What people are saying about … VERTICAL CHURCH “James MacDonald is one of the most passionate church leaders I have ever known. I count it a great privilege to call him my friend. Vertical Church will force you to think fresh thoughts about the future of the church in the US and around the world. The chapter on preaching impacted me greatly.” Bill Hybels, senior pastor of Willow Creek Community Church, South Barrington, IL, author of Courageous Leadership “If I read another book broad-brushing and bad-mouthing the church, I may end up doing prison ministry from the inside. Jesus loves and died for the church. That’s why I love Vertical Church; it’s about God’s people and God’s glory. It’s not just another book by a critic or theoretician but a real vision from a real pastor with a real church making a real difference for the glory of God and good of people.” Mark Driscoll, Preaching and Vision pastor of Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA “James MacDonald is a man captivated and consumed by the God of the Bible, and as always, that leads to a heart transformed by God expressing a passion to make God known, seen, and worshipped. I’m so grateful for much that has been written here. The chapters on transcendence and glory stirred my heart to worship, and the chapter on prayer was challenging and convicting. The fact that this was written by such a good friend makes me recommend it to you all the more strongly. May God use this to stir your affections for Jesus.” Matt Chandler, lead pastor of The Village Church, Flower Mound, TX, president of Acts 29 Church Planting Network “I didn’t just read this book—I savored it. It’s packed with great content that every pastor, whether a rookie or a veteran, will benefit from. I’m so grateful my friend James MacDonald invested the time to help us all, because it is a message of hope for every church.” Rick Warren, author of The Purpose Driven Life “James MacDonald is one of the most effective Bible teachers alive today. His passion for God’s Word and for God’s people is contagious. I’m grateful for Vertical Church because I believe it will inspire you to fight for a higher purpose in your life and ministry.” Steven Furtick, lead pastor of Elevation Church, NC, author of Sun Stand Still “My friend James MacDonald reminds us that the church of the living God is meant to be a place of holy attraction. There’s a lot of things we can do to attract and gather people, but only one thing will mark and transform them forever: the presence and work of our great God. Thank you, James, for reminding us that ‘no personal quiet time, no Christian book, no community or small group or service can substitute for the absence of God coming down to meet with His church corporately.’” Dr. Crawford W. Loritts Jr., author, speaker, senior pastor of Fellowship Bible Church, Roswell, GA “There is no one on the planet that I respect more when it comes to biblical knowledge and love for the church than my friend James MacDonald. I am constantly encouraged and challenged by his love for the gospel and his awe of God. I am so glad he took the time to write this book reminding us all what the church is supposed to be about, why we exist, and how we can impact the world in ways we never imagined.” Perry Noble, senior pastor of NewSpring Church, Anderson, SC “There is nothing like learning from guys who are doing significant ministry. Vertical Church is a treasury of principles and experience that challenges leaders to be biblical and radical. James MacDonald doesn’t give us easy answers but does point us to an awesome God who is on display through His church.” Darrin Patrick, lead pastor of The Journey, St. Louis, MO, author of For the City “Once again, James MacDonald nails it! The greatest threat facing the church isn’t a foe from without but a failure from within … the failure to lift up our eyes and see God for all that He is. With unflinching effectiveness, Vertical Church gets us back to the basics of aligning ourselves, and our churches, with a straight line up!” Bob Coy, senior pastor of Calvary Chapel, Fort Lauderdale, FL “The apostles had something in the early church that I long for in mine: the active presence of God moving actively among His people! If you, like me, thirst for a church that connects Vertically with our awesome God, then this book is for you! Whether you are a leader in the church or a member who wonders what church should be about, my friend James MacDonald has gifted us with a resource that will ignite your passion and increase your appetite for God.” Bryan Loritts, lead pastor of Fellowship Memphis, author of A Cross-Shaped Gospel “One of my passionate prayers for my generation of leaders is that we would be fearless in our theological conviction about who Jesus is and what the gospel is all about. Pastor James is one of those leaders who embodies the total package of educating the new believer, informing the nonbeliever, strengthening the solid believer, and graciously confronting the detractor. All are qualities that I strive to grow in, and his thoughts on church, theology, leadership, and culture will surely help any follower of Jesus.” Carl Lentz, senior pastor of Hillsong, New York City, NY “Vertical Church will ignite your passion for the potential of God’s power in the local church. Whether you’re a leader in the church or just searching for more, you will discover deep and meaningful spiritual truths in this book that will inspire your faith.” Craig Groeschel, senior pastor of LifeChurch.tv, author of Soul Detox: Clean Living in a Contaminated World “Driven by a passion for the church to change the world, a desire for the people in it to encounter God, and a longing for God’s glory to accomplish both, my friend James MacDonald pleads for a revolution among churches. He’s seen it at Harvest Bible Chapel—and you can too in your church.” Dave Stone, pastor of Southeast Christian Church, author of the Faithful Families series “Years ago, I asked a friend about his church’s target audience. He responded, ‘My target audience is the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I figure that if “they” show up, “they” will bring their friends.’ If that rings as true for you as it does for me, then Vertical Church becomes a must read. With clear, biblically based vision, James MacDonald paints a picture of the church that God attends. And as you might guess, when God shows up in your church, the unexplainable takes place. If this is what you long for, as I do, read this book. After all, God really does want to attend your church.” Don Cousins, author of Unexplainable: Pursuing a Life Only God Can Make Possible “People-focused ministry cannot forsake the God who sends us. James MacDonald’s Vertical Church is a bold corrective to horizontal ministry that sometimes deemphasizes the focus on a glorious and holy God. It’s definitely worth reading, discussing, and applying with your church’s leadership.” Ed Stetzer, president of LifeWay Research, www.edstetzer.com “By the grace of God, Pastor James has been able to accomplish many things over his years of ministry and could easily pull out a Rolodex of quantita- tive accomplishments. However, Vertical Church lets us see that ministry fruit flows from a Godward gospel focus. Through this great work and labor of love the reader will wrestle through whether their service is fueled by the transcendence of God or merely temporal pragmatics.” Eric Mason, lead pastor of Epiphany Fellowship Church, Philadelphia, PA “Vertical Church by my friend James MacDonald will take your eyes off the latest methodologies, ministries, and media in the church. It will cause you to look up and get down on your knees, asking God to make your church Vertical for His glory. Give yourself to its message, and your life and ministry will be radically altered in an upward direction.” Greg Laurie, senior pastor of Harvest Christian Fellowship, Riverside, CA “After more than thirty years of church ministry, I thought everything good about the church had already been said. Then I read my friend James MacDonald’s book Vertical Church. Get it. Read it. Read it again. And apply it to your church’s benefit and God’s greater glory.” Dr. Jack Graham, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church, Dallas, TX “When my good friend James MacDonald speaks or writes, I listen and read with tremendous anticipation and expectation. This book may be his best stuff yet! Vertical Church is a clarion call to get back to the church’s one purpose, which is nothing more, less, or but the glory of God in His Son, Jesus Christ. The chapter on preaching alone should be read by every communicator of God’s Word everywhere—and I mean everywhere! James, thanks for giving the Christian world this invaluable resource and inspiration!” James Merritt, lead pastor of Cross Pointe Church, Duluth, GA “The gospel is about God. The church exists for God. We should leave public worship transfixed by God. These truths should probably not be revolutionary, but as James shows in this book, they are—particularly for those of us in the West.