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PRESS RELEASE
February 15, 2016
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Christine Muller
Litfuse Publicity Group
727-219-6460
@litfuse
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What if every Christian believed they've been called to full-time ministry?Authors ask believers to move beyond Sunday morning Christianity to true missional living
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 Seattle: For far too many Christians, the idea of being part of a church simply means attending a Sunday morning service, maybe a small group or a sprinkling of special events each year. Is that what God had in mind for his bride, the Church, when he sent his son to save her? Pastors and church planters Jeff Vanderstelt, and co-author, Ben Connelly, invite readers to experience something deeper in their new book, Saturate Field Guide: Principles & Practices for Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life (Saturate/February 15, 2016).
Inspired by Habakkuk 2:14, which reads, "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord as the waters cover the sea," Vanderstelt and Connelly wrote the Saturate Field Guide to show believers how the gospel permeates every aspect of their life. This begins with understanding ministry isn't just what pastors do on Sundays and discipleship is much more than a class or program. Instead, both are a 24/7 call to live in absolute submission to the Lord, joining with others on God's mission, where each person sees himself or herself as a servant missionary sent to make disciples.
"This is not just about being a part of a Bible study," Vanderstelt explains. "It's about engaging in everyday life with a group of believers, who together, are committed to bringing the experience of Jesus' rule and reign into a dark world and proclaim the gospel." Both authors encourage readers of Saturate Field Guide to imagine their cities, neighborhoods, schools and workplaces proclaiming the glory of Jesus through words and gracious deeds so that every man, woman, and child has a daily encounter with Jesus.
Saturate Field Guide is designed to help readers of all levels of spiritual maturity maintain their eternal perspective and bridge the gap between what they know about God and his mission for them and the mundane realities of everyday life. With an eye toward keeping the gospel at the center of every interaction, the guide is an incredibly practical and engaging manual. Each chapter builds on the next, asking readers to align their heart with the will of God, examine their core beliefs and then launch into a mission where they can put their knowledge into hands-on practice. The 8-week guide offers questions, prayers and exercises designed to create disciples of Jesus Christ who, in turn, make other disciples.
The book, while inspired by Vanderstelt's 2015 release, Saturate, (Crossway) is a stand-alone resource, intended to be used by both groups and individuals. "No aspect of Christianity is designed to be an individualistic pursuit," Connelly adds. "The best way to pursue sanctification and discipleship is lock-arms with others, working toward the same things and supporting each other along the way."
Vanderstelt and Connelly hope Saturate Field Guide affirms the truth that when God's people commit together to sow gospel seeds in the everyday rhythms of life, the ripple effect will move through their own lives out toward the whole earth, saturating it with the good news of Jesus.
Advance Praise
"I've always been grateful for Jeff Vanderstelt's heart for discipleship. . . . He does what all good leaders should do: spends his days equipping others to do the work of the ministry."
~Francis Chan, New York Times best-selling author of Crazy Love and Forgotten God
"Saturate is a compelling and biblically serious picture of Jesus and the mission he has given his people. It is a book that is deeply doctrinal and helpfully applicable. . . . I pray it encourages you."
~ Matt Chandler, Lead Pastor, The Village Church, Dallas, TX; President, Acts 29 Church Planting Network
About the authors
 Jeff Vanderstelt is the visionary leader of the Soma Family of Churches and the lead teaching pastor of Doxa Church in Bellevue, Washington. He also travels around the U.S. and the world equipping the church in the gospel and missional living. Vanderstelt is the author of Saturate: Being Disciples of Jesus in the Everyday Stuff of Life.
He and Jayne, his wife of 22 years, have three children; Haylee, Caleb and Maggie.
 Ben Connelly started and now co-pastors The City Church, part of the Acts 29 network and Soma Family of Churches. He is also the co-author of A Field Guide for Everyday Mission (Moody Publishers). With degrees from Baylor University and Dallas Theological Seminary, Connelly taught public speaking at TCU for six years. He now leads church planting for the Soma Family in North America, writes for various publications, trains folks across the country and blogs in spurts.
Connelly, his wife Jess and their kiddos Charlotte, Maggie and Travis live in Fort Worth, TX.
Suggested interview questions
- You begin Saturate Field Guide with Habakkuk 2:14. Share that verse with us and how it captures the spirit and message of this book.
- This field guide (FG) is based on content from the book, Saturate. Do readers need to have read Saturate to use this guide?
- How is working through Saturate Field Guide, chapter by chapter, different from simply reading a book?
- How do you think Christians' view of discipleship need to change?
- Why should this guide be used in a group setting? Can it be done on an individual basis?
- You encourage readers to begin their group time together with someone sharing his or her personal story. Why is that important?
- Describe what you mean when you refer to a "missional community."
- Why do you think there is often such a disconnect between what Christians say they believe and how they actually live their lives?
- What are some of the everyday life situations where people can find discipleship, community and mission?
- What is a Gospel identity?
- A lot of discussions in the church today revolve around developing strategies to make the church more relevant and effective - particularly to the new generation of young people reaching adulthood. What are your concerns with that focus on strategy?
- What is our greatest hope for reaching those who are lost?
To request a review copy of Saturate Field Guide, to schedule an interview with Jeff Vanderstelt and Ben Connelly, or for more information, please contact Christine Muller, christine@litfusegroup.com.
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Litfuse Publicity Group provides marketing and publicity services for authors with a focus on building relationships and 'fusing' authors with their readers. Litfuse creates targeted campaigns unique to each author and each book. No cookie cutter campaigns. Come see what's stirring in the nest.
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