June 18-22m 2007 Lynchburg, Virginia Dr. Elmer L. Towns
21st CENTURY METHODS FOR THE REVITALIZATION
OF THE CHURCH
Course Description:
A biblical and sociological investigation of the nature and mission of the church in light of current trends and needs. An evaluation of emerging forms of ministry will be made. The student will evaluate his present ministry and its potential for future development.
Required Texts:
Towns, Elmer L. and Stetzer, Ed, Perimeters of Light, Moody Press
Towns, Elmer; Stetzer, Ed; Bird, Warren, 11 Innovations in the Local Church, Regal Books
Towns, Elmer L., 21st Century Tools and Techniques (worktext), Thomson Learning
Pre-Course Assignments:
1. Read required text: 11 Innovations in the Local Church by Elmer Towns, Ed Stetzer, Warren Bird, Regal Books, 2007, and Perimeters of Light by Elmer Towns, Warren Bird, Moody Press, 2006.
2. Make a list of ten major leadership problems facing the growing church.
3. There are 11 chapters in 11 Innovations in the Local Church. Write a summary paragraph on each chapter. You may be asked to present an oral summary in class of one chapter from this book.
4. Listen to 5 audio files on church innovations. You may choose from the attached list. These will count toward your total reading page requirements. Each file is equivalent to 50 pages towards your reading assignment.
Post Course Assignments:
1. Read a total of 2,500 pages. (One audiotape equals 50 pages of reading.)
Fill out a reading report form (attached) on each different book or tape.
The pre-session assignments count toward the total assignment.
2. Write an evaluation/assignment on your local church. Answer the following
questions in your paper, using the statistics of your church in the answer.
a. What are the side doors into your church?
b. What is the style of worship in your church?
c. What are the barriers to growth in your church?
d. What is your type of pastoral leadership?
e. What are the greatest needs in your church?
f. Make a list of goals (input & output) for the coming church year.
3. Daily quizzes over the material covered in class (includes both lectures
and films).
Students with a documented disability may contact the Office of Disability Academic Support (ODAS) in TE 127 for arrangements for academic accommodations."
READING/FILE REPORT NAME ______
EVAN 851 DATE ______
Dr. Elmer Towns DUE DATE ______
GRADE ______
Course Title and Number
Professor Date of Course
Book (author, title, place, publisher, date, # of pages)
Library Number:
One paragraph summary of book/audio file
List strengths of book/audio file
List weaknesses of book/audio file
Quote sentence or paragraph that best reflects the author's thesis:
Why have you chosen the above quotation?
AUDIO FILES FOR EVAN 851
$2.00 Each
Place a check by each file. Please note that some files have more than one file to their title. Each file is equivalent to 50 pages toward your reading assignment.
