CCE Book Recommendations

The staff of the Center for Congregational Excellence recommend these titles for leaders who want to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their ministry. Search for them at your local library, Cokesbury, your favorite independent bookstore, or online retailers!

Community Engagement

A Future for the Latino Church by Daniel A. Rodriguez and Manuel Ortiz
A New Day in the City by Donna Claycomb Sokol and L. Roger Owens
Becoming Church by Luke Edwards
Both/And: Maximizing Hybrid Worship Experiences by Jason Moore
Building A Storybrand by Donald Miller
Crossing Boundaries by David W. Scott
Deep Roots, Wild Branches by Michael A. Beck
Faithful Presence: Seven Disciplines That Shape the Church for Mission by David E. Fitch
Fresh Expressions of Church by Travis Collins
From Relief to Empowerment by Laycey and Gaston Warner
From Social Media to Social Ministry by Nona Jones
Ripe Fields by Juan M. C. Oliver
Start with Hello by Shannan Martin
The 21st Century Christian by Michael Beck and Michael Moynagh
The Art of Gathering by Priya Parker
Welcome to Dinner, Church by Verlon Fosner
When Thoughts and Prayers Aren't Enough by Taylor Schumann

Health and Wellbeing

Last Child in the Woods by Richard Louv
My Body and Other Crumbling Empires by Lyndsey Medford
My Body is Not a Prayer Request by Amy Kenny
Trauma-Informed Evangelism by Kiser and Heath

Scriptural Literacy and Imagination

Inspired by Rachel Held Evans
The Very Good Gospel by Lisa Sharon Harper
Write the Word Journals by Cultivate What Matters
Write the Word Psalms by Cultivate What Matters

Racial Justice and Healing

Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Present and Future by Ospino, Miranda, and Hoover
Hispanic Ministry in the 21st Century: Urgent Matters by Ospino, Miranda, and Hoover
Radical Reconciliation by Boesak and DeYoung
The Devil's Highway: A True Story by Luis Alberto
The Sum of Us by Heather McGhee

New Faith Opportunities and Communities

Better Together by Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird
Better Together by Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird
Building a Healthy, Multi-Ethnic Church by Mark Deymaz
Leading Together by Bryan D. Sims
Plant Like Jesus by Ben Ingelbretson 
The Church as Movement: Starting and Sustaining Missional-Incarnational Communities by Woodward, White, and Hirsch
The Coming Revolution in Church by Mark DeYmaz

Discipleship

3 Big Questions That Change Every Teenager by Brad M. Griffin and Kara Powell
Choosing the Faithful Path by Beth Crissman and Nancy Burgin Rankin
Discipleship Path by Quincy Brown
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Growing Young: Six Essential Strategies to Help Young People Discover and Love Your Church by Powell, Mulder, et al.
Hearts on Fire by Robert Samuel King
Keep Christianity Weird by Michael Frost
Our Iceberg Is Melting: Changing and Succeeding Under Any Conditions by Holger Rathgeber and John Kotter
Sticky Faith: Everyday Ideas to Build Lasting Faith in Your Kids by Kara Powell, Chap Clark , et al.
The Disciple Making Church by Glenn McDonald