NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- First Assembly of God in North Little Rock, Ark., has one question for the unchurched: "What's Next?" The answer can be found in a book the church published that explains Christianity in simple terms.
Fifteen of the congregation's 1,500 members contributed to the 12-chapter book, "What's Next," according to the Assemblies of God News Service.
The book, written on a fifth-grade level, contains chapters titled: "What does being saved really mean?"; "Why should I go to church?"; and "What is water baptism?"
A five-page glossary of religious terms also is included.
"Everything written for discipleship and evangelism assumes some biblical or religious knowledge," the church's pastor, Rod Loy, said. "We wanted to write something in the language of the unchurched."
Since publishing 7,000 copies in early April, church members have handed out more than 1,000 copies at businesses and community events near the church. Junior high school students and fifth-graders proofread first drafts to make sure the text was understandable, according to the news release.
To cover the $1.27 printing cost for each book, the church asked each of its members to pay for 10 copies. More than $10,000 was raised. The congregation plans to publish a second book about miracles in the lives of ordinary people, according to the news release.
