PRESS RELEASE 

True Impact Through a Genuinely United Church

New book: In One Spirit,by Dave Mann

New Zealand needs a more functionally united Church

While the Church is no longer in the majority in our nation, it could yet become an effectively activated minority. What is needed is functional unity.

Dave Mann, the originator of the Hope Project, has a released a new book on the need for greater Church unity. In One Spiritreflects and captures the essence of Mann’s conversations with over 1000 Kiwi pastors over the past eight years.

“The authorship of the book can be credited to the city and town pastors’ groups I’ve had the privilege to listen to over the past eight years,” explains Mann.

“Too often unity within cities and towns is little more than a coming together to sing ‘Kumbayah me Lord’. We sing and pray – and this is needed and good,” says Mann.

“But it is necessary that the goal be far more than this. Jesus’ prayer for unity in John 17 was made in a context of outreach. We have lost our public voice in this nation, even though our numbers are sufficient to have a positive impact upon public perception and belief.

“Only through a deeper commitment to our unity in each town and city, and then nationally, can we change this. Our individual efforts are not enough.

“While denominations can support the various congregations in their networks well, they are inadequate conduits for local mission alone, and certainly in these times. The kinds of efforts enabled through unity within each place are also needed!

“Churches can achieve things together in cities and towns that they cannot achieve apart. There is real potential here for greater impact, if we are willing!”

A closed FB page has been started for Christian leaders who are interested in this conversation, called Mahi Ngātahi (Working together). This is to enable leaders around our nation to share their various ideas for application of principles, so we learn from each other and develop a common vision.

See BigBookPublishing.co.nz/product/in-one-spirit or a local Christian bookstore for more.