Based on years of field research and interviews, Gibbs and Bolger examine the ways emerging churches attempt to be relevant to contemporary culture, and uncover important patterns among these new congregations—decentralized leadership, an emphasis on relationships over structure, and generosity in service, for example.

“We [are] concerned to dispel the myths that the emerging church is simply a passing fad representing an avant-guard style of worship,” Gibbs and Bolger state in the book. “Emerging churches are missional communities…consisting of followers of Jesus who are seeking to be faithful in their place and time.”

“The authors paint emerging churches as attractive, hopeful and ever-evolving, populated by some of the most vibrant, open-minded and service-oriented young Christians,” Publishers Weekly writes about the book. “Readers who are attached to ‘church business as usual’ will be shaken up by this book, while those ready for a change will find it energizing.”

“If you want to be truly conversant with emerging churches, this is the book to read. It's locally specific and globally aware—as are emerging churches themselves,” says popular author and theologian Brian McLaren.

Eddie Gibbs is Fuller’s Donald A. McGavran Professor of Church Growth and the author of several books, including the critically acclaimed ChurchNext, winner of a Christianity Today book award. Ryan K. Bolger is assistant professor of Church in Contemporary Culture and academic director of the Master of Arts in Global Leadership at Fuller. The two professors are sought-after speakers together on the topic of the contemporary church.

Fuller Seminary is one of the largest multidenominational seminaries in the world, with nearly 5,000 students from 70 countries and more than 100 denominations. Fuller provides professional and graduate-level education in its schools of theology, psychology, and intercultural studies.