This book has been long awaited by some, especially those who thought Roxburgh's early work was too academic. It addresses the question: 'How do we turn the church round from maintenance to mission?' Ten years ago he provided the theory and now he provides the practical framework for doing so, suggesting a congregational questionnaire / presentation / workshops / project plan framework. This is good for not providing high ideals and big targets, but Roxburgh's contribution is still best when cogently arguing for a missional church. His work can be transferred to this side of the pond and I found his most helpful quote from Rowan Williams (p20) who said, 'It is not the church of God that has a mission. It is the God of mission that has a church'.

Introducing the Missional Church is not your simple 'how to' book. It is a wonderful imaginative exploration into what it means for the church to be missional. Roxburgh and Boren navigate through the defining issues and then they give us concrete means for leading our churches through the transition. At a time when the word 'missional' has become painfully confusing, this book puts a stake in the ground for defining the contemporary church's life in God's mission. For those of us in the missional conversation, it is the book we have sorely needed.