Leading a church brings lots of challenges – but when the church is growing, the challenges grow too. Leadership strategies and decisions can make or break the healthy development of the congregation’s life and ministry – wisdom and grace are in big demand!

Steve Tibbert, senior pastor of a large and growing church in London, reflects on the lessons he has learned over fifteen years in church leadership.

With an easy-to-read and witty account of his experiences, Steve offers tips, principles and cautionary tales that will help anyone starting out on church leadership to take their church on a successful journey of growth, maturity and fruitfulness – and maybe dodge some painful pitfalls on the way.

This is a lucid account of the function of the Spirit in the growth of the church. Through the history of God's people the constant element has been the presence of the Almighty. The baptism in the Holy Spirit, which so galvanized the young church, equipped and empowered the believers, boosting courage, fostering fluency and granting insights to ordinary men and women. Terry Virgo was baptized in the Holy Spirit as a young believer, and delighted in the experience. 'As we began to welcome the presence of the Holy Spirit, our church life was transformed', he explains. 'The presence of the Holy Spirit changed everything'. As the Spirit moves, so there are healings, often dramatic. But there is more: a discovery of God's grace. As people discover grace for themselves a far more profound healing takes place, leading first to worship, then a recognition that we are a prophetic people.

One of the sad factors of church life is that many pastors are lonely. Although some pride themselves on their independence, many long for accountable relationships. In particular, their heart cry is for a fathering style of relationship, where they can be cared for pastorally, as well as mentored in the development of gifts and practical skills for their ministry.

Sadly there are few ‘fathers’ in ministry. But in the New Testament, one of the ways in which an apostle served churches was as a father or older brother. Giving wise counsel with relationship, the apostles carried a sense of responsibility in prayer and care for the churches that they had planted. It is in this ‘fathering’ context, that David Devenish contends that the role of the apostle needs to be restored.

This groundbreaking book will help equip emerging apostles and encourage them to develop their gifting in planting churches, reaching previously un-reached people groups and transforming culture in cities and nations, whilst still maintaining the biblical emphasis on family relationships, particularly the continuing need for fathers.

Conjoined twins dilemma...
Suicide of terminally ill patient...
Designer baby transplant success...
Woman gives birth at sixty-six...
Rarely are human dilemmas out of the news. And what medical science can do and ought to do - or ought not to do - impinges on our personal lives, families and societies.

John Wyatt examines the issues surrounding the beginning and end of life against the background of current medical-ethical thought. Writing out of a deep conviction that the Bible's view of our humanness points a way forward, he suggests how Christian healthcare professionals, churches and individuals can respond to today's challenges and opportunities.