Review:Changing Churches by:Dottie Parish

About the Book:
Changing Churches describes, through the eyes of one couple the difficult journey that “church switchers” travel—a journey often precipitated by disruptive church changes. The book encourages Christ-like trans-formative change in churches rather than man-devised makeovers.
76 % of "church switchers are mature Christians according to a Lifeway study. I looked down on "switchers" until I became one. Then I learned how painful this journey is. My book, Changing Churches will:
• Give pastors and leaders an empathic understanding of church switchers, facilitating assimilation.
• Help church switchers grieve their painful journey and resolve historic baggage, enabling them to fully engage in their new church.
• Broaden members understanding of church changes and the need for prayerful change.
• Teach members how to winsomely witness, bringing friends into the church.
• Inspire members to serve in ministry and missions, building up the church.

About the Author:
Dottie Parish brings a seasoned counselor’s wise viewpoint and the soft heart of a child of God to her first book called Changing Churches: A View from the Pew. 
A longtime resident of the greater Cincinnati area, Parish holds a Master of Social Work degree from Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree from Bucknell University.
She has more than 30 years of professional experience as a counselor at two family service agencies as well as in private practice. Her experience included diagnosing and treating individuals representing a wide variety of problems, socioeconomic backgrounds, and ages as well as short and long term therapy. Her private practice included individual, marital and family therapy with special interest in helping couples resolve marital differences.

Dottie Parish is a wife, mother and grandmother and she loves Jesus and His Church. Her current devotion to God and His church stems from extreme misgivings about drifting away from God and church after graduate school. She and her husband lived for decades without faith. Their return to faith in 1990 begins the journey described in Changing Churches.
Blog: Dottie blogs on a variety of subjects at  http://www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com and on Marriage and Family issues on www.taberstruths.com.

My Review:
 Changing churches for any reason can never be easy for anyone especially if you have been there for an extended period of time and are really involved with that church and the congregation. Dottie Parish takes us along on the journey that her husband and she had taken over a period years and all that was involved with that decision. 

 She shows us that the main person that should be involved in that decision is the Almighty. We should go to Him first and foremost with our concerns and really seek council from Him and others we can trust before we make such a drastic move. Sometimes maybe the things we see or feel really doesn't have to mean change the church you are currently attending. Whatever the case maybe God needs to be in on all decisions especially this one. The author would also like every one out there to know that has been hurt by "the church" not to give up looking for a church to suit them and their family.

So to sum it up, if you are looking to changing churches anytime soon this book based on the author's experiences can help guide you to what you could do to make transition a whole lot smoother.

Disclosure:  I received a free copy of this book/Ebook/Product to review. I was not required to write a positive review nor was I compensated in any other way. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the FTC Regulations. I am part of The CWA Review Crew.