Editorial Review
Research shows that over time, most churches plateau and then eventually decline. Typically, they start strong and experience periods of growth, then stagnate and lose members. Since 1991, the North American population has increased by 15 percent while the number of "unchurched" people has increased by 92 percent. Large church houses that were filled in the 1950s and `60s now hold a fraction of their capacity.
To counter this trend, authors Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson surveyed 300 churches from across ten different denominations that recently achieved healthy evangelistic growth after a significant season of decline. What they have discovered is an exciting method of congregation reinvigoration that is shared in the new book entitled Comeback Churches. Endorsements “As a successful pastor, church planter, researcher, and advisor to thousands of churches, Ed Stetzer speaks from a wealth of experience with all kinds of churches. Now, in one volume, your church can benefit from his wisdom. This book is a winner!” —Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church “First and foremost, it is biblical. Second, it is well researched. And third, it is immensely practical and applicable . . . this book should be in the hands of hundreds of thousands of pastors, staff, and church leaders. Simply stated, it is just that good.” —Thom S. Rainer, author of Simple Church, president/CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources “Finally, a book of practical advice that is based on research. I have seen it both ways— endless research with little advice, or, much advice with little facts. This book strikes the balance with perfection.” —Elmer Towns, Dean of Liberty University “This is the most helpful, practical book on church revitalization I’ve read this century.” —Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University “Comeback Churches is more than a pep talk. It’s rooted in the ‘right stuff’ to bring a congregation out of the dismal into the vital.” —Jack W. Hayford, President, International Foursquare Churches, Chancellor, The King’s College and Seminary “No one, to my knowledge, has done the hard research, presented the facts, and offered such sound advice as Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson… Comeback Churches is the number-one book on turning around declining and plateauing church ministry. —Gary L. McIntosh, D.Min., Ph.D., Biola University “A refreshing book by authors who know how to make research exciting and instructional. Leaders and members of non-growing evangelical churches should read this book (it wouldn't hurt mainliners either)!” —Bill Easum, Easum, Bandy & Associates
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Customer Reviews
Surprisingly Encouraging 
2008-05-27
I am not normally a fan of church growth books. Too many times I think they are all about marketing, making church about product placement and promotion instead of loving God and loving people. I have come away from some books on church growth convinced that it could all be done without reference to or dependence upon God at all.
It was with this skepticism that I came to Stetzer's and Dodson's Comeback Churches. I was pleasantly surprised to read a book that pointed toward the biblical foundations of the church and biblical patterns for its growth. The book is a great encouragement that churches in decline can be revitalized. The reader will be challenged but at the same time stories of leaders and churches sprinkled through the book give the reader hope. I believe that leaders who take the message of this book to heart will be used by God to increase the numbers of Comeback Churches all over the world.
Comeback Churches 2008-01-12
Comeback Churches is an excellent help to pastors and lay leaders trying to bring stagnant, plateaued or declining churches back to life, health and vitality.Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too
An Fine Use of Theology and Statistics 
2007-12-07
The authors do a terrific job of communicating a heart for the gospel and theology while sharing observations of how things are done in our fallen world. They are careful to base all conclusions not in the statistics but in what the Bible has told us to do. This book is well worth reading and even sharing with your staff and deacons.
An Excellent Well Written Book 2007-10-23
This is a book the vast majority of pastors and church leaders in America need to read. It is well researched, well written, completely Biblical and extraordanarily practical. This book can help anyone who follows this well written and researched guidance.
Les White D.Min
Very Good 2007-10-18
I've read many books on church growth/church health, and this one is near the top of my list. Although there are many commendable points made, my favorite is the authors' "Missional Matrix." In it they assert there must be a biblical grounding in Christology, Ecclesiology and Missiology. When these three truths are in balance and empowered by the Holy Spirit, a stagnant or declining congregation is on its way to becoming a "comeback church."
This book is a very good read, and would be helpful to any pastor or church leader.
GREAT BOOK! 2007-10-12
Research shows that over time, most churches plateau and then eventually decline. Typically, they start strong and experience periods of growth, then stagnate and lose members. Since 1991, the North American population has increased by 15 percent while the number of "unchurched" people has increased by 92 percent. Large church houses that were filled in the 1950s and `60s now hold a fraction of their capacity.
