size, who struggle to create workable plans to move their congregations forward. This book identifies the best practices on how to assess the unique identity of a church and design a plan for its future. This book is a primer for church leaders who desire to lead their churches in practical planning that does not become so complicated nothing gets done.

Pastors are quitting! Some leave for what they hope will be greener pastures in another church. Evidence suggests pastors are moving or dropping out at an increasing rate. The authors have researched over 60 ex-pastors and their churches to discover some of the causes of this crisis in pastoral leadership. Topics include: burnout, professional isolation, inadequate education, unrealistic expectations, resistance to change, poor pastoral accountability, tight finances, personal loneliness, and spiritual warfare. Each chapter concludes with helpful and practical suggestions on what you can do to help your pastor have a longer and more fruitful ministry in your church.

The challenge facing today’s church is simultaneous and effective ministry to people of four widely divergent generations. More than at any time in history, pastors must plan programs that will appeal to a mosaic of groups and subgroups. This updated edition of Three Generations: Riding the Waves of Change in Your Church adds an entirely new section on Bridgers, the youngest generation and perhaps the most difficult one to reach for Christ. Characteristics, interests, and values of each group–Builders, Boomers, Busters, and Bridgers–are explored in relation to the historical events and social trends that have shaped them. McIntosh thoughtfully analyzes the factors that influence each generation’s relationship to the church, and he gives helpful suggestions for types of ministry and worship styles to draw members of that group.