March 2022 Resource
Title:
2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change
Author:
Tom Sine and Dwight J. Friesen
Publisher:
Fortress Press, Minneapolis, MN
Book Review By:
Melvin Amerson
Premise of the book:
Churches and Christian organizations must embrace practices and processes to anticipate and adjust to rapidly changing environments.
What this book does:
2020s Foresight is a great resource for clergy and leaders who want to effectively lead during times of uncertainty and rapid change. The authors focus on three vital practices: foresight (analyzing the accelerating changes and anticipating new opportunities and strategies for addressing change), reflection (discerning biblical purposes for times like these), and creating innovative ways to engage new challenges to advance God's purposes in our lives, congregations, and organizations in the 2020s. Also, they address challenges for the various young generations’ groups and ways churches and Christian organizations can help resolve some of these pressing issues. Churches and ministries attempting to solve these problems are offered chapters that conclude with prayer and group discussion questions.
Contents:
Chapter 1- Three Vital Dance Steps: Welcome to the Dance of Anticipation, Reflection, and Innovation in a Decade of Accelerating Change
Chapter 2- Anticipating New Opportunities in the Turbulent 2020s
Chapter 3- Reflecting: Where Will We Find Hope in the 2020s?
Chapter 4- Innovating for Life
Chapter 5- Innovating for Community-Making
Chapter 6- Innovating in Place
Chapter 7- Innovating as Church
Chapter 8- Invitation
What are some important insights:
The authors of this book provided insights into how to anticipate trends and change in culture. Traits, values, and challenges of Generation Y and Z, provide ideas for ways churches and other organizations can serve and help address their needs and build community.
Possibilities as a resource for churches:
This a great resource for clergy and laity who are visionary, risk-takers willing to attempt to resolve issues and challenges in a rapidly, ever-changing world.
The Rev. Melvin Amerson is a member of the Texas Annual Conference and serves as a Resource Specialist and Area Representative at TMF. His experience and passion lie in encouraging and developing generous, faithful leaders and congregations.
Amerson is the author of Celebrating the Offering, Fruit for Celebrating the Offering, and Stewardship in African American Churches: A New Paradigm, as well as several articles covering topics from generosity, leadership, and visioning. He served as a board member of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center until it was dissolved in 2021 and is currently serving on the Texas Annual Conference Church Leadership Team. He is a nationally recognized generosity consultant known for his engaging presentations. Beyond strengthening congregational leaders, one of his favorite ways to use his skills is to empower Wesley Foundation staff to effectively fund their college ministries.
Melvin obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Texas A&M University in Corpus Christi, an M.Div degree concentrating in Christian education from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia, an Executive Leadership certificate from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, and a certificate in Professional Fundraising from Boston University. Recently, he completed a fundraising certificate with the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy.