Why the Endless Pursuit of "More" Won't Save the ChurchIn an era of church decline, pastors and ministry leaders face intense pressure to grow--more attendance, more influence, more reach, more budget. But what if this relentless pursuit of "more" is actually a form of modern idolatry?In Baal and the Gods of More, leading practical theologian Andrew Root challenges everything you thought you knew about church growth and success. You'll discover how...

A New Vision for Faith Formation in a Secular AgeThe loss or disaffiliation of young adults is a much-discussed topic in churches today. Many faith-formation programs focus on keeping the young, believing the youthful spirit will save the church. But do these programs have more to do with an obsession with youthfulness than with helping young people encounter the living God?Leading practical theologian Andrew Root offers an alternative take on the issue of ...

How parents and pastors can trade anxiety for authentic relationshipsWhat do pastors and parents have in common? They often feel pressure to be in control.If you're an anxious parent watching your teens navigate an unpredictable world or a ministry leader overwhelmed by the pressure to "save" the church in today's challenging landscape, Andy and Kara Root understand your struggle--and they've discovered a transformative path forward. They learned that relea...

Since the late 1970's practical theology has had a significant voice and influence in the academy. While many have seen great hope and potential in this work, not everyone has agreed. Some, for instance, have examined the conversation and found by focusing on the concrete and lived experiences of humanity, by and large, practical theology has not had the theological vision to present frameworks for understanding concrete and lived experience with divine action. So argues Andrew Root, who i...

Embedded Faith explores the way Christian faith journeys of young adults are embedded within church communities. It discusses why young adults go to church, why they change churches, why some are involved in the practice of church two-timing, and what they are looking for in a church. Embedded Faith also provides valuable insight into the relationship between geographic mobility and belonging to a faith community in a transient age. Embedded Faith discusses areas where young adults are eng...

Most students of practical theology recognize Richard R. Osmer as the originator of the "consensus model" of practical theology, one of the most accessible and widely used models of practical theological reflection in the world. Yet Osmer's influence extends beyond practical theological method. Over his long career, his writing and teaching spanned Christian education, youth ministry, spirituality, and evangelism as well, giving each of these congregational practices new theological substa...

Many things threaten the faith of youth today, but none more than science. The commitments of science and Christianity seem to be at odds—science makes truth claims based on experiments and proofs, while religion asks for belief and trust. But Andrew Root demonstrates that, in fact, the two are not incompatible.Root, a renowned expert on adolescent spirituality, shows how science overstates its claims on truth, while faith often understates its own claims. Both faith and science fr...

What is youth ministry actually for? And does it have a future?Andrew Root, a leading scholar in youth ministry and practical theology, went on a one-year journey to answer these questions. In this book, Root weaves together an innovative first-person fictional narrative to diagnose the challenges facing the church today and to offer a new vision for youth ministry in the 21st century.Informed by interviews that Root conducted with parents, this book explor...

A Hopeful Approach to Evangelism"Evangelism" is a contested, even conflicted word. But churches are declining in numbers and resources. What if we aren't thinking about evangelism in the right way, culturally or theologically? This book contextualizes evangelism in our late modern times and reimagines what the call to outreach means in today's world.Our sad times are made sadder by the realization that our all-out pursuit of happiness has made us stressed, ...

In four interviews, Andrew Root discusses the importance of having real relationships with youth, rather than an agenda based on a specific outcome. "I will be your friend if you..." This is part of the You're Included series, published by Grace Communion International.

**What if the solution for the decline of today's church isn't more money, people, programs, innovation, or busyness?What if the answer is to stop and wait on God?**In When Church Stops Working, ministry leaders Andrew Root and Blair Bertrand show how actively watching and listening for God can bring life out of death for churches in crisis today. Using clear steps and practices, they invite church leaders to stop the endless cycle of doing more and rather to simpl...

A New Vision for Pastoral Ministry TodayIn Faith Formation in a Secular Age, the first book in his Ministry in a Secular Age trilogy, Andrew Root offered an alternative take on the issue of youth drifting away from the church and articulated how faith can be formed in our secular age. In The Pastor in a Secular Age, Root explores how this secular age has impacted the identity and practice of the pastor, obscuring his or her core vocation: to call ...