Contact: Rick Harris, NorthRidge Church, 734-414-7777 ext 3696, rharris@NorthRidgeChurch.com
PLYMOUTH, Mich., Dec. 22 /Christian Newswire/ -- When Brad Powell came to NorthRidge Church in 1990, then known as Temple Baptist Church (Redford, Detroit), he was told by many that stopping its rapid decline in attendance couldn't be done. Yet, under Brad's leadership for the past 16 years, NorthRidge has transitioned from a dying church locked in a pattern of cultural irrelevance, to an exciting, contemporary church communicating God's Word to people from every generation. "The church is the hope of the world … when it's working right", states Powell. With this passionate belief, he led NorthRidge Church through a transition – the result: a minimum of 20% growth annually for the past eight years and they are presently ministering to over 12,000 people in their Weekend Services.
As Powell writes in his soon to be released book, Change Your Church For Good, The Art of Sacred Cow Tipping, "In our journey from irrelevant to relevant; bound by tradition to freed by God's truth; unhealthy to healthy; dying to thriving, we learned a lot…much of it the hard way. God has allowed us to experience our transition in order to provide help and hope; for Christians who know in their hearts that something is desperately wrong with their church; for pastors, leaders and churches wanting to fulfill God's purpose in the world again; and for skeptics and seekers who, whether thy know it or not, are desperately looking for God and His hope…which means they desperately need a church that's working right."
This passion to see the "church working right" has resulted in an annual conference hosted by NorthRidge Church Ministries called Change Without Compromise. This conference provides tremendous insight, help and encouragement to all churches - whether new or existing, contemporary or traditional, growing or dying – that need to transition.
This year's conference Dare You to Try It! on February 8-10 has a "hot sauce" theme, challenging church leaders to take the dare to change. Powell indicates the value of the church is found in how hot they are. Jesus says it best in Revelation 3:15-16 "I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm – neither hot nor cold – I am about to spit you out of my mouth." No matter where a church is today, it can go from bland to hot. . . if you Change Without Compromise. For more information and to register for the conference go to www.ChurchDare.com
Powell's new book, entitled Change Your Church For Good, The Art Of Sacred Cow Tipping by Thomas Nelson will release in February 2007. In this book, Brad has provided a passionate, principled and practical resource for all churches facing the daunting challenge of transition. For more information about Brad and the book go to www.BradPowellOnLine.com
Among those national leaders that have endorsed Powell's conference and book are Pastor Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Church) "…One of the great needs of church leaders is to learn the art of leading transition. Brad Powell and NorthRidge have taken this leadership art to a new level. I highly recommend the example of Brad and NorthRidge Church." and Rev. Jerry Falwell (Thomas Road Baptist Church), "I don't know another church in history that has transitioned as dramatically and successfully as NorthRidge Church under the leadership of Brad Powell."
NorthRidge Church, located on a 79-acre campus, is a non-denominational church serving Southeast Michigan with an active weekly attendance of 12,500. NorthRidge Church is one of the country's largest churches and has been recognized as one of the "Top 50 Most Influential Churches" by The Church Report for a second consecutive year. For more information go to NorthRidgeChurch.com.
