Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Visit fifty-two churches in a year? Am I crazy? Maybe.
I spent a year visiting a different Christian church every Sunday: Protestant mainline, evangelical, and charismatic, Roman Catholic, and more.
I visited a church just like yours. I'm positive.
You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll cringe.
But 52 Churches doesn't rip at the modern church. It's not a church-shopping romp or a mean-spirited journalistic expos . Instead it's a gift that offers encouragement, hope, and support to the Christian Church. And I share some suggestions too.
Written as narrative, 52 Churches calls us to embrace all the branches of Jesus's church and expand our practice of worshiping God. And I invite you to join me on this personal, spiritual sojourn of discovery.
Read 52 Churches for education, read it for entertainment, and read it for the insight gained only from visiting a boatload of churches.
52 Churches is ideal for church leaders, church members, and church outsiders. And if you're still reading this, it's perfect for you, too.
Peter DeHaan, PhD, often makes religious people squirm, but spiritual seekers cheer. He's not trying to be provocative, but he seeks truth, even if it makes some people uncomfortable. He yearns for Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives. Peter earned his doctorate, awarded with high distinction, from Trinity College of the Bible and Theological Seminary.
Synopsis
How do people experience your church for the first time? You're about to find out.
52 Churches is the story of Peter DeHaan's journey visiting fifty-two churches in a year and what he learned about God, faith, and how a visitor experiences church for the first time.
Each church in his travels shows us a different way of encountering God and understanding our common faith. DeHaan's methodical approach is both an enlightening experiment and an insightful perspective on what it's like to step through the doors of an unfamiliar church.
52 Churches doesn't rip at today's church. It's not a church-shopping romp or a mean-spirited journalistic expos . Instead, it's a gift that offers encouragement, hope, and support to the Christian Church, along with some helpful suggestions.
52 Churches will broaden your understanding of the church by discovering:
- How to welcome visitors well and encourage them to return
- What draws people in and what drives them away
- Tips to maximize each of your service's three greeting opportunities
- Ideas to improve your congregation's outreach and outlook
- Inspiration to move from friend-focused interactions to a visitor-first perspective
52 Churches will inspire church leaders and members to rethink how visitors experience their church and to reach out to local communities more effectively. By journeying through 52 churches, you'll gain a better understanding of the challenges facing today's congregations, while appreciating the diversity of the local church.
52 Churches is ideal for leaders, members, and anyone who is ready to reimagine your church in a fresh way.
Get your copy of 52 Churches today and let your adventure begin
Synopsis
Imagine visiting a new church every single Sunday ... They say there's no such thing as a perfect church. Well, one author decided to test that theory out for himself.
Peter DeHaan spent an entire year roaming from one church to another, visiting 52 different Christian congregations. In the process he learned what makes these places of worship unique, what makes newcomers feel like they belong, and what cringe-worthy shenanigans are guaranteed to keep visitors from ever coming back.
In his travels, Peter learned about different denominations and worship styles as well as what happens when imperfect humans gather together in the name of a perfect God. What he discovered was occasionally funny, always interesting, and at times absurd.
So absurd that he wrote a book about his experiences.
52 Churches is part religious expos , part travel memoir, and 100% authentic. Peter refuses to hold back his punches. You'll cringe when this Christian author is singled out by a fire-and-brimstone preacher, unnecessarily determined to save his soul out of hell. You'll find yourself thankful that you weren't in Peter's shoes when the pastor told his congregation to greet one another with a holy kiss.
You'll read about Christian practices that are far different from your own, and in the process gain a deeper understanding of believers from all walks of life and denominational backgrounds today.
If you're a pastor trying to engage newcomers, a seasoned church member looking for some chuckles, or a spiritual lurker curious about what goes on beneath the steeples of America's churches today, this book was written for you.
Read 52 Churches now for an insightful, unforgettable read about the strange and mysterious believers who meet together behind closed doors each and every Sunday.