Vital Church Resources

Healthy Practices

Church Wellness: A Best Practices Guide to Nurturing Healthy Congregations by Tom Ehrich (2008, Church Publishing)

The Emotionally Healthy Church by Pete Scazzero (2003, Zondervan)

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations by Robert Schnase (2007, Abingdon)

Growth by Accident, Death by Planning: How NOT to Kill a Growing Congregation by Bob Whitesel (2004, Abingdon)

Intentional Ministry in a Not-So-Mega Church: Becoming a Missional Community by Dennis Bickers (2009, Beacon Hill)

It: How Churches and Leaders Can Get It and Keep It by Craig Groeschel (2008, Zondervan)

Nine Marks of a Healthy Church by Mark Dever (2004, Crossway)

The Power of a Praying Church: Experiencing God Move As We Pray Together by Stormie Omartian and Jack Hayford (2009, Harvest House)

Seven Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley, Lane Jones and Reggie Joiner (2004, Multnomah)

Simple Church: Returning to God’s Process for Making Disciples by Thom S. Rainer & Eric Geiger (2006, B&H)

So Beautiful: Divine Design for Life and the Church by Leonard Sweet (2009, David C. Cook)

Sticky Church by Larry Osborne (2008, Zondervan)

Together in Prayer: Coming to God in Community by Andrew R. Wheeler (2009, IVP Connect)

Vintage Church: Timeless Truths and Timely Methods by Mark Driscoll and Gerry Breshears (2009, Crossway)

What Is a Healthy Church Member? by Thabiti Anyabwile (2008, Crossway)

What Is Your Church’s Personality? Discovering and Developing the Ministry Style of Your Church by Philip D. Douglass (2008, P&R)

Evangel Church: Never Stop Serving

Last year, Evangel started a church two hours away inside the largest women’s prison in New York. A pastor and a team go every Thursday to share a message, preach and lead worship for the prisoners.

Angulus Wilson: Evangelism Is the Heart of God

When the church taps into the mission and the heart of God, she gets mobilized, she can get revived. We can see growth and new initiative.

David Kinnaman: Start the Conversation

Church leaders must recognize that what feels hidden is actually hurting people, and that discipleship includes helping people break free from destructive patterns.