This book will take you in a spiritual interlude, and will make you aware of a spiritual reality compatible with our terrestrial reality. These letters are addressed to all men, for it will be a day for each man to realize that he has to return to where he came from, and there is an account to be given. These writings are based only on the Bible and I also used information from general world history. I consider the Bible to be one book in three parts. The old testament, the new testament and the book of revelations. I believe those three books complete each other and there is no contradiction among them.

Matt Cooney and Houston Hodges have been part of the “Faith Alive” experience since its beginning in 1998.  This service – at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama -- has grown from a once-a-month experiment on Saturday night with 30 or 40 in attendance, to a weekly 8:30 a.m. event with over a hundred worshipers, half of whom are under twelve years of age.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          The service is interactive, intergenerational, informal, and family-friendly. It features leaders of all ages, with 75% to 90% lay leadership, and 10% to 25% ministerial visibility.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Jessie Davison, 16, made one of her first solo trips after she got her license, to drive to Faith Alive.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Laura Van Puersem, 9, woke her mother to drive her to church, after her dad had let her sleep in; she got there ten minutes late, but she was there.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Debbie Sullivan says, “Thank you for making it unnecessary to insist that my girls come to church.”

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Second grader Tiffany Crowder wrote, “I lerneb more about God and Jesus Chirst.”

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          This is the story of the “lurching discernment” by which Faith Alive has grown and the process by which it takes place, with many examples from actual worship services.

Matt Cooney and Houston Hodges have been part of the “Faith Alive” experience since its beginning in 1998.  This service – at Faith Presbyterian Church in Huntsville, Alabama -- has grown from a once-a-month experiment on Saturday night with 30 or 40 in attendance, to a weekly 8:30 a.m. event with over a hundred worshipers, half of whom are under twelve years of age.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          The service is interactive, intergenerational, informal, and family-friendly. It features leaders of all ages, with 75% to 90% lay leadership, and 10% to 25% ministerial visibility.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Jessie Davison, 16, made one of her first solo trips after she got her license, to drive to Faith Alive.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Laura Van Puersem, 9, woke her mother to drive her to church, after her dad had let her sleep in; she got there ten minutes late, but she was there.

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Debbie Sullivan says, “Thank you for making it unnecessary to insist that my girls come to church.”

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          Second grader Tiffany Crowder wrote, “I lerneb more about God and Jesus Chirst.”

& n b s p ; & nbsp;          This is the story of the “lurching discernment” by which Faith Alive has grown and the process by which it takes place, with many examples from actual worship services.

This book is about leadership, management, and organizational structure as it applies to the church. This book is based on the author’s observation and surveys from some of the members of four churches. It is an evaluation of how leadership and management, or the lack of the same, affect the operation of the church. It is this author’s belief that church is not a business and should never be mistaken for a business. However, the paraphernalia of business such as leadership, management, and organizational principles, should be a part of every pastor’s tool bag.

Chapter one looks at the Bible example of leadership, management, and organizational principles. The Bible has several examples of God’s leader engaging the principles used in business to accomplish the work of God. This author would never suggest that church and business should be operated the same. However, the church as marketed by Bible examples, should employ the principles of leadership.

Chapter two is the results of an evaluation of four churches. The churches are named First Church, Second Church, Third Church, and Fourth Church. The results are based on surveys and the observations of this author. The information was collected and charted to give a picture of the leadership, management, and organizational principles found in each church.

Chapter three looks at leadership and some of the factors that affect it. This chapter combines the information gather with the principles of leadership in order to determine the effectiveness of each organization studied.

Chapter four looks at management. This chapter covers management issues such as budgeting and resources. It also looks at forecasting and directing.

Chapter five looks at organizational structure and how it affects the operation of the church. It looks at the leadership structure and the authority of the pastor. It is a discussion on the proper use of delegation and communication.

This book will take you in a spiritual interlude, and will make you aware of a spiritual reality compatible with our terrestrial reality. These letters are addressed to all men, for it will be a day for each man to realize that he has to return to where he came from, and there is an account to be given. These writings are based only on the Bible and I also used information from general world history. I consider the Bible to be one book in three parts. The old testament, the new testament and the book of revelations. I believe those three books complete each other and there is no contradiction among them.