Book Review: We Are Here Now - A New Missional Era Offers Guidance and Hope for Missional Journeys
A New book by Patrick Keifert
Reviewed by Mark Lau Branson

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Pat Keifert has experiences as pastor, theologian and consultant. He works at the intersection of those perspectives in this primer on leadership and transformation for churches that want to attend to God’s initiatives in the world. While Keifert is not enamored with the language of “post–” whatever, he is an informed guide concerning what is different, challenging, sometimes traumatizing, and perhaps invigorating about these decades that he calls a “New Missional Era.” In addition to providing historical perspectives and an orientation to recent missiological/theological resources, he also goes to the heart of why and how churches and their leaders too often encounter confusion, denial and missteps in their efforts. Especially important is the framework that he develops after discussing the difference between organizational change and cultural change. If a few leaders are committed to significant congregational change, the process is neither predictable nor controllable – but there are on-the-ground practices of attentiveness and experiments that can make a substantive and hopeful journey for those ready to embrace the risk.

Keifert believes that theology matters – that we can be genuine participants in the Trinity’s initiatives. Keifert also believes that we can be shaped by scripture and Holy Spirit, by attention to each other and neighbor. And, as discernment and experiments and conversations and appropriate planning are implemented, a people called a church can find themselves living with new wisdom, competencies and hope. For those who want knowledgeable sources, Keifert draws on some of the best – Everett Rogers, Ronald Heifetz, George Lakoff, Paul Ricoeur. Also, we hear the best of recent theological/missiological conversations – Newbigin, Bosch, Sanneh, Schreiter. (I would have liked footnotes, but the bibliography is helpful.)

For pastors and other church leaders who want a lay-of-the-land for cultural change in their churches, We Are Here Now provides a map and some primary resources. Keifert’s is the second book offered by ACI Publishers (following Alan Roxburgh’s The Sky Is Falling: Leaders Lost in Transition); this indicates a new phase of maturity and engagement for the missional church conversation. For those who want additional assistance, this book connects with tools offered by Church Innovations. Those of us who are working in churches and other organizations need each other for stories, insights and courage. Keifert is a remarkable partner for the journey.

The Rev. Mark Lau Branson, Ed.D. is Homer Goddard Associate Professor of Ministry of the Laity at Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, and author of “Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change” (Alban, 2004).

“We Are Here Now - A New Missional Era, The PMC Journey of Spiritual Discernment,” by Rev. Patrick Keifert, Ph.D., is available through the Church Innovations online store.