Praise for The Present Future

"The Present Future by Reggie McNeal is one of the most thought-provoking and ministry-stimulating books I have read in the past year. Subtitled Six Tough Questions for the Church, McNeal paints a vivid picture of the need for and emergence of missional congregations and apostolic leaders for the twenty-first century. His critique of the decline and baggage of the modern church is right on target and is very useful to pastors and leaders who are struggling with the idea that just doing the same thing better and harder will create a better ministry outcome."
--TransformingChurch.com

"Christian leaders will find great questions being answered in this compelling and motivating work that unwraps what McNeal calls 'the realities of the present future' in the church today."
-- Kelvin Gardiner, district superintendent, Christian and Missionary Alliance.

"This book is a rare find in which McNeal lovingly challenges the church with a spirit of adventure and rediscovery."
--The Rt. Rev. Charles Jenkins, Bishop, The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana

Reggie McNeal serves as the Missional Leadership Specialist for Leadership Network of Dallas, Texas. McNeal is the author of Missional Renaissance, A Work of Heart, and Practicing Greatness from Jossey-Bass.

Leadership Network fosters church innovation and growth through strategies, programs, tools, and resources consistent with their far-reaching mission. Contact Leadership Network at www.leadnet.org.

About Leadership Network ix

Acknowledgments xi

Preface xiii

Introduction xv

New Reality Number One: The Collapse of the 1

Church Culture New Reality Number Two: The Shift from Church 20

Growth to Kingdom Growth New Reality Number Three: A New Reformation: 43

Releasing God's People New Reality Number Four: The Return to Spiritual Formation 69

New Reality Number Five: The Shift from Planning 92

to Preparation New Reality Number Six: The Rise of Apostolic Leadership 120

Things I Didn't Say 140

Conclusion 146

References 149

The Author 151