Selected Assimilation Resources

Assimilation/Evangelism

Assimilation: the Church Involving and Keeping Its Members, Lyle Muller, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 1986.

Assimilating New Members, Lyle E. Schaller, Abingdon Press, Nashville, 1978.

Close the Back Door: Ways to Create a Caring Congregation Fellowship,
Alan F. Harre, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 1984.

The Inviting Church: A Study of New Member Assimilation, Roy M. Oswald and Speed B. Leas, The Alban Institute, Washington DC, 1987.

New Member Assimilation: Practical Prevention of Backdoor Loss Through Frontdoor Care, Joel D. Heck, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 1988. (available from author)

Welcoming Church as Home: An Assimilation Manual, editor, Jerry Kosberg, Concordia Publishing House, 1996.

Volunteer Ministries

Congregational Stewardship Workbook 2000, Education Section, “Building Effective Volunteer Ministry” Chapter. The Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 2000. (order through your District office for lower price)

How to Mobilize Church Volunteers, Marlene Wilson, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 1983.

Sharing the Ministry: A Practical Guide for Transforming Volunteers into Ministers, Jean Morris Trumbauer, Augsburg Fortress, Minneapolis, 1995.

See also the resources listed under the topic “Mobilizing Members for Mission” (left column, scroll down) at the website of The Center for U.S. Missions.

For printer-friendly version, see "Assimilation" in the Downloads library.