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When the road ahead seems too challenging for a conventional approach, staying put is not an option.
This may feel like the reality of today's ministry landscape. Helping others follow Jesus is no longer straightforward; the path often seems blocked by cultural obstacles. But we cannot stay where we are. What's needed is a higher way-a path that rises above the challenges, strong enough to support your journey, yet flexible enough to adapt to the changing terrain.
In Crossing the Discipleship Chasm, pastor and consultant Matt Lake, draws from deep experience in ministry to introduce a transformative approach that revives the original mission of the church: adaptive discipleship. Grounded in thorough research and tested relationships, his method offers a way forward.
Too often local churches, in their anxiety, jump to quick, programmatic solutions to address the lack of discipleship happening in their settings. However, jumping to a solution that ignores the context and deeper issues of the problem only leads to surface-level, technical responses. It will never work in the long run.
His solution? How to apply an adaptive approach to the issue of discipleship through a series of life-giving "tensions". If you're ready to bridge the gaps in your ministry, you need both a reliable path and a wise guide. With Lake's direction, discover the confidence and courage to lead others on the journey toward life.
About the author
Matt Lake serves as the Lead Pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Williamsport, PA-an urban congregation that consists of a mix of traditional and contemporary worship experiences. First Church also currently hosts a network of fresh expressions of ministry called the Acts Network in which people meet in places such as homes, gyms, and coffee shops. Matt is a graduate of Messiah College has a Master in Divinity from Duke Divinity School. Matt is currently pursuing a Doctorate of Ministry focusing on Semiotics and Future Studies through Portland Seminary. Matt has worked with a variety of churches in a consultant role and has a passion to see God's Kingdom impacted through lives transformed in the love of Jesus Christ.
