"Next Sunday" (Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley)

TITLE: Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church
AUTHOR: Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley
PUBLISHER: Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 2022, (192 pages).
 

Even as the Church in the West continues its gradual decline, there are many who continue to be faithful not only in attendance but also in service. In the midst of change, as different age groups grapple with issues unique to their generation, regardless of affiliation, there are many who care deeply about the state of the church. They want change for the better. They desire the wonderful community they dream of. They want a positive future for the Church. Spanning two generations, a mother-and-daughter team has come together to dialogue about the current state of the church and what is needed to change for the better. They share everything, their emotions about the past such as their assumptions, observations about apathy, disappointments, histories, suspicions, memories, and histories they experienced. They also express their hopes for the future of the Church. They ask the key question: "What will be most important for local churches going forward if they hope to thrive and not merely survive?" Through their family discussions, they manage to crystallize their thoughts into seven pertinent subjects. Both of them speak from their perspectives about how the future would be if they concentrate on strategies to deal with the following "distinctiveness."

1. Building Genuine Community
2. Focus on Children's Ministry
3. Outward Looking
4. Rejuvenating Sunday Service 
5. Leading Teams
6. Acknowledging History and Past Mistakes
7. Creating a Healthy Culture

For each of the distinctiveness, the authors show us the historical and existing challenges before giving us ideas about the things that need to be changed. On Community, they present seemingly conflicting assumptions before arriving at the same conclusions. In the section about Kids Ministry, we learn that most kids made their first commitment to Jesus before they are 18, which presents us with a challenge: How to reach young children for Jesus? I like the way the kid-centric chapter begins with a planning perspective by Nancy and ends with a participant's point of view. The chapter on outreach also reveals two different starting perspectives that converge into a similar philosophy: Social justice and cause create positive vibes among those outside the Church. The chapter on the Sunday worship service offers us an alternative view of seeker-centered or attractional services. Regardless of the less-than-encouraging labels used, the key benefit is the presence of people. The final chapter "Behind the Curtain" gives a helpful paradigm to help us think through how we react to situations that we often struggle with. 

My Thoughts
Like turning rocks over on the beach, this book forces us to uncover the mosses of denials of a broken church. Written by a mother and a daughter who span two generations, readers get to hear their thoughts verbally expressed in a way that invites us into the conversation. Whether one is a Boomer,  Gen-X, Millennial, or even Generation Z, we benefit by learning to see the different perspectives in the hope we can broaden the scope of understanding across generations. The greater the diversity of opinions, the more important the need to understand and not misrepresent alternative views.

This is a unique book about the Church for the future. Though there are many references and examples about the past and the present, the discussion is all geared toward finding ways to bridge the generational gap through patient understanding. The common goal propels both authors to expand their common ground and concerns. At the same time, there is ample room to share their hopes and desires, and what each generation can bring to the table. Like how Eugene Peterson wonderfully phrases it, this attempt is a demonstration of "A Long Obedience in the Same Direction." Both authors come from different generations, ministry experiences, and expectations. This common goal of forming a new community of faith is something we can all learn from. The book itself is an example of a successful parent-child collaboration for the same love and purpose for the future church. In fact, it is not just the content of this book that we can benefit from. It is also the way in which the whole book has been collaborated and affirmed throughout the book. This is not something easily achieved given the generational challenges that exist in many parts of society. I like the way the authors remind us of the meaning of honesty. Just like Brene Brown's words: "True community is where no one has to hide," building a community means learning to accept one another in spite of differences. 

This book is not telling us that things will be rosy in the future. Far from that. In fact, they are sharing openly with us the formidable challenges for the Church. Max DePree famously said: "The first responsibility of a leader is to define reality. The last is to say thank you. In between, the leader is a servant." Both authors have honestly helped us define the reality as they have seen. They acknowledge with grace their respective contributions. In between, they continue to lead by example in continued service. With the experience of Nancy and the enthusiastic participation of Samantha, we have in one volume a tool to navigate with hope the future of the church.

Nancy Beach serves as a leadership coach with the Slingshot Group and on the teaching team at Soul City Church in downtown Chicago. Previously, Nancy served as the programming director at Willow Creek Community Church in suburban Chicago. She is also the author of An Hour on Sunday and Gifted to Lead.

Samantha Beach Kiley is a writer and performer, and the creative arts pastor at Austin New Church in Austin, Texas. Samantha's creative work has appeared in theatres, churches, and non-profit spaces. She has taught at Northwestern's National High School Institute and Rocky Mountain Repertory Theatre, where she is the co-education director.

Rating: 4.25 stars of 5.

conrade

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This book has been provided courtesy of InterVarsity Press and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.