My Books

Lasting Impressions Workshop Debuts March 6, 2009

The first workshop based on the book will be featured among other WiredChurches.com workshops at Granger Community Church in Granger, IN. Benefit from the opportunity to network with others reading and applying the book, hear Mark present live from the book's content, and help shape the value of this experience for future workshop attendees.

Among other topics the day will include this discussion:

• Things you can - and can't - do to help others grow. The difference between being responsible "for" others and responsible "to" them.
• The trouble with assimilation and how to fix it.
• Learning to think like an architect in relational spaces.
• Small groups: discipleship or friendship?
• Involving people sooner than later: the power of volunteering.
• How to develop experiences that encourage people to explore and grow in their personal journeys toward Christ.

I hope you'll join me and the Granger team for one or two days of learning and growing on March 5 and 6, 2009.

Learn more and register here.

And Now a Frank Word from Danny...

Danny Franks, pastor of connections at Summit Church in Durham, NC. He had this to say about Lasting Impressions.

Not too long ago I posted my list of my top five reads of ’08.  Topping the charts was Lasting Impressions, the much-anticipated release by Mark Waltz (you can read about the giddiness here).

I spent some time digging into the book over Christmas vacation, because nothing facilitates reading like egg nog and my mother-in-law’s homemade Chex Mix.  Catching up with Mark after reading his first book a few years back was kind of like crossing paths with someone you knew in junior high.  There’s a hint of familiarity, but it’s obvious that some killer growth has taken place.  Mark’s sophomore effort (I’ve always wanted to use that phrase…please pause whilst I check off my lifetime to do list) carried with it a fresh intensity and fervor for why we do what we do in the realm of guest services.

Going into the read, I was expecting more or less of a play-by-play, this-is-how-we-do-it-at-Granger type synopsis.  After the first chapter, I felt kind of like the monkey that kissed the skunk…

Crossroads Comments on Lasting Impressions

Wendy Bender of Crossroads Community in Adrien, MI writes:

New Book!

I love a new book! This one I actually pre-ordered about 2 months ago and I just got it a couple weeks ago. I was so excited. This is book #2 by Mark Waltz, Connections Pastor for Granger Community Church in Indiana. This one is a must read first... but I'm discovering a new love for this new one. Here's something I've been pondering...

"People want to belong to something bigger than they are, something exciting, adventurous, something excellent and significant. But if we aren't clear about calling people to be disciples, sold-out followers of Jesus Christ, they will continue to show up, cheer and maybe even tell their friends, but their lives may not reflect a personal, missional buy-in to the agenda of the kingdom of God and the grace of Jesus Christ. People matter too much to miss this critical distinction. God's agenda matters too much to allow this confusion."

Press Release | January 5, 2009

Group Publishing issued the following press release yesterday:

Pastor Mark Waltz Challenges Churches to Leave "Lasting Impressions"

When new people visit your church, it's a big deal. When they come back, it's an even bigger deal. Author and Pastor Mark Waltz has written a follow up book to his popular book, "First Impressions". His new book, "Lasting Impressions", explains how to create a Church culture of belonging.

(PRWEB) January 5, 2009 -- Group Publishing and Church Volunteer Central are pleased to announce the release of Mark Waltz' transformational new resource for equipping ministry: "Lasting Impressions".

"Lasting Impressions" provides a vision and a blueprint for helping people move from simply visiting a church, to belonging to a church. Or as Waltz puts it, "We want to see people hang around the church long enough to experience how much they matter to God."

We want to see people hang around the church long enough to experience how much they matter to God.

Read this book and remember again why we all got into this thing called church in the first place!

It's a vision that might change you, your church, and people who don't even know God right now. Read it and be impressed.

Tami Frailey on Lasting Impressions

Tami Frailey, staffer at Connection Church in Canton, MI, recently posted about her takeaways from "Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging." She writes:

I was waiting until after the holiday rush to blog my review on Mark Waltz's latest book: Lasting Impressions – from Visiting to Belonging. I wanted to be sure this review didn't get lost in the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

I just finished reading the last page of a good book. “Lasting Impressions: From Visiting to Belonging” is the latest book by Mark Waltz (you can follow him here on twitter) the Pastor of Connections at Granger Community Church. This is a meaty read filled with great stories woven into the fabric of connection. I don’t want to give too much

We Need to Meet

Danny Franks, Connections Pastor at Summit Church in Durham, NC posted this anticipation back in November. I'll be tracking Danny down to see what he's thinking post-read of the new book. Danny writes:

I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve pre-ordered a book, and I’d still have five fingers left over.  (In case you’re wondering: no, I’m not a genetically altered six-fingered mutant.)

Editor’s Note: ask him about the toes.

But today, I count myself in the ranks with you oddball Harry Potter and Nicholas Sparks fans.  Today, we are four weeks away from a book I’ve been anticipating like Jason Gaston anticipates duck season.  Last week, I pre-ordered a copy for myself and one for every member of my Connections staff (sorry to ruin the Christmas surprise, guys).  I even ordered a few extra, because you never know.

