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"As churches seek to adapt to an ever-changing world, they need new frameworks, not just more information. Preaching to Those Walking Away provides a new and compelling vision for preaching to a modern world, one that looks dramatically different from the one most clergy were trained to engage. Thought-provoking and well-considered, Standish’s latest book is an important read for anyone concerned about the future of the church.”

—Josh Packard, executive director, Springtide Research Institute, and coauthor of Stuck: "Why Clergy Are Alienated from Their Calling, Congregation, and Career . . . and What to Do about It”

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“For decades now, Graham Standish has been inviting Christian leaders to defect from nostalgia (looking back to some golden age) and join him in creative engagement, moving from old, settled assumptions, through a transformation process of unlearning and letting go, to a new journey. In Preaching to Those Walking Away, Standish shares what he has learned (and continues to learn) about preaching. I would wish this book on every seminarian, preacher, and teacher everywhere. Intelligent, passionate, clear, and practical . . . it's just the guidance we need right now.”
—Brian D. McLaren, author of "Faith after Doubt"
 
“In an age when people are leaving church and not coming back, preachers need all the help they can get. Thankfully, Graham Standish has brought his deep wisdom and experience to bear on the topic of preaching, and the result is a thoughtful, accessible book that will transform the way preachers think about their art. For a long time now, Standish has been one of our most trusted guides in pointing the way toward spiritual renewal in congregations—and he’s done it again!”
—L. Roger Owens, professor of Christian spirituality and ministry, Pittsburgh Theological Seminary
 
“Standish calls contemporary preachers to a transformational, postmodern, apostolic proclamation for the sake of the nones and dones. He delivers a compelling and inspirational argument for preaching to those who have been and are still walking away from a church that does not speak to them.”
—Laura L. H. Barbins, bishop, Northeast Ohio Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
 
“Preaching to Those Walking Away is the right book for this historic moment. Every preacher who longs for greater impact needs to dive into this inspirational, practical book. Graham Standish provides fresh ideas drawn from many perspectives, with artful sermon illustrations sure to inspire.”
—Lori Carrell, chancellor, University of Minnesota Rochester; author of "Preaching That Matters: Reflective Practices for Transforming Sermons" (Rowman and Littlefield, 2013) and Communicate for a Change: Revitalizing Conversations for Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2021)
 
“In our current environment, there is a lot of hand wringing about the decline in church attendance but not a lot of willingness to change our practices to meet those who are going or already gone. Graham Standish provides clear, practical recommendations on how the preacher might speak to the hearts of those who are seeking spiritual nurturing and not finding it in church. A worthy read.”
—Kym Lucas, bishop, the Episcopal Church in Colorado

 

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