Vital: An Exercise in Practical Theology for Australian Churches

“What a gift this book is to the Australian Church – good solid theology applied to ministry in a really practical way! The authors have done their theology well, reflecting on the scriptures, wisdom and praxis, and applied it to help churches grow in effective ministry practice for God’s Kingdom. It will multiply the usefulness of the NCLS as a tool to grow our churches. I can’t wait to use it with my ministers in Tasmania.”

“In Australia where secularisation continues to increase and church expansion is challenging for many, this book arrives! Hussey and Klose, through well founded and thoughtful research, provide for churches and their leadership a practically focused book to develop godly and important foundations for their community’s life and health. This book will become a key text for both Australian and global contexts in establishing the factors that are vital for a healthy and godly church, and their growth and expansion. Enjoy the reflective questions provided for churches to work through, be encouraged by its practical suggestions, and most of all enhanced by its well considered theological basis and thought. This is truly a must read.”

“This great new book by Ian Hussey and Anne Klose lives up to its name in every way. It guides church leaders through discussion of vital ingredients of a healthy church based on NCLS research and solid theology. This is practical theology at its best and most practical. Every church’s leaders would benefit from a close and group-oriented study of this book.”

“In Vital, the authors offer an exercise in practical theology for local churches. They paint a beautiful vision of the Kingdom of God and bring it into dialogue with contemporary reality – which is practical, grounded, concrete, local and messy. I am delighted that Ian and Anne have drawn on the empirical research on models of church vitality that I have invested in over past decades. I am even more delighted that their aim is to help local church leadership translate these insights into practice for the sake of God’s kingdom.”

“This is the book I wish I had written to serve churches! It beautifully straddles theology, engagement with data and practice. The book is just the right length for busy church members, and so while it cannot explore in-depth every nuance of vitality it is based on the National Church Life Survey measures of church vitality; framing each dimension within God’s unfolding plan of Biblical theology, and by distilling a vast scope of literature it offers sensible proposals that call for simple and contextually nuanced action. Vital should be on every church council’s, eldership, or deacon’s activity list for this year.”

“Instead of offering quick-fix solutions, the authors of Vital: An Exercise in Practical Theology provide a process to assist church leaders to determine how to grow a kingdom-shaped church. Surveys such as NCLS have been useful as church health checks but often leaders have not known what to do next. Pastors from every type and size of church will find this book invaluable in making informed choices about future directions. An easy to read book that will inspire hope and confidence.”

“This book is not gold – it’s better than that, it’s a treasure map. If you like reading for the sake of reading, it will be just one more book about churches. But if you’re reading for the real action and adventure of serving and representing Jesus on the ground, in practice, as a local church – then you’ll find it valuable indeed. A church leadership team that works through Vital together will profit in all the ways that matter. Drawn from Scripture, careful research and real leadership experience – take this treasure map and see where it leads!”