Let Go of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story

Let Go of the Ring: The Hope Chapel Story

If you make disciples and want to multiply churches, this book is for you. Since appearing in 1983, this book has been in its seventh edition and has helped several thousand pastors move from growing strong Christ-followers to multiplying churches. It will teach you to leverage your gifts in the lives of others. Ralph's story and the story of Hope Chapel challenge us to let go of our ways for God's ways. Although he is not the most charismatic speaker, he makes up for it with his writing. The title came from a challenge by Ralph’s dentist regarding plans to leave a megachurch in California and start over in Hawaii: “You’ll never do it, Frodo. You’ll never let go of the ring. The big ones never do.” The motive behind the book is to do things beyond our comfort zone and learned behavior, to believe in others when others normally wouldn't, and to let go of our desire for self-importance for God's plans. In other words, to "LET GO OF THE RING." Read and observe as one tiny congregation grows into a movement of more than 2,500 congregations (more than 240,000 people). Ralph's account of what it took to abandon security and begin again is three times inspiring. What sets it apart from other books on church multiplication is that this man actually experienced the story with all its bumps, bruises and victories. The book is short on theory and long on reality. This story of the Hope Chapel mosaic of churches is funny and heartwarming; it also presents a simple, practical approach to making disciples and multiplying churches. See how God turned a handful of people with no money and few resources into a movement operating on every continent. You'll learn how individual surrender to God mounts up to allow ordinary people to make a great difference in the world. What happened to these people could happen to you! Gather: 1. The organic nature of making disciples through relationships. 2. Just how little material support you need to plant a new church. 3. The power of God to turn broken lives into strong tools of his grace. 4. Why a promise "to love you... as is!" is important to the spread of the gospel. 5. Next steps in your own life.