The Publishing Office of the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry (GBHEM), the leadership development agency for the denomination, announced the release of a new book, “GO! How to Become a Great Commission Church,” by Mark R. Teasdale. Teasdale’s “GO!” provides valuable tactics to help churches answer God’s call and move forward in their mission and work, breaking stereotypes and witnessing in surprising and unexpected ways. “God tells us to “GO!” What are we waiting for?” Teasdale, E. Stanley Jones associate professor in evangelism at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, serves as an elder in The United Methodist Church. His previous works include “Methodist Evangelism, American Salvation.”
“GO! How to Become a Great Commission Church” has received endorsements from faculty and church leaders around the country. According to George Hunter, dean and distinguished professor emeritus, School of World Mission and Evangelism, Asbury Theological Seminary in Wilmore, Kentucky, “Too many of our churches have circled the wagons, and Mark Teasdale and I are both convinced that step one in the renewal of most churches will involve liberation from their comfort zone and movement into their communities. Within this agenda, Mark’s very readable contribution, rooted in scripture and relevant to church life today, will join the, unfortunately, short stack of books that can actually help thousands of churches find their way forward.”
“Teasdale pushes us to see the Great Commission in a new light, a light that encourages us to respond to God’s sending us into our community no matter our size, pedigree, or circumstance,” added F. Douglas Powe Jr., James C. Logan professor of evangelism and E. Stanley Jones professor at Wesley Theological Seminary in Washington, D.C. “By sharing practices any congregation can do, he carefully provides concrete ways of engaging that do not require huge resources. Teasdale removes all excuses congregations make for not seeking to participate in God’s work of transformation.”
“What’s more important than the Great Commission? Unfortunately, in too many churches—including the one I grew up in—a lot! This is the book that I wish the leaders in my church had read while I was growing up,” said Daniel Im, director of Church Multiplication at NewChurches.com and teaching pastor.
“GO! How to Become a Great Commission Church” is now available on UpperRoom.org and Amazon.com and will later be available on Cokesbury.com. For more information on GBHEM’s Publishing Office, visit GBHEM.org.
About GBHEM: As the leadership development agency of The United Methodist Church, the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry’s mission is to lead and connect the educational and ministerial life of the church. Every elder, deacon and licensed local pastor benefits from our training and candidacy programs. Many young adults find help in clarifying their vocation and God’s call on their lives through our leadership and discernment programs. Follow us on Twitter and Facebook: @GBHEM.