MAXWELL, DR. JOHN
___ Building an Effective Team ____ Traits That Will Take You to the Top
___ Growth = Change ____ Leadership Expectations
___ How to Spot a Leader ____ The Portrait of a Leader
___ Keeping Stress From Becoming Distress ____ The Leadership Philosophy of Colin Powell
___ The Greatest Management Principle In The World ____ Dare to Dream . . . Then Do It!
___ Principles of Handling Problems ____ How to Regain Lost Momentum
___ Habits Of Highly Successful People ____ How to Get Things Done
___ How to Grow a Leader ____ Listening To Leaders
___ Leadership Styles - Strengths and Weaknesses ____ Pastor’s Prayer Partners (6 FILES)
___ 7 Habits of Highly Defective People
___ The Leadership Test – Part 1
___ The Leadership Test – Part 2
TOWNS, ELMER
___ How To Reach The Baby Boomers - A 5 Hour Seminar Reduced To 90 Minutes -- 50 Pages.
___ How To Reach Baby Busters -- 50 Pages
____ Baumgartner, Erich – Leading Out Of the Box: Why It Is Important
____ Bolger, Ryan – Transitions in Church Growth: Towards a Postmodern Church Growth Paradigm
____ Breen, Mike – Building a Dynamic Church During A Cultural Earthquake
____ Corniskey, Joel – The Church Comes Home: Cell Church Principles For A Post Christian Culture
____ Sares, Mike – Becoming Scum: Proclaiming Jesus to a Post-Christian Generation
____ Stetzer, Ed – How Far Out Of the Box? A Look at The Biblical Prescriptions Of Church And Their Application Through Innovative Methods
____ Towns, Elmer – The Faith-Journey Churches: Lessons From Innovative Churches
____Whitesel, Bob – Organic Change: 12 Emerging Communities of Missional Theologians
QUANTITY ______TOTAL: ______
($3.00 shipping/handling ______FOR MAIL ORDERS ONLY) (Foreign country requests add $8.00 shipping charges)
PLEASE CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ELMER TOWNS AT 434-582-2169
FOR PAYMENT INFORMATION AND TO ORDER FILES
NAME: ______
ADDRESS: ______
CITY ______STATE ______ZIP ______
PHONE ______
EMAIL ______
CONTEMPORARY EVANGELISM & CHURCH GROWTH
READING LIST
DR. ELMER TOWNS
Allen, Roland. Essential Missionary Principles. New York: Revell, 1913.
Amberson, Talmadge, ed. The Birth of Churches: A Biblical Basis for Church Planting. Nashville: Broadman, 1979.
Anderson, Andy with Linda Lawson. Effective Methods of Church Growth. Nashville: Broadman, 1985.
Anderson, Leith. Dying for Change. Minneapolis: Bethany, 1990.
Annan Nelson. More People! Is Church Growth Worth It? Wheaton: Harold Shaw, 1987.
Appleby, Jerry. Missions Have Come Home To America. Kansas City: Beacon Hill, 1986.
Arn, Win. Church Growth Ratio Book. Pasadena: Church Growth, 1979.
Arn, Win, ed. The Pastor's Church Growth Handbook. Pasadena: Church Growth, 1979.
Arn, Win, ed. The Pastor's Church Growth Handbook Volume II. Pasadena: Church Growth, 1982.
Arn, Win, and Charles Arn. The Master's Plan for Making Disciples. Pasadena: Church Growth, 1979.
Arn, Win, and Donald McGavran. Back to Basics in Church Growth. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1981.
Arn, Win, Carol Nyquist, and Charles Arn. Who Cares About Love? Pasadena: Church Growth, 1986.
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1992.
Barna, George. Marketing the Church. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1988.
Barna, George. The Frog in the Kettle. Ventura: Regal, 1990.
Barna, George. The Power of Vision. Ventura: Regal, 1992.
Barna, George. User Friendly Churches. Ventura: Regal, 1991.
Barna, George. What Americans Believe. Ventura: Regal, 1991.
Barna, George. Without a Vision, the People Perish. Glendale: Barna Research, 1991.
Bartel, Floyd. A New Look at Church Growth. Newton: Faith and Life, 1979.
Bassham, Rodger. Mission Theology: 1948-1975, Years of Worldwide Creative Tension: Ecumenical, Evangelical, and Roman Catholic. Pasadena: William Carey, 1979.
Beasley-Murray, Paul and Alan Wilkinson. Turning the Tide: An Assessment of Baptist Church Growth in England. Swindon, England: British Bible, 1981.
Belew, M. Wendell. Churches and How They Grow. Nashville: Broadman, 1971.
Benjamin, Paul. The Growing Congregation. Lincoln: Lincoln Christian College, 1972.
Bontrager, Edwin and Nathan Showalter. It Can Happen Today! Principles of Church Growth from the Book of Acts. Scottdale: Herald, 1986.
Brock, Charles. The Principles and Practices of Indigenous Church Planting. Nashville: Broadman, 1981.
Brown, Jr., J. Truman, ed. Visionary Leadership for Church Growth. Nashville: Convention, 1991.
Brown, Lowell. Grow: Your Sunday School Can Grow. Glendale: Regal, 1974.
Callahan, Kennon. Twelve Keys to an Effective Church. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1977.
Chandler, Russell. The Kennedy Explosion. Elgin, III., David C. Cook, 1972.
Chandler, Russell. Racing Toward 2001: The Forces Shaping America's Religious Future. Grand Rapids: Zondervan and Harper, 1992.
Chaney, Charles L. and Ron S. Lewis. Design for Church Growth. Nashville: Broadman, 1977.
