What Is the Church and Why Does It Exist?
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David Fitch is B. R. Lindner Chair of Evangelical Theology at Northern Seminary Chicago, IL. He is also one of the co-founders of Missio Alliance and coaches a network of church plants in the Christian and Missionary Alliance. He is the founding pastor of Life on the Vine Christian Community, a missional church in the northwest suburbs of Chicago, and recently has joined the pastoral staff of a daughter congregation, Peace of Christ Church in Westmont, IL. He writes on the issues the local church must face in mission, including cultural engagement, leadership and theology, and has lectured and presented on these topics at many seminaries, graduate schools, denominational gatherings and conferences. His books include The Church of Us vs. Them and Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines that Shape the Church for Mission.
"David Fitch draws from the heart of the Anabaptist tradition to present a refreshing vision of a gathered community. If you (or people you know) have lost hope, spend an hour with Fitch."
--NIJAY K. GUPTA, professor of New Testament at Northern Seminary
"A compelling vision of the church as a community of practices tending to the presence of Christ in the world. A welcome message for Christian leaders navigating mission in a post-Christendom world."
--EMILY MCGOWIN, assistant professor of theology at Wheaton College
"David Fitch reinvigorates imagination for what the church needs to be in these apocalyptic times. Church isn't simply a service on Sunday morning but a joyful, healing, loving, faithful, surprised-filled community that bears witness to Jesus."
--JR WOODWARD, national director of the V3 Movement, author of Creating a Missional Culture, and co-author of The Church as Movement
"David Fitch gives us hope that church still matters. His analysis can invigorate those who might be discouraged over the church's current ambiguous place in society."
--DENNIS EDWARDS, author of Might from the Margins and associate professor of New Testament at North Park Seminary
"David Fitch takes us back to the ways of Jesus, where church is defined by the communion of practices, culture of presence, and sense of mission. A must read for anyone keen on seeing the church renewed."
--MABIALA KENZO, professor of theology at Faculté de Théologie Evangélique de Boma and director of District Saint-Laurent, Alliance Chretienne et Missionnaire au Quebec
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