The Church Recovery Guide: How Your Congregation Can Adapt and Thrive after a Crisis
by Karl Vaters (Moody Publishers, 2020), 111 pages.Available in various media formats online. For multiple copies contact the author directly at KarlVaters@gmail.com.
In this his fourth book, Vaters offers insights he has gleaned from his 30 plus years of pastoral experience in small church settings.
The author acknowledges that these 111 pages and nine short chapters were structured off the wisdom from over 50 previous articles he has written, themed around leading in times of crisis. 30% is new content related to our current crisis and church recovery.
In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic church leaders are facing challenges never encountered before. I am a Pastor of a small international church in an international resort setting hit particularly hard by this current crisis (85% unemployment at one point). The Church Recovery Guide offers direction needed to help churches bounce back to full health and chart a path forward to an even greater vitality.
In his optimism, Vaters likens our current circumstances to the early church who continued to make disciples while being persecuted, “running down the highway sharing Jesus as they go.”
Insight is offered into:
- Assessing the impact of the crisis. Knowing what you know and admitting what you don’t know.
- Reconnecting with the congregation when we come back from our isolations.
- Communicating well. Relaying a fresh vision for the future.
- Ministering to people in various stages of grief.
- Encouraging and Team building of staff and volunteers.
- Addressing finances and proactive options.
- Reworking Technology and your online world.
I found the book to be a very concise read in easy to understand English and set up to readily share with a church board or leadership team. The chapters are short enough for our folks to read, while understanding these principles to be part of a meaningful ongoing discussion. The topics are practical in both a small and larger church context.
Vaters shares his passion for the church to be led by our own Mission Vision and Values in our own unique contexts. He desires to see the church make good spiritual and practical choices in these difficult times and to avoid knee jerk reactions that use up vital energy when going from crisis to crisis.
If you are looking for something to give your church momentum this book is worth sharing.
Rev. Dr. Kevin Driver