Cho, Paul. More Than Numbers. Waco: Word, 1984.
Clemmons, William and Harvey Hester. Growth Through Groups. Nashville: Broadman, 1974.
Conn, Harvie. Theological Perspectives of Church Growth. Nutley: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1976.
Cook, Harold. Historic Patterns of Church Growth. Chicago: Moody, 1971.
Costas, Orlando. The Church and Its Mission: A Shattering Critique from the Third World. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1974.
Crawford, Dan. Church Growth Words From the Risen Lord. Nashville: Broadman, 1990.
Dale, Robert. To Dream Again. Nashville: Broadman, 1981.
Dodd, C.H. The Apostolic Preaching and Its Developments. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.
Drummond, Lewis. The Awakening That Must Come. Nashville: Broadman, 1978.
DuBose, Francis. How Churches Grow in an urban World. Nashville: Broadman, 1978.
Dudley, Carl S. Where Have All Our People Gone? New York: Pilgrim, 1979.
Dudley, Carl S. Making the Small Church Effective. Nashville: Abingdon, 1978.
Dudley, Roger L. and Des Cummings, Jr. Adventures in Church Growth. Washington, D.C.: Review and Herald, 1983.
Easum, William. The Church Growth Handbook. Nashville: Abingdon, 1990.
Elliot, Ralph. Church Growth That Counts. Valley Forge: Judson, 1982.
Ellis, Joe. The Church on Target: Achieving Your Congregations' Highest Potential. Cincinnati: Standard, 1986.
Engel, James F. and Wilbert H. Norton. What's Gone Wrong with the Harvest? A Communication Strategy for the Church and World Evangelism. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1975.
Exman, Gary W. Get Ready...Get Set...Grow! Church Growth for Town and Country Congregations. Lima: CSS, 1987.
Faircloth, Samuel D. Church Planting for Reproduction. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1991.
Falwell, Jerry and Elmer Towns. Church Aflame. Nashville: Impact Books, 1971.
Falwell, Jerry and Elmer Towns. Stepping Out On Faith. Wheaton: Tyndale, 1984.
Fickett, Harold. Hope for Your Church. Glendale: Regal Books, 1972.
George, Carl F. Prepare Your Church for the Future. Tarrytown: Revell, 1991.
George, Carl F. and Robert E. Logan. Leading and Managing Your Church. Old Tappan: Revell, 1987.
Gerber, Vergil. God's Way to Keep a Church Going and Growing. Glendale: Regal, 1973.
Gibbs, Eddie. I Believe in Church Growth. London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1985.
Gibbs, Eddie. Ten Growing Churches. London: MARC Europe, 1984.
Glasser, Arthur F. and Donald McGavran. Contemporary Theologies of Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1983.
Green, Hollis. Why Churches Die. Minneapolis: Bethany, 1972.
Griswold, Roland E. The Winning Church. Wheaton: Victor, 1986.
Hadaway, C. Kirk. Church Growth Principles: Separating Fact from Fiction. Nashville: Broadman, 1991.
Hadaway, What Can We Do About Church Dropouts? Nashville: Abingdon, 1990.
Hale, J. Russell. The Unchurched: Who They Are and Why They Stay Away. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1980.
Hemphill, Ken. The Bonsai Theory of Church Growth. Nashville: Broadman, 1991.
Hemphill, Ken and R. Wayne Jones. Growing an Evangelistic Sunday School. Nashville: Broadman, 1989.
Hesselgrave, David J. Planting Churches Cross-Culturally: A Guide for Home and Foreign Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1980.
Hoge, Dean R., and David A. Roozen, eds. Understanding Church Growth and Decline 1950-1978. New York: The Pilgrim Press, 1979.
Horton, Michael Scott, ed. Power Religion: Selling Out of the Evangelical Church? Chicago: Moody, 1992.
Hundnut, Robert K. Church Growth Is Not the Point. New York: Harper & Row, 1975.
Hunter, III, George G. The Contagious Congregation: Frontiers in Evangelism and Church Growth. Nashville: Abingdon, 1979.
Hunter, III, George G. To Spread Power: Church Growth in the Wesleyan Spirit. Nashville: Abingdon, 1987.
