This excerpt is from our chapter on prayer:

"A brief survey of the American church conference scene reveals dozens of troubling trends, one of which is this: the American church is addicted to pragmatism. While we can all readily admit that there are sociological realities, organizational principles, proverbial truths, managerial techniques, and communication methods that apply to leading a strong church as much as they do to running a Fortune 500 company, launching a startup, coaching a little league team, or organizing a prom, there is an important sense in which gospel work is unlike any other work. The sooner we come to grips with this the better. This work relies – necessarily, perpetually, mysteriously - on the supernatural power of the Spirit."