Anything that Andy Stanley writes is going to be good.  From Visioneering and Like a Rock to The Next Generation Leader and It Came From Within, Andy knows how to communicate and communicated effectively.  7 Practices of Effective Ministry was co authored by Reggie Joiner, former Executive Director of Family Ministries at North Point and now with reThink group ( which, by the way, puts out incredible children’s ministry curriculum that engages the family, like no other curriculum current produced), Lane Jones, Executive Director of Membership Development at North Point and Andy Stanley, Sr. Pastor of North Point Community Church.

The overall them of the book is based on the sport of baseball (my love for the sport make this book an instant classic). The first 10 chapters, are written as a story of a struggling pastor, who’s name is Ray.  Ray is discouraged, as the church grows it seems that more and more “stuff” is hindering him from his first love.  Ray wonders which direction the church should move, in the story it’s the prospect of starting a school at the church.  Ray is discouraged and has the chance to go to a baseball game.  While he attends the game he has the chance to meet a man and they strike up a conversation that introduces the 7 practices.  Chapters 10-16 go in depth and explain  the practices in greater detail and  how they can be implemented in the local church. 

I think the overall strength of this book is the style in which it is written.  Reading it makes you feel as if you’re sitting at a table having a casual conversation over lunch with authors.  The book is easy to read and the practices are easy to understand and easy to implement.  The practicality of the book is another strong point.  You can definitely see the vision and ministry philosophy of North Point Community Church flowing through the book.

Rarely have I read a book and immediately implemented what the book was saying, but with this book the 7 practices really do help you engage and have a greater, more effective ministry.  I’ve read books before that say that they will give you insight and thought into how to accomplish more in ministry, yet by the end of reading, they come short of the goal then set out to write about.  Not his book; this book hit a grand slam in the practicality department.

I would recommend this book to anyone who needs a refresher course on why ministry is done and how effectively ministry can be done with a few simply adjustments outlined in this book.