NOTE: This book has now been published and you can purchase it on Amazon.
The book is titled Finding Church, and it recounts the journeys people have experienced within church.
Below is a current list of our contributors, though it is possible that not all of these contributions will be in the final draft.
If you wish you would have submitted your story, there is still time! Find out more at the bottom of this post.
Changing Church
These are stories of people who, for numerous different reasons, left one church to join another.
- Eric Hatfield – Blogs at http://theway21stcentury.wordpress.com/
- Felisa Reed – Part of http://www.therefugeonline.org/
- Jessica Bowman – Blogs at http://bohemianbowmans.com/ and is the author of Parenting Wild Things
- Judith Huang – Blogs at http://www.graceground.com/
- Kellen Freeman – Blogs at http://www.kellenfreeman.net/
- Kimberly Parker – Blogs at http://www.simplycreativewriting.com/ and is the author of Radical Love…Forever Changed
- Laura Davis – Mother, wife, and advocate to the brokenhearted
- Sam Riviera – Blogs at http://www.graceground.com/
Leaving Church
These are stories of people who felt that “going to church” was inhibiting their walk with Jesus, and so left the institutional church to follow and serve Jesus in other ways.
- Brian Swan – Brian Swan is the author of a blog called “Allergic to BS“
- Genevieve Thul – Writes at http://turquoisegates.com and http://incourage.me
- Glenn Hager – Blogs at http://www.glennhager.com/
- Lew Ayotte – Blogs at http://lewayotte.com
- Mike Donahoe – Author and writer.
- Mike Keffer – Works in the financial services industry
- Tara Pohlkotte – Blogs at www.pohlkottepress.blogspot.com
- Tyson Phillips – Follower of Jesus and writer.
- Wayne Hobson – Author of Suffer The Little Children: Understanding and Overcoming Spiritual Abuse
- Will Rochow – Blogs at www.Rochow.ca
Reforming Church
Though many people have painful experiences in church, some people choose to stay at their church and try to work through them, reforming the church from the inside, and being the change they want to see. These are their stories.
- Aubry Smith – Freelance writer and stay-at-home mother
- Bill Reichart – Blogs at http://www.ministrybestpractices.com/
- Dan King – Author of The Unlikely Missionary: From Pew-Warmer to Poverty-Fighter
and blogger at http://bibledude.net/
- Daniel Darling – Blogs at http://www.danieldarling.com/ and author of Real: Owning Your Christian Faith
- John Walker – Husband, gardener, and chef
- Markus Watson – Author and Pastor
- Ryan Peter – Blogger and author of When Twins War
- Sonny Lemmons – Contributing author to The Myth of Mr. Mom
and Not Afraid: Stories of Finding Significance (forthcoming)
- Travis Mamone – Blogs at www.travismamone.net and contributor to Not Alone: Stories Of Living With Depression
and Not Afraid: Stories of Finding Significance (forthcoming)
Returning to Church
These are stories of people who returned to church after years of being away.
- Cara Sexton – Writes at http://www.whimsysmitten.com/
- Judith Huang – Blogs at http://www.graceground.com/
- Mary C. M. Phillips – Blogs at http://caffeineepiphanies.wordpress.com
- Wayne Hobson – Author of Suffer The Little Children: Understanding and Overcoming Spiritual Abuse
Not Yet Sent in the Story (but said they will!!!)
Let me know you want to contribute, and I will add your name to the list.
- Aaron Armstrong – Author at http://www.bloggingtheologically.com/
- Alan Brisco – Author and writer at http://www.alanbrisco.com/
- Alan Knox – Blogs at The Assembling of the Church
- Alastair McCollum – Pastor and blogger at http://www.graceground.com/
- Anthony Ehrhardt – Blogs at http://antwrites.com/
- Carey Crawford – Blogs at http://www.leavingchurchinc.wordpress.com
- Casey Pick – Writer and author
- Dave Winter – Writer and author
- Jason Schmidt – Writer and author
- Jenny Simmons – Blogs at http://www.jennysimmons.com/ and lead singer with Addison Road
- John Martinez – Pastor at http://thedistillerychurch.org/
- Kathy Pickett – Pastor at Homeswood Baptist Church
- Kevin Martineau – http://kevinmartineau.ca/
- Mark Lamprecht – Blogs at http://hereiblog.com/
- Melody Hanson – Blogs at www.logicandimagination.com
- Nick Thacker – Blogger at http://www.livehacked.com/
- Rowland Croucher – Writer at http://jmm.aaa.net.au/
- Travis Klassen – Blog at www.churchburned.com
Hey Jeremy,
I am honoured to be a part of the list. Thank you.
Honored to have you!
Thank you Brother.
Mike
Very excited!
I sent an email offering to make a submission to the book just now. Wanted to be certain you received it.
Carey,
I did not receive it.
Send it to jmyers AT tillhecomes.org
After more than 10 years of frustration I left the local church in my little town. After reading the book I understand now better my frustration and I am glad to see there are so much more people who think the same like I do. I was raised in church and always loved the Lord but after beeing working with YWAM for nearly 10 years I always felt there is more than what you find in a local church.
I wuold love to be connected to people who would share the same understanding of ” Finding Church” in North Germany.
There is a rapidly growing movement of people like this around the world who are following Jesus away from “institutional Christianity” and into a more relational way of being the church. I am SURE there are people just like you in North Germany. Reach out to Wayne Jacobsen (The God Journey) or Darrin Hufford (Free Believer’s Network) to see if they know anyone.