Growing an Engaged Church

Author: Al Winseman
Publisher: Gallup Press, 2007

Without a doubt, every pastor would love to see more people actively involved in the life of the local church. Involvement, however, may not be what is really needed!

In his book, Growing an Engaged Church, Al Winseman explains the important difference between being involved and being engaged. According to the author, involvement is what we do in church, and engagement is how we feel about church.


Winseman urges us to "stop doing church and start being church." Involvement (doing) without engagement (being) leads to burnout. Church becomes just another thing on our to-do list. Church feels less like a privilege, and more like a chore. We become unconcerned and indifferent to the real reason we attend church in the first place - to be a part of a congregation of dedicated and energized believers who are growing in their faith, and at the same time, are impacting their communities for Christ.


Behind this book, are years of experience investigating the spiritual health of local congregations. The Gallup Organization identified two primary causes of spiritual health: congregational engagement and spiritual commitment. Winseman states that his purpose for writing the book, is to help pastors and lay leaders focus on what is important to the spiritual life of the congregation, and to help them understand (decode) the emotional bonds that tie members to each other, and to their church.


As is the case with everything in the pastor's toolbox, this tool must be adapted to the specific context, and unique needs of each congregation. The foundation, however, is biblical, and based on solid, measurable research. This is a book I recommend for any pastor seeking to deepen the spiritual commitment of his congregation.


Review by
Larry Doyle
Director of Missions
Piedmont Baptist Association