Hunter, Kent R. Foundation For Church Growth. New Haven: Leader, 1983.
Hunter, Kent R. The Road to Church Growth. Corunna: Church Growth, 1986.
Hunter, Kent R. Your Church Has Doors: How to Open the Front and Close the Back. New Haven: Leader, 1983.
Jackson, Jr., Neil. 100 Great Growth Ideas. Nashville: Broadman, 1990.
Jenson, Ron and Jim Stevens. Dynamics of Church Growth. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1982.
Johnson, Douglas W. Vitality Means Church Growth. Nashville: Abingdon, 1989.
Jones, R. Wayne. Overcoming Barriers to Sunday School Growth. Nashville: Broadman, 1987.
Kane, J. Herbert. Understanding Christian Missions. Grand Rapids: Baker, 1978.
Kelley, Dean M. Why Conservative Churches Are Growing. New York: Harper and Row, 1977.
Kraus, C. Norman, ed. Missions, Evangelism, and Church Growth. Scottdale: Herald, 1980.
Lawson, E. LeRoy and Tetsunao Yamamori. Church Growth: Everybody's Business. Cincinnati: New Life, n.d.
Lewis, Larry L. Organize to Evangelize. Nashville: Broadman, 1977.
Logan, Robert E. Beyond Church Growth. Old Tappan: Revell, 1989.
Martin, Glen & Gary McIntosh. The Issachar Factor. Nashville: Broadman and Holman, 1994.
McCall, Emmanuel L. Black Church Lifestyles. Nashville: Broadman Press, 1986.
McCoury, D.G. and Bill May. The Southern Baptist Church Growth Plan. Nashville: Convention, 1991.
McGavran, Donald A. The Bridges of God. Rev. ed. New York: Friendship, 1981.
McGavran, Donald A. Church Growth and Group Conversion. South Pasadena: William Carey, 1973.
McGavran, Donald A. Church Growth Bulletin: Second Consolidated Volume. South Pasadena: William Carey, 1977.
McGavran, Donald A. Effective Evangelism: A Theological Mandate. Phillipsburg: Presbyterian and Reformed, 1988.
McGavran, Donald A. How Churches Grow. London: World Dominion, 1959.
McGavran, Donald A. Understanding Church Growth. 2nd rev. ed. by C. Peter Wagner. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1990.
McGavran, Donald A, ed. Church Growth and Christian Mission. South Pasadena: William Carey, 1976.
McGavran, Donald A, ed. Church Growth Bulletin: First Consolidated Volume. Palo Alto: Overseas Crusades, 1969.
McGavran, Donald A., and Win Arn. How to Grow a Church. Ventura: Regal, 1973.
McGavran, Donald and George C. Hunter III. Church Growth: Strategies That Work. Nashville: Abingdon, 1980.
McIntosh, Gary and Glen Martin. Finding Them, Keeping Them: Effective Strategies for Evangelism and Assimilation in the Local Church. Nashville: Broadman, 1992.
McQuilkin, J. Robertson. Measuring the Church Growth Movement: How Biblical Is It? Chicago: Moody, 1974.
Miles, Delos. Church Growth: A Mighty River. Nashville: Abingdon, 1987.
Murren, Doug. The Baby Boomerang. Ventura: Regal, 1990.
MyLander, Charles. Secrets for Growing Churches. San Francisco: Harper & Row, 1979.
Neighbour, Ralph W. Where Do We Go From Here? A Guidebook for the Cell Group Church. Houston: Touch, 1990.
Ogden, Greg. The New Reformation. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1990.
Padilla, C. Rene, ed. The New Face of Evangelicalism: An International Symposium on the Lausanne Covenant. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1976.
Palmer, Donald C. Explosion of People Evangelism. Chicago: Moody, 1974.
Paton, David and Charles H. Long, eds. A Roland Allen Reader: The Compulsion of the Spirit. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1983.
Peace, Richard. Small Group Evangelism. Downers Grove: InterVarsity, 1985.
Pentecost, Edward C. Reaching the Unreached. South Pasadena: William Carey, 1974.
Peters, George W. A Theology of Church Growth. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 1981.
Peterson, Jim. Church Without Walls. Colorado Springs: NavPress, 1992.