PIC No. 118: Pails in Comparison (July 27, 2026)
• Title: The Prospering Parachurch: Enlarging the Boundaries of God‘s Kingdom
• Authors: Wesley K. Willmer and J. David Schmidt, with Martyn Smith
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass Inc., Publishers (Oct. 30, 1998, 232 pages)
• Management Bucket #2 of 20: The Customer Bucket
Welcome to Issue No. 118 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.
Why am I recommending The Prospering Parachurch—now almost 30 years after it was published? C.S. Lewis wrote, "It is a good rule, after reading a new book, never to allow yourself another new one till you have read an old one in between."
The Prospering Parachurch was published in 1998 and, at the time, I was privileged to serve as the CEO of Christian Management Association (now CLA). Wes Willmer and David Schmidt invited me to endorse the book—and here’s what I said:
"I've spent practically my entire career working for parachurch organizations. I consider The Prospering Parachurch a 'must read' for parachurch presidents, board members, staff, and those serious practitioners that need to understand the revolutionary transformation caused by the parachurch movement.”
Back in 1998, while I was reading and reviewing books in CMA publications and elsewhere, I was not yet posting reviews on Amazon. (Amazon launched in 1995.) So…last week I looked for any reviews I had written about this important book. No luck—so I asked AI for help. (Reminder: I’m writing this in 2026!) And while I thoroughly read every book I review, I don’t ask AI to write my reviews. But last week, I did. And the AI version is so much better than what I would write—so I’m sharing my edited version with you. (You’re welcome!)
REASON #1: Why You Should Read This Book Again (or for the first time)
Sometimes a book is important not because it predicts the future—but because it explains the present.
That's how I felt when I pulled The Prospering Parachurch off the shelf nearly three decades after it was published. Wes Willmer, David Schmidt, and Martyn Smith weren't merely describing a growing collection of nonprofit ministries. They were documenting a major shift in how God was advancing His Kingdom.
Today, that shift seems obvious. In 1998, it wasn't.
The authors argued that alongside hundreds of thousands of local churches, tens of thousands of Christian organizations—mission agencies, camps, colleges, rescue missions, media ministries, relief organizations, schools, evangelistic associations, and countless others—had become indispensable partners in Kingdom work. Rather than viewing parachurch organizations as competitors to the local church, they challenged readers to see them as complementary expressions of Christ's mission.
That insight has aged remarkably well.
REASON #2: My Favorite Takeaways Then and Now
What impressed me then—and still impresses me today—is the authors' refusal to romanticize parachurch ministries.
They celebrate the movement, but they also acknowledge its unique challenges: Who owns a parachurch ministry? Who determines its mission? How should boards govern organizations that depend on donors instead of members? How do leaders balance ministry effectiveness with financial stewardship?
Those questions remain just as relevant for today's CEOs, board chairs, and senior leadership teams as they were in 1998.
The book also reminds readers that Christian organizations serve an unusually complex group of stakeholders: donors, volunteers, staff members, board members, churches, beneficiaries, and ultimately the Lord Himself. That reality demands leadership skills that often differ from those required in either business or congregational ministry.
REASON #3: Looking Back with 2026 Eyes
Re-reading this book today is fascinating because so much of what the authors anticipated has happened.
Many Christ-followers now receive much of their discipleship through podcasts, conferences, publishing ministries, camps, universities, online resources, mission organizations, and specialized ministries. Churches continue to play their irreplaceable biblical role, yet they increasingly partner with organizations possessing specialized expertise.
The authors saw this coming—except for the innovation of podcasts!
[2026 PLUG]: check out the growing list of AI-generated podcasts at John Pearson’s Buckets Podcasts, including Podcast #22, “Future-Ready Church.”
That doesn't mean every prediction proved perfect. Technology, globalization, artificial intelligence, and digital communication have reshaped ministry in ways few could have imagined in 1998.
But their central thesis—that God uses both churches and parachurch ministries to enlarge His Kingdom—still rings true. (See Jerry White's book below and also the book by Angie Ward: two books on the church and parachurch conversation.)
