[From the back cover]  “Bethel Church (Redding, California) is one of the most influential churches in America.  The charismatic megachurch has gained attention through its widely popular Bethel Music, books, conferences, and senior pastor, Bill Johnson.  Bethel is also known for its instances of supernatural power.  Divine healings, ecstatic manifestations, miracles, and prophetic words are common at the church.  As such, Bethel has attracted its share of critics and controversies.  Andy Fitzgerald (DMin) conducted a four-month ethnographic study of Bethel Church.  In the first extensive study of the church, Dr. Fitzgerald observed and participated daily in Bethel’s community, sat under its teaching, and interviewed its members and leