Why We Stayed: Honesty and Hope in the Churches of Christ

The Church of Christ, at this present hour, is host to a multitude of frustrated and disenchanted ministers and scholars. From the inside of ministry, the veneer of our movement disappears and the blemishes take center-stage. Discouragement is common. In response to this state of affairs, we asked an eclectic cast of authors, ministers, and scholars to answer the question, Why did you stay within our movement? The result is a diverse set of answers which we hope will create some hope for the future of our people.Contents: Preface, Scot McKnightIntroduction, Benjamin J. WilliamsI Stayed for the Restoration Plea, Everett FergusonI Stayed for the Love of Scripture, Jeremie BellerI Stayed for the Christ in the Church of Christ, Matthew DowlingI Stayed for the Charity, Steven C. HunterI Stayed for the Water, Grant B. SullivanI Stayed for the Table, Scott ElliottI Stayed for the Singing, Benjamin J. WilliamsI Stayed for the Wild Democracy, John Mark HicksI Stayed for the Wedding, Chris AltrockI Stayed for the Light, Ron HighfieldI Stayed to Bloom Where I Am Planted, John WilsonI Stayed for the Inheritance, Chris Rosser