The Indispensable Guide for Smaller Churches is filled with solid theology on the one hand and practical applications on the other. Ray shares the best of his discoveries during more than 30 years as pastor, denominational leader, and consultant to small churches.

Many churches, especially small-membership ones, have ceased searching for spiritual meaning, greater faithfulness, and meeting others' needs -- those things that give a church zest for life and hope for tomorrow -- and instead have either sunk into the routine of their own lives or are drowning in difficulty and despair. Basing his counsel on case studies of 20 small churches, Ray offers ways to avoid or recover from that.