Unleashing the Church: Getting People Out of the Fortress and into Ministry Paperback – January 1, 1985

I liked it everything about it. I am using it for church information and encouragement. Thank You.

has some 'old' observations that are still VERY relevant today!

This book, published in 1982, proves that the missional church is not a new idea. While some applications and analysis are dated, it rings remarkably true and relevant to today’s missional challenges. Confronting the defensive “fortress” mentality of too many churches it both challenges and inspires churches to “unleash” their God-given potential and resources in their communities. You will find timeless wisdom and vision in this easy-to-read book.-Dick Wiedenheft, author of The Meaning of Missional

Frank Tillapaugh hit a home run with this book. First, he reasons that the church must abandon its fortress mentality and get its people actively involved in ministry to a hurting world. He severely criticizes the church, and rightly so, for its rural middle class mind-set and value system which prevents it from reaching those who need salvation the most. Despite the failure of the church to reach strategic populations, Tillapaugh does not give up on the church as an instrument that God has chosen to reach these population groups for Christ.Although it's strength is in the fact that Tillapaugh is solidly sold on the church as the instrument God has ordained to win the world to Christ. I enjoyed his recommendation that the church not be shy about borrowing from the para-church organizations. Why, he reasons, should we reinvent the wheel? His advice that the church streamline its decision making process is worth the price of the book. Like Bill Hull's Can We Save the Evangelical Church, Tillapaugh sees the strangle hold that bureaucratic red tape has no the church. The slowness (like a mighty glacier moves the church of God!) adds to the public's perception that the church is out of date, and on top of that, it also discourages willing workers.There were a few areas of weakness. Pastoring in a small rural church, I am acutely aware that rural churches are also in need of renewal. Although I realize that he is writing for an urban audience, the same rural traditions that are killing urban churches are strangling our rural churches. Since ninety percent of churches are rural, the church is in danger of extinction unless we can bring renewal to rural churches as well.

Wonderful work! Looking at church differently from traditional to 21st century. Allowing the church to grow and transition as time changes.