Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations Topping 100,000 Copies Sold Milestone

NASHVILLE -- Bishop Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices for Fruitful Congregations is topping an important milestone in August – 100,000 copies sold by publisher Abingdon Press.

More than the number books sold is the impact Five Practices is having on congregations around the globe: Now also published in German and Spanish, Five Practices has evolved into a multi-media leadership tool kit for all sizes of congregations.

The Five Practices at the core of the book and other resources are:
• Radical Hospitality
• Passionate Worship
• Intentional Faith Development
• Risk-Taking Mission and Service
• Extravagant Generosity

“I continue to wonder why these Five Practices have struck such a chord among congregational leaders. What makes these simple, edgy words so powerful for motivating and stimulating ministry,” Schnase asked in a recent posting on his Five Practices blog.

“The language resonates with twenty-somethings and thirty-somethings in a way that does not alienate older, more traditional leaders.
Longer-term members feel stimulated by the language; instead of rejecting the language, they find themselves saying, ‘Yes, I need a little more passion and risk…’ The book stretches leaders without threatening them,” added Schnase, a Missouri-based United Methodist bishop.

Neil Alexander, president and publisher of Abingdon Press, credits Schnase with finding a unique way to reach pastors and lay persons in churches of all sizes and varying theological perspectives.

“Bishop Schnase doesn’t push a rigid set of prescribed steps that all must follow,” Alexander said. “Instead, engagement with ideas for vital ministries is dynamic and influenced by the strengths and circumstances of the congregation. The resulting action steps are custom made to fit each church.

“It is impossible to read these materials and say ‘this is not for us – we’re too big, small, urban, rural, rich or under-funded.’ Bishop Schnase has crafted insights and illustrations that ring true and call leaders to adopt transformative behavior that is needed and can be adapted to nearly every church setting,” Alexander added.

In addition to the copies of the book that have been sold, Abingdon Press reports:
• Nearly 5,000 congregations are using the program and support
resources like the Five Practices Leader Manual and Media Kit and the planning workbooks on each practice.
• 65,000 readers in congregations across the U.S. are engaging in Five
Practices as daily devotional reading through Cultivating Fruitfulness.
• The ministry message is expanding with summer publication of Five
Practices of Fruitful Youth Ministry: A Youth Leader's Guide.
• Another new resource, The Balancing Act: A Daily Rediscovery of
Grace, is a collection of readings for individual and small group devotions based on material from the Five Practices blog.

The book is used as the basis for sermon series, leadership discussions, small group readings, or strategic planning since it was first published two years ago.

The Spanish edition, Cinco Practicas de Congregaciones Fructiferas, is available from Abingdon. The German edition was released in Europe a few months ago.

Bishop Schnase says he’s often asked what’s next. He’s working on a new Five Practices book, which moves from a focus on congregations to a discussion of the essential personal practices of discipleship in Christ. The book is planned for release in the summer of 2010.