“As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word…who indeed bears fruit…” -Matthew 13:23

Welcome to Faith Fertilizer!

Each month's issue features resources we recommend to help you grow your faith. Here you will find ideas such as books, articles, podcasts, tips, insights, and other tools that your pastors and staff have found helpful along their own spiritual journey.

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Books We're Reading

What It's About

Didn’t there used to be more people in our churches? Is it just our church or is this happening elsewhere? We all feel it, but it is hard to quantify. This is a groundbreaking book based on thorough, social-science based data about the religious landscape and trend in the United States.

Why I Recommend It

The gut-punch statistic from this book that told me it is a must-read for church leaders:

"There are 40 million people in the USA alive today who used to go to church regularly and no longer do.” Their research shows that the great dechurching began in the 1990s and has steadily continued to this day. Their data helps explore some of the reasons why, and outlines possible approaches churches could take (or not take) to effectively help these people find their way back to church.

-Pastor Josh

Voices We're Listening To

What It's About

In Season 3 of the Podcast “As In Heaven” they discuss the topics and findings from the above book “The Great Dechurching.” It is a great accompaniment to the book or a quick intro for those who prefer podcasts to reading books!

Why I Recommend It

While neither of these resources are particularly uplifting spiritually, they have really helped me focus on what's most important, inspiring me to take a deeper look at my own baptismal calling to follow Jesus, and to rediscover the necessity of Jesus’ command to his disciples (and us) in Matthew 28 to go and make disciples.

-Pastor Josh

Listen to the Podcast

Newsletters We Like

Find Graphs About Religion on Substack

What It's About

Burge is a professor and social scientist who is also a pastor. His unique perspective of scientific study of data combined with his heart for and experience of the Church provides unique perspective.

Why I Recommend It

Council has been reading a book together called “The Nones” by Ryan Burge. I have found this Substack (newsletter) to be indispensable for better understanding the religious state of our culture, and also helping correct some of the myths and assumptions about why there has been such significant decline in participation in faith communities.

-Pastor Josh

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