Convergence: Riding the Sea Change in U.S. Churches
Candid Conversations on DVD . . . The Aging of Small Groups . . . and What the Church's Next Generation Wants
Contact: Monique Sondag, 214-536-4319, Monique@Lovell-Fairchild.com; www.AllThingsConverge.com
NASHVILLE, Oct. 6 /Christian Newswire/ -- A look at Donald Miller's new Convergence DVDs--frank dialogue between Miller and leading Christian thinkers--is a view of the sea change in the American church.
That change shows strongly in small groups, for 40 years the backbone of the church and in some 93 percent of US Churches (according to Beyond Megachurch Myths from Josey Bass Publishers). The aging of small groups ("Group Movement Showing its Age," Washington Times, 2-15-09) stands in contrast now to what younger seekers don't like about them--including "reading assignments and Q&As" over relational learning.
In the words of Erick Goss, managing partner of Creative Trust Media and creator of the Convergence DVDs: "The former 'What do you know?' gives way now to 'What is your life about? And Who are you?" The shift is from teacher-student to shared spiritual formation."
Convergence, in stores this Nov. 17, rides the demographic shift in an unprecedented series of 15-minute videos for small groups--the first video series produced for a video generation with small groups in mind. "Rob Bell's excellent Nooma DVDs began as stylized sermons. And Louie Giglio's bestseller, The Passion Talk series, came packaged from the highly successful Passion conference," Goss explains. "Both leveraged video with this generation in mind, proving the ready reception is there."
Goss punctuates his points with stats and conclusions from "Lost & Found" a recent poll of "younger unchurched and the churches that reach them," by the Southern Baptist Church. "The vast majority of 20-somethings believe they can have a good relationship with God outside of church," Goss recaps. "They believe Christianity places organized religion over loving God and loving people. They'll listen to someone who believes in Christ but it better be authentic."
Three Significant Trends
The aging of small groups is one of three trends upending the church, now and long-term, Goss said. The other two trends are 1) this generation's "reality" demands against talking heads or shallow fixes--and 2) its reflexive use of technology.
"President Obama was backed by young Evangelical Christians whose passions and hot-buttons don't necessarily reflect the Boomers. And much of it was accomplished online and on Twitter," Goss said. "Demographics alone tell us the church we have today is not the church we'll have 20 years from now. A lot rides on how we react to the truth and apply it t" our lives. A lot rides on using an abundance of technology and adapting how we communicate.”
Why Don Miller?
Donald Miller is the New York Times bestselling author of Blue Like Jazz, a book that sold 1.2 million copies and exposed a generation hungry for faith over religion. "A lot of kids want to know God but are embarrassed by the church as they see it," Miller says. "They're not giving up their Wednesday nights for a study guide and a highlighter. But tell them who you are, speak to their honest questions from your own life and, believe me, they make time."
Miller, increasingly the voice of the next generation of believers, rises to the bar in his conversations with, for example, Dr. Dan Allender, former president of Mars Hill Graduate School and professor of counseling. Allender turned to God when he learned of a contract on his life for selling illegal pharmaceuticals, he tells Miller. And even in his undeniable belief, Allender says, he has disbelief. "Where do you find God?" Miller asks. Allender replies: "Go to the darkest place you can think of, and God is there"--the tip of a fascinating exchange of disclosure, depth, faith, and wisdom.
Tremper Longman III, author, renowned Old Testament scholar, and professor of biblical studies at Westmont College, shares the conversation with Allender. Fascinatingly, they've known each other since they were 13 years old.
In subsequent conversations, Miller is joined by Phyllis Tickle, 75 years brilliant, founder and former head of the religious division of Publisher's Weekly, who talks about God and the loss of her child; and Lauren Winner, author of Girl Meets God and assistant professor of Christian spirituality at Duke Divinity School; Winner speaks, among other things, on prayer and wandering minds.
Current Titles and Dates
DVD/downloadable titles premiering Nov. 17:
• Frustration and False Gods: Living in a Fallen World
Conversations with Donald Miller and Dan Allender and Tremper
Longman
• Spiritual Practices: How to Meet God in the Everyday
Conversations with Donald Miller and Lauren Winner
• Breaking the Ice: Learning to Share Our Stories
Conversations with Donald Miller and Phyllis Tickle
Supporting Convergence and the launch of his new book, A Million Miles in a Thousand Years, Miller kicked off a 60-city North American bus tour Sept. 15 in Vancouver, British Columbia, taking his one-man brand of Christian conversation from California to New York and points between. For a full list of tour dates and locations, log onto www.allthingsconverge.com.
Publish Date: 11/17/2009
Price: $14.99
UPC:
Breaking the Ice: Learning to Share Our Stories 853026002004
Spiritual Practices: How to Meet God in the Everyday 853026002011
Frustration and False Gods: Living in a Fallen World 853026002028
To talk to Donald Miller or Erick Goss, contact Monique Sondag: 214-536-4319, Monique@Lovell-Fairchild.com
