Becoming a Blessed Church: Forming a Church of Spiritual Purpose, Presence, and Power - Hardcover

by N. Graham Standish (Author), E. Stanley Ott (Foreword by)

Pastor and author N. Graham Standish describes how a church that is open to God's purpose, presence, and power can claim God's blessing. Standish shares the story of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania, and its journey to become a spiritually deep congregation, one that is inwardly and outwardly healthy: spiritually, psychologically, physically, and relationally. Becoming a Blessed Church will help you discern God's purpose and the path God is calling your congregation to walk. This book will help you find Christ in your midst and become aware of the many ways the blessings of God's Spirit flow through your congregation. This second edition includes three new practical chapters that answer the questions the author is most frequently asked: how to effectively run a group discernment practice, how to create an effective small group program, and how to set a church vision in a new direction that actually works.

Author Biography

N. Graham Standish is pastor of Calvin Presbyterian Church in Zelienople, Pennsylvania. Calvin Church has almost tripled in size under his leadership and has garnered national attention in several studies, including one by Diana Butler Bass who featured the church in her groundbreaking book Christianity for the Rest of Us. Standish is also coordinating pastor of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Butler, Pennsylvania, and teaches at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and Tyndale Theological Seminary.