Gladhearted Disciples: Equipping Your Congregation with Generous and Enduring Faith

Gladhearted Disciples: Equipping Your Congregation with Generous and Enduring Faith addresses a critical need for church leaders and pastors: How can we guide people to live like Jesus and to draw others into that life? This is a book to study and with your leaders and teams. Gladhearted Disciples starts with an indisputable yet often ignored reality: In a post-modern, post-Christian world, we can no longer attract people by convincing them of our "truth." We must instead embody the Gospel in such clear and compelling ways that they will be attracted to our way of life. This is the true measure of discipleship. Folmsbee provides a template for the spiritual formation of hopeful, grace-filled, kingdom-focused disciples who represent God’s love in the world. Pastors, Christian educators, and small-group leaders will find here an inspiring new perspective to inspire and support their work.–Ann Michel, Associate Director, Lewis Center for Church Leadership I recommend this book for faith communities and all who yearn for a new way of understanding our sacred calling as followers of Jesus.–DJ del Rosario, Sr. Pastor, Bothell UMC, Bothell, WA If you are seeking to guide others in following Jesus into the mission field that exists right outside your front door, read this book. You’ll encounter vivid stories and a theologically grounded, practical, and missional approach to discipleship in a post-Christian world. –Sara B. Thomas, Chief Strategist for Vital Congregations, Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church Gladhearted Disciples takes a radically different and welcome approach to evangelism and discipleship. It is a winsome and accessible book with two audaciously important messages. First, Christian discipleship is grounded in grace, characterized by humility, upwardly focused in gratitude, and outwardly-turned in compassion. Second, Christian communities should be marked by the same. Every church would do well to heed this prophetic yet hopeful message. –Robert K. Martin, Dean and Professor of Christian Formation and Leadership, Wesley Theological Seminary If you seek a fresh way to understand and share our faith—a way that makes sense in our current reality, I invite you to delve into this book. May you be newly inspired! –Dottie Escobedo-Frank, author of The Jesus Insurgency with Rudy Rasmus, from Abingdon Press