Book Review

I recently read Transforming Church in Rural America by Shannon O'Dell in order to review it for Thomas Nelson Publishers.

From the Publisher:



Without meaningful change, thousands of rural churches won’t survive the next decade. *A vital guide for every deacon, elder, and pastor wanting to bring their rural church back to the business of changing lives *No-cost solutions for staffing challenges, upgrading the worship, and generating teams of volunteers *Innovative strategies for growth through transformed lives, relevance in meeting needs, and creating active evangelism in your community

If you aren’t transforming lives, then the church has no impact. Pastor Shannon O’Dell reveals the need for relevancy and shares a powerful mission for rural churches in reaching the unchurched and lost in their communities. Now, learn the strategies and biblical guidance that turned a church of 30 into a multi-campus church of several thousand with a national and global outreach. Experience the blueprint for transforming into effective, dynamic, and thriving churches which give God the very best!

Learn to add VALUE to your ministry goals: Vision, Attitude, Leadership, Understanding, and Excellence. Discover how your marriage reflects the state of your faith and your relationship with God.

My thoughts:

Shannon O'Dell was called to pastor a small church in a small town in Arkansas. This book is part of the story of the growth of that church.

I am sure that there is probably something in this book that a pastor of a small rural church could implement. However, honestly, the book read as more of a "this is the way it should be done" manual. Coming from a small church in a small rural Arkansas town, there were some bits of "humor" that were offensive.

What came through loud and clear, for me, was that church numbers and growth were very important--almost too much so. I know that growth for a church is important but I really believe that something of great importance (like preaching and teaching of the gospel) may be overlooked when a higher number on the membership roll is the primary goal.

**Thanks to Thomas Nelson Publishers for sending this book to me for review.**