Hit the Bullseye - 9780687043712

This book is not an attempt to offer hope, help, or even advice on what denominations need to do. However, it is a book about a significant turn-around of a middle-level administration of justice in one Protestant denomination and it does offer hope that other like administrations might be able to experience a better and more effective existence. Everyone's experience is unique and therefore cannot be replicated. However, the implementation of foundational all-encompassing principles, the development of new strategies, and the performance of specific tactics that are successful in one situation does offer hope to others that their modeling of the principles, adapting the strategies, and creating specific tactics to fit their context can bring change.

"Thisbook is a gutsy look at denominational life, leadership and vision, and offersnew paradigms for the local church, middle judicatories and nationaldenominational life. A must-read for anyone interested in bringing renewal tothe local church and our denomination. Clearly, Borden has hit the bull's-eyewith regard not only to our denomination's needs but also how renewal begins inthe local church."- ABE News

Forewordto Hit the BullseyebyLeith Anderson

July 2003

"Somelook at things that are, and ask why. I dream of things that never were and askwhy not?"

--George Bernard Shaw

There are approximately 400,000 churches in the UnitedStates and the vast majority of them belong to denominations.Some are healthy, vibrant, and growing. Most are tired, struggling, not growing, and don’t know what to do.

Plenty of critics and cynics take surveys, analyze data,and write books about what is wrong with the churches of America.As if following the theology of
Chicken Little they are convinced that the sky is falling and there is little wecan do except seek cover. Proposals for renewal often are offered by theoristswho tell practitioners what to do but have never actually done it themselves.

What if?

What if there was a way to help declining churches to grow?What if we could teach pastors how to lead their congregations tospiritual renewal?What if thousands of churches changed from maintenance tomission?What if a movement beganwith 200 churches that grew to 200,000 churches?What if millions of unchurched people came into lasting relationshipswith Jesus Christ and the church?Whatif the denominations of America with all of their people, property, andpotential became the epicenter of this spiritual earthquake that became known asthe Great Awakening of the 21^st Century?

Maybe all this sounds too good to be true. Well, it has