Launch of Mapping Church Missions

After years of pondering and writing and editing and writing some more, I’m thrilled to share that my book is out of my brain and onto paper. Over a year ago, I signed a contract with InterVarsity Press to write a book about the church and missions. I’m thrilled to share that we are fast approaching the finish line! It went to the printer last week and will be ready to ship on its release date, September 25.

The back cover blurb for Mapping Church Missions says:

The terrain of church missions is often bewildering.

Should we prioritize evangelism or works of service? Local ministries or overseas missions? What’s more important: giving our money or giving our time? Crisis relief or building sustainable, long-term ministries? And what about the often debated pros and cons of short-term missions trips?

In Mapping Church Missions, Sharon Hoover brings her years of experience in local church missions to bear on these and other thorny questions. Instead of taking a hardline stance on one end of the spectrum or the other, she approaches each question with nuance, adding helpful data, presenting new perspectives, and always pressing gently past surface questions to the heart of the matter.

Whether we’re fully aware of it or not, our churches come up against these questions whenever we consider how best to use our resources for the mission of God. Written by an experienced guide, this book maps the terrain of church missions in careful detail, helping us plot our church’s unique course as we seek to serve Christ’s kingdom.

Join the Launch Team

Many thanks to all who have asked how they can help spread the word. Now is the time! With InterVarsity Press’ assistance, I am assembling an official Launch Team.

Would you be willing to share your influence to help me promote my book? Do you have a social media following on Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter? Are you connected in a local network of churches and/or mission organizations? Maybe you are part of a book club or a Facebook group?

If so, sign-up here: Launch Team request form! Your contact info (including social media connections) will help us best support your efforts to promote the book.

What Launch Team members receive…

• Pre-release, electronic copy of the book (“advanced reader copy”). You will be the first to read the book!
• Access to a private Facebook group where you’ll receive photos, quotes, and inside scoops about the book
• Free copy of the book when it’s officially released in September
• Special downloads created for the launch team

What Launch Team members do… 

• Read the book by September 25
• Write a short Amazon review at the end of September
• Spread the word about the book through your social media accounts, to your church and ministry contacts, and with local bookstores
• Promote the book into October
• Preorder the book. Buy a copy for a friend, your pastor, people with a heart for missions, and more!

Write an Amazon Review

If you do not have the time for the Launch Team but still want to help, it would be a huge gift if you would read the book when it is released and then write a review on Amazon.

Adding a review to Amazon is easy! Write at least 2-3 sentences, rate the book by number of stars, and then give your review a title. When writing a review, though, be sure to write about the book. Even though we may have been friends forever, do not write about me. Amazon deletes book reviews that talk about the author. Focus on the book, what you liked and didn’t like.

Would you consider pre-ordering the book, then read it and post a review when it comes out?

Steps to writing an Amazon review:
Step 1 – Go to the Mapping Church Missions page on Amazon
Step 2 – Scroll down to “Customer Reviews”
Step 3 – Click “Write a customer review”
Step 4 – Give the book a “star” rating (five stars for great …. one star for not so great)
Step 5 – Write your review in the box (you could compose your thoughts in a Word document and then just cut-and-paste into the box)
Step 6 – Add a title for your review
Step 7 – Click “enter”
Step 8 – Dance around your chair because you just helped the book in the most significant way!!

I have learned that word-of-mouth is one of the best promoters of books. Your willingness to support Mapping Church Missions is huge to me! Thank you for considering being on the Launch team! (By the way, there’s a party forming for the release date… more on that coming soon!)

Sign-up here for the Launch Team. Thank you!

Posted by Sharon R Hoover