Hit the Bullseye: How Denominations Can Aim the Congregation at the Mission Field

by Paul D. Borden

This book is not an attempt to offer hope, help, or even advice on what denominations need to do. However, it is a book about a significant turn-around of a middle-level administration of justice in... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0687043719
• ISBN13: 9780687043712
• Release Date: July 2003
• Publisher: Abingdon Press
• Length: 144 Pages
• Weight: 0.50 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.4" x 5.6" x 8.5"

Customer Reviews

More Help, Less Story

This was another book towards the Doctor of Ministry degree class that I am taking at Denver Seminary. The class is on "How the Nature of the Church Affects Strategies for Ministry." This book is written by the professor of the class, Paul Borden. It is a great look into leading a transition process in a congregation. The points are excellent and true to congregational life. It deals with the skill of leadership and the structure of a congregation. Some of the material does not apply to churches of Christ because of the lack of a pastor system or a system of having a mentor helping a variety of congregations, but some of the insights are practical and helpful in leading a congregation to grow. I did prefer "Direct Hit" better because it seemed to have more of a broad base for helping a congregation, where this book traces the process of turning around some Baptist congregations in the West. It mostly tells the story with application. Also, some of the material is given in the "Direct Hit" book as well. Maybe read "Direct Hit" first and if you like that book, read this one for some extra hints that will help.

Great Ideas

Paul Borden offers a missional refocus perspective from more of a denominational setting. This book challenges leaders to take a second look at their current polity and assess its missional function. Borden discusses the process a pastor/organizational leader might go through to engage a Church to turn around it's mentality from maintenance to healthy mission.

Almost Misses the Target

It will be hard for anyone to suggest whether or not another person should read this book. At some points I thought it was great and offered fresh, valuable ideas. At other points I wanted to toss it in the trash and suggest no one read it. The best I can do in this review is offer you a few of my "perceived" pros and cons and let you decide for yourselves. I am not an expert in this subject, but in my 29 years of ministry experience I have served 5 churches, 4 of which showed growth. I have also served in what Borden might call judicatory leadership in another denomination. PROS: At last someone offers a paradigm in which denominational leadership leaves the boring offices of bureaucracy and enters the field of consultation to come along side pastors in local churches! Everyone always says it's all about the local church, but leadership seldom seems to act like it. Three cheers for this proposed paradigm. Thankfully Borden raises the bar on pastoral expectations, at least in the area of productivity. Too many pastors are hired who should never be behind the pulpit and once the mistake is discovered, too few are out counseled into other areas of service. I think Borden's style is a little strong and in reality there are reasons other than leadership incompetence that can cause churches not to grow. Some reasons are beyond control. Still, raising the bar doesn't hurt, if done thoughtfully, and is sorely needed. I applaud the effort to help churches become missional. Too many churches routinely go too many years with no conversions. This is a mark of ill health. Borden writes from personal experience. Who can help but be emotionally moved to see the churches of a large geographical area revitalized and brought back to life? May this story happen again and again across the country and in many denominations. I also am impressed with Borden's ability to create a large intricate movement. His ability to cover all details, his passion, his strong personality, and his recruitment techniques would make it hard to fail. CONS: First, Borden routinely writes about community and church "family" as if the communal nature of church detracts from mission. To be Christian is to be in community. This is not just organizational community (i.e. an employee at Wal Mart), but spiritual community. If I must place community on the back burner to build the church, I sacrifice too much. The church is the assembly of those who have been called out of the world (ecclesia) and the fellowship of those who have been called together (koinonia) in the name of Christ. The mission of the church is to lead souls to Christ, but this is not the only reason for the church's existence. The church, the Bride of Christ, will still be in existence long after heaven and earth pass away and there are no more souls to lead to Christ. Second, Borden speaks as if leading people to Christ is everything, or at least the most important thing. I once believed like t

The Church's mission

If you understand a Church to be a mission outpost and that most of the work of being a follower of Christ is outside of the Church walls -- this book is an excellent account how the American Baptist have turned around many of their Churches in the Western USA.