To counter this trend, authors Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson surveyed 300 churches from across ten different denominations that recently achieved healthy evangelistic growth after a significant season of decline. What they have discovered is an exciting method of congregation reinvigoration that is shared in the new book entitled Comeback Churches. Endorsements “As a successful pastor, church planter, researcher, and advisor to thousands of churches, Ed Stetzer speaks from a wealth of experience with all kinds of churches. Now, in one volume, your church can benefit from his wisdom. This book is a winner!” —Dr. Rick Warren, author of The Purpose-Driven Life and The Purpose-Driven Church “First and foremost, it is biblical. Second, it is well researched. And third, it is immensely practical and applicable . . . this book should be in the hands of hundreds of thousands of pastors, staff, and church leaders. Simply stated, it is just that good.” —Thom S. Rainer, author of Simple Church, president/CEO of LifeWay Christian Resources “Finally, a book of practical advice that is based on research. I have seen it both ways— endless research with little advice, or, much advice with little facts. This book strikes the balance with perfection.” —Elmer Towns, Dean of Liberty University “This is the most helpful, practical book on church revitalization I’ve read this century.” —Leonard Sweet, Drew Theological School, George Fox University “Comeback Churches is more than a pep talk. It’s rooted in the ‘right stuff’ to bring a congregation out of the dismal into the vital.” —Jack W. Hayford, President, International Foursquare Churches, Chancellor, The King’s College and Seminary “No one, to my knowledge, has done the hard research, presented the facts, and offered such sound advice as Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson… Comeback Churches is the number-one book on turning around declining and plateauing church ministry. —Gary L. McIntosh, D.Min., Ph.D., Biola University “A refreshing book by authors who know how to make research exciting and instructional. Leaders and members of non-growing evangelical churches should read this book (it wouldn't hurt mainliners either)!” —Bill Easum, Easum, Bandy & Associates
2007-08-19
Comeback Churches is an excellent resource for those eighty to ninety percent of churches that are plateaued or declining. In my eleven years of pastoral ministry I have served three churches in this category of needing to make a comeback and have read many books on the subject, and this is the best I have read. There are some books on this subject that are written from the perspective of how one pastor led his church to change and growth, and that is inspiring, but that isn't necessarily going to help me. This book is grounded in reality since the authors are both pastors, so they aren't just researching the subject, they are living it; and they studied 324 churches that have successfully made the comeback. These churches came from ten different denominations, of different sizes, locations and histories. Because of that broad background, the principles can be applied to most any church in need of a comeback. The book is thorough; covering a number of subjects from worship to finances to evangelism to what books these comeback pastors are reading; as well as factors that hinder the comeback and how to address those. Comeback Churches is a great textbook on how to lead a church from a position of plateau or decline to growth, and it is also a great book on leadership. After reading the book it is not at all surprising that it is recommended by Rick Warren, Thom Rainer, Elmer Towns, Leonard Sweet, Jack Hayfard and Gary McIntosh.
How to Recapture Vision and Start Your Church Growing Again 2007-08-14
It's no secret that most American Evangelical churches are in plateau and decline, but what can anyone do about it? Ed Stetzer and Mike Dodson have developed a good book for helping these churches recapture their sense of calling and vision and get them back on the road to church health in the book "Comeback Churches: How 300 Churches Turned Around and Yours Can, Too"
The book is based on Dodson's thinking and work in his doctoral thesis "An Analysis of Factors Leading to the Revitalization of Comeback Churches". I like this book because it doesn't give what most are looking for-a cookbook of programs to try to use in church planning. Too many ministry leaders want pat answers and canned resources they hope exist that will automate growth. The mistake I see churches making is too they often choose expediency and pragmatism rather than principles and healthy practices. The "method" Stetzer and Dodson recommend is to practice sound missiology.
The fact is the belief in programs as a solution for church growth is false. What churches need is more than promotional packaging that makes them "seem" more relevant, they need to "become" relevant by putting into practice good missional thinking. There is no short-cut to missional ministry.
An essential acquisition for any spiritual collection strong in church analysis. 2007-08-09
COMEBACK CHURCHES: HOW 300 CHURCHES TURNED AROUND AND YOURS CAN TOO charts the shrinking of the North American Church and the downward trend in attendance, considering how and why churches are stagnant and what might be done to return believes to the pews. Missiologist Ed Stetzer analyzes over 300 formerly declining congregations across some ten different denominations, analyzing church foundations, changes, and how empowerment may be created in the ministry. An essential acquisition for any spiritual collection strong in church analysis.
Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch
A great help in growth. 2007-07-25
A good book on church growth. The authors conducted a survey of congregations that were once in decline but now are growing. Most of the information is basic church growth thought, not much is new concerning the declining church situation. The major ideas from the book are: change in leadership style, involvement from more members, increased prayer, develop children and youth ministries, update worship services, and become more intentional about evangelism.
