Who did I write this book for?
My first blog post about my new book answers the question, "Why did I write this book?" The next thing I want people to understand is about my intended audience. Who should read Healthy Endings: A Leader's Journey Through a Church Legacy Transition? You can find the book here.
There are numerous groups of people who can benefit from reading this short book. I will make a simple list with explanations for each ideal reader.
People involved in churches with uncertain futures. The members and crowd surrounding these churches in tight spots can benefit from the concept that this formula gives everybody involved an opportunity to speak into the potential solutions. You will all be encouraged to join in prayer, study, and open dialogue about God's path forward for your congregation.
Pastors and/or staff members who are leading such churches into uncharted waters. There are not enough resources available to help you as you strive to be faithful to God's work and God's people. Your leadership in this potentially perilous journey is a most powerful kingdom tool. Using the leadership principles in this book will help you lead your people well.
Denominational leaders who serve in local, regional, state, and national arenas. You know what it feels like to receive those phone calls and emails from struggling churches who do not know the path ahead nor how to discern the Spirit's leadership in their process. This resource will help you as you help them! As you will see in Book Blog 4, the principles in this book can be used for those facing closure or potential renewal.
Interim pastors and those who train them. The dynamic of this process is that it takes a leader some time to execute all of its attributes. The formula for this model requires a commitment of a period of time (ours was interrupted by Covid, so it is hard to say exactly how long this should take). I strongly advise that interim leaders make a strong commitment to seeing this entire process through, as many churches arriving at this critical juncture have often lost their pastors.
People in general who are intrigued by church decline. The churches that flourished in the 50s and 60s and managed to survive into the 21st century were devastated by the global pandemic. New ways of ministering locally and abroad have changed, in some cases, dramatically. Those stuck in the ruts of the old ways are going to continue declining and fading into the sunset. This book might describe the future of those churches.
Pastoral leaders in general who are struggling with their leadership. The leadership chapter alone highlights principles that can be applied to any pastor in any church situation. These are attributes that all pastors should possess and strive for in their own leadership.
As you can see, this is not a book that simply shows how to help a church experience a healthy closure. It has broader implications that are universal for pastoral leadership while also telling a compelling story of how God helped one leader develop all of this in such a way as to expand God's kingdom in the process.