The book is called Lasting Impressions by a hero-I’ve-never-met, Mark Waltz (his blog has been a constant presence in my “You Need to Read…” links).

Before you get snarky: yes, he is a Connections Pastor as well.   No, we’d never heard of him or that title when I was hired as the CP here back in ‘03.

Yes, he calls his guest services team First Impressions.  No, I’d never heard of him or that title when we named our guest services team.

Yes, his last name is Waltz.  No, I don’t know how to dance.

Even though I’ve never met Mark personally, he’s a kindred spirit.  He was the First Impressions Guy before First Impressions were cool.  His first book is the first and final authority on the subject of caring for and loving on the guests at your church.  My copy is so marked up and written in that I should probably order another one just for the heck of it.

But on December 9th, I get to read Mark’s take not on how to greet guests, but how to keep guests.  And as a guest-services nerd, that excites me very, very much.  If you’re a pastor - or if you have anything to do with people at your church - order this book while I catch my breath from all the obnoxious sucking up. 

Editor’s Note: got any ideas of a good book title if J.K. Rowling and Nicholas Sparks ever co-authored something?

I'd like to meet Danny. I'll bet he'd write a different post. That'd be interesting reading.

More Unexpected Links Anticipating Lasting Impressions

• Larry Baxter, Calvary Baptist Church, Lafayette, IN
• Bill Reichart, Vine Community Church, Atlanta, GA
  
• Kelly Newton, Southfield Community Church, Channahon, IL
  

Author/Pastor, Kary Oberbrunner on Lasting Impressions

Last month Kary was one of the first to offer his enthusiastic support:

I had the chance this week to review Mark Waltz's new book. I must say I am quite impressed. In Lasting Impressions, Mark explains:

New people visit your church - you greet them warmly and they come back, soon they're attending services regularly. But what then? How do you encourage guests to become more engaged and connected-with God, with other people, with the ministry and mission of your church?

Here's practical advice that begins with a solid biblical philosophy and moves quickly into proven practices fleshed out at Granger Community Church - designated one of America's most innovative churches of 2008 by Outreach magazine.

Here is my endorsement:

In this practical piece, Mark rolls up his sleeves and digs deep, unafraid of getting dirty with what Jesus truly meant by loving people. Seasoned with stories and illustrations from Granger's cutting edge methodology of ministry, readers will walk away with both conviction and courage for applying these principles within their context. -Kary Oberbrunner "Recovering Pharisee" and author of The Fine Line


My advice? Pre-order the book today.

You can read more from Kary here. Order his new book here.

Tim Stevens Weighs In

Tim writes...

My friend and associate, Mark Waltz, has finished his latest book. It will be on the shelves this December, and I CAN'T WAIT!

This is the book that picks up where First Impressions: Creating Wow Experiences In Your Church, his first book, leaves off.

You can pre-order this from Amazon right now!

Read more from Tim here.

Person Tim writes...

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Kem Meyer Responds to Lasting Impressions

Here's an early review from Kem Meyer...

I recently got the chance to read an unfinished manuscript for Mark Waltz’s new book coming out December 8, Lasting Impressions (you can pre-order your own copy). lasting The book reads like a conversation with Mark. I love that. I felt like I was sitting in the room next to him with a cup of coffee while he transparently shared things he’s seen work and bomb in church efforts to connect people. Connections. It’s so loaded. It affects everything.

“At Granger there are people serving on our traffic teams who are still fighting overwhelming addictions. There are women in Bible studies who don’t know how to love their kids in a healthy manner. There are men in technical arts who aren’t convinced Jesus is who he claims to be. Every weekend people who are cheating on their spouse, their taxes or their sales reports return to a service to hear how much they matter to God. They are where they are. We must meet them there.”

There is no perfect answer or one plug and play solution for a church to address this reality. But there are great insights that apply to all of us, if we’re open to keep watching and learning. To pull, not push. To create space, not invade space.

“We can easily make our approach--our programs, services, classes and groups—more important than the people we want to help. When we do, people feel disrespected, insulted and parented. We are not responsible for people but to them. Being responsible TO our people is quite different. And incredibly freeing.

• When I’m responsible to people I understand they have a choice. When I’m responsible for people I think I should decide for them.
  
• When I’m responsible to people I know they must figure out their next step. When I’m responsible for people I try to tell them what their next step is.
  
• When I’m responsible to people I allow them to bear the brunt of the consequences for their own chosen actions. When I’m responsible for people I assume the guilt, or worse the shame, for them.
  
• When I’m responsible to people I engage in their journey, offering encouragement and teaching. When I’m responsible for people I try to direct their journey, never allowing them to wrestle, mess up or make a wrong turn.
• When I’m responsible to people I talk to God on their behalf. When I’m responsible for people I talk to people a lot on God’s behalf.” 

This book covers everything from small groups, to weekend programming, to volunteer strategies, to web sites and more. I especially appreciated how each chapter ended with questions for my own personal reflection and action steps; for me as an individual and for my team. It moved the conversation to a vehicle I could use, not just read.

This is great stuff and I can’t wait for the book to come out.

You can read more from Kem here.