Description:
By Bill Easum. This book is not meant to be read by or with just anyone. It is meant to be read by a pastor and group of lay people who long for their church to turn around from its decline. Because of its frankness I suggest that a pastor read it first, then gather a group from the church (the remnant) who long for the turnaround, and read and discuss the book with them. Then begin the long journey of turnaround of the church.

Table of Contents:
1. When It's Not a Matter of Sickness
2. Are We Spiritually Dead?
3. How Churches Die Spiritually
4. Turnaround Is an Eternal Issue
5. Leaders: It’s Time to Die to Yourself
6. A Life Worth Watching
7. Resurrection Begins with You
8. Rolling Away the Stone
9. Life beyond the Tomb
10. Pastor, Are YOU Ready for Resurrection?
Epilogue: The Meaning of Faithfulness
Appendix

Author:
Bill Easum is the Vice President of Easum, Bandy and is one of the most highly respected church consultants and Christian futurists in North America. Bill has been a pioneer in the church growth movement, with 35 years of pastoral ministry in four churches and two denominations. During his 24 years at Colonial Hills Church in San Antonio, the church grew from 35 in worship to over 1,000, with 2,200 members. His record of evangelization and social justice ministries has been acknowledged by the Industrial Areas Foundation in New York as one of the finest records in North America. Bill is a graduate of Baylor University, B.A., Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.D., and Perkins School of Theology, S.T.M. Bill and his wife Jan have one daughter, Caran. Bill's main vice is he loves to salt water fish and then let the fish go.

Reviews:

I know you get hundreds of these. I have met you several times, first in Lynchburg, VA in the 1990s and then at Christ UMC(John Speight) and in the early 2000s at Great Bridge Presbyterian Church. I am reading your newest book on resurrection and I feel like you have read my "frustrated" mind as I have been serving a UM church in Northern Virginia that could be doing what John is doing at Christ, but is too concerned with keeping the institution going. 

I came into ministry for one reason, to bring people to Christ and see their lives changed. I was led to Christ in 1978 at Elon College by a guy named Erwin McManus. I got to thank him over 25 years later at a Promise Keeper event. I am about Kingdom Building, not church growth, for I feel Christ can use many different churches with various styles of worship if we are true to his call on our lives. 

I plan on using your book with my key leaders, which could mean a move for me in the summer of 2008, which is okay. I am in my fourth year here and need to "go for it!" Thanks for the inspiration and the resources!
Frustrated Pastor in Northern Virginia

I continue to read and re-read Secnd Resurrection, and want to thank you for writing this book. It has helped me clear some fog and get a better picture of my call and God's vision for where I'm at. As I was thinking of what the message/worship theme(s) for this summer I thought about what you said in the book about the Sermon on the Mount and being followers/apprentices of Jesus rather than of "the book." So, I'm thinking of doing a summer long "Apprentice" type series using the Sermon on the Mount. Each week would highlight a particular part and issue some "challenges" for people to complete during the coming week as individuals and as teams. Thanks for always helping to pry my eyes, my heart, my head, my life wider open to the Spirit. Greg Wack

Dear Bill,
Like many of the pastors you described in your book, I'd allowed 
myself to grow "jaded" or "cynical."  Oh, I still believed Jesus was 
and is the only way to salvation and eternal life in the Kingdom, but 
I'd lost the urgency and become complacent.  During the last 
Conference cycle, my wife came under unbelievable attack from people 
who claim to be the most spiritual in this church.  Foolishly, I 
fought back.

I found an article you'd written describing  6 characteristics of 
healthy churches, and actually called y'all back earlier in the summer 
about dealing with bullies.  Reading 2nd Resurrection has enabled me 
to see the emerging rebirth of the urgency I once felt to see the lost 
saved.  Bill, our Sunday morning services are leading more people to 
salvation and rededication than have happened at any other time in his 
church's history!

Still, reading 2nd Resurrection has called me to any even greater 
level of committment and surrender.  i'm striving to open my heart up 
to Jesus so he can cleanse me of all the remaining rebellion within 
me!  Thank you for this book!

Sandy Douglass