REASON #4: We Still Need a Better Understanding of Kingdom Partnerships
If you're a pastor, don't skip this book because you assume it's only for nonprofit executives.
If you're a parachurch leader, read the book to understand what’s it’s like to walk a mile in a pastor’s shoes (or whatever footwear they’re sporting on Sunday morning!).
[Another 2026 Plug]: Check out Saints and Sneakers.
Read it to better understand the remarkable ecosystem God has built through churches, ministries, schools, camps, relief agencies, and evangelistic organizations working together rather than independently.
Billy Graham's endorsement on the cover was well deserved. He called the book "a marvelous job of capturing the essence of this movement." Nearly thirty years later, I'd say history has largely confirmed his assessment.
REASON #5: Savvy Wisdom on Building an Effective Board
Noting the challenges of parachurch governing boards, Chapter 6, “Building an Effective Christian Board,” is helpful and covers the authors’ list of four distinctives of parachurch boards:
1) Common Christian Faith
2) Christian Worldview
3) Doctrinal and Behavioral Standards
4) Accountability to God
The authors then add 11 responsibilities of a parachurch board:
1) Govern Through Policy
2) Select Quality Board Members
3) Ensure Vision and Clarity of Mission
4) Provide Spiritual Leadership and Prayer Support
5) Organize the Board for Effectiveness
6) Appoint, Empower, Support, and Evaluate the CEO
7) Facilitate a Strategic Plan
8) Oversee Financial Resources and Their Management
9) Serve as Final Arbitrator
10) Evaluate the Board and the Organization
11) Represent the Organization to the Public
Note: Now almost 30 years later, you’ll still find alignment with the board governance literature (including organizations that are not faith-based). See my blog, “18 Best Board Books.”
PAILS IN COMPARISON QUESTIONS:
Oh, my. Imagine sitting in a circle today—in a mountain retreat center—with a small group of pastors and parachurch leaders. Plus the authors! I’ll provide the questions and you can jump in with the stimulating conversations (and maybe even disagreements).
1) Has the relationship between churches and parachurch ministries become healthier—or more complicated—since 1998?
2) If this book were rewritten today, what new chapter would be absolutely essential?
3) Is your church or organization intentionally partnering with the broader Kingdom—or merely protecting its own turf?
Note: At your retreat, invite leaders to each give a 10-minute review (“compare and contrast”) of the books noted below. (Rules: 5-minute summary and 5-minutes Q&A.)
[ ] New! Beyond Church and Parachurch: From Competition to Missional Extension, by Angie Ward (May 13, 2025) - Order from Amazon. (Watch for my review.)
[ ] The Church & the Parachurch: An Uneasy Marriage, by Jerry White (1983) – Order from Amazon (Read my review.)
[ ] Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards To Be Rich Toward God, by Wesley K. Willmer, Editor – foreword by Charles Colson (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Wisdom from Lyle E. Schaller: The Elder Statesman of Church Leadership, by Warren Bird, Editor – (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Becoming a Future-Ready Church: 8 Shifts to Encourage and Empower the Next Generation of Leaders, by Daniel Yang, Adelle M. Banks, and Warren Bird (Read my review. View the "explainer video" on YouTube.)
[ ] Next Sunday: An Honest Dialogue About the Future of the Church, by Nancy Beach and Samantha Beach Kiley (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] Effectiveness By The Numbers: Counting What Counts in the Church, by William R. Hoyt (Order from Amazon. Read my review.)
[ ] What's Gone Wrong With the Harvest?: A Communication Strategy for the Church and World Evangelism, by James F. Engel and Wilbert Norton (Order from Amazon.) Note: For more on this book and the “Engel Scale,” read Chapter 2, The Customer Bucket in Mastering the Management Buckets.
TO ORDER FROM AMAZON, click on the title for The Prospering Parachurch: Enlarging the Boundaries of God‘s Kingdom, by Wesley K. Willmer and J. David Schmidt, with Martyn Smith.
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