An evaluation of Alpha, Emmaus, Cell church
and other contemporary strategies for evangelism

by Mike Booker and Mark Ireland
With a foreword by the Archbishop of York

'A highly considered and imaginative critique ...that will be of enormous assistance for a parish planning any form of process evangelism.'
David Hope, Archbishop of York

'This is a long-overdue study of the key resources in evangelism and church growth at a time when the shape and health of the local church is the most crucial issue in evangelism.'
Graham Cray, Bishop of Maidstone

Even the best planned efforts in evangelism can fail. "Some strategies will be unexpectedly effective," say Mike Booker and Mark Ireland, the authors of Evangelism - which way now?, "others will turn out to be disasters when they worked perfectly in the church down the road."

Research has highlighted the significance of effective evangelism and discipleship courses in churches that are growing. Thanks to the Decade of Evangelism there is a rich, even baffling, variety of resources and models available today. In response, Booker and Ireland, both parish priests during that Decade, have produced a timely and thoroughly researched guide to help church leaders discern what is best for their context.

The topics covered by Evangelism - which way now? include: Alpha; Emmaus; Christianity Explored; cell church; DIY courses; parish missions; community development; natural
church development; church planting; the search for spirituality; children's evangelism; and learning from the world Church.

Mike Booker is Director of Mission and Pastoral Studies at Ridley Hall, Cambridge. Mark Ireland is Diocesan Missioner in Lichfield Diocese.

About the new Explorations series
The Explorations series aims to provide a forum for church leaders, teachers, writers and theologians to stimulate debate, to challenge the thinking and practice of the Church at large, and to raise awareness of issues.

Evangelism - Which Way Now? is published by Church House Publishing, price £10.95, and is available from all Christian bookshops and Church House Bookshop, 31 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BN, tel. 020-7898 1305, e mail bookshop@c-of-e.org.uk, or on the web at: www.chbookshop.co.uk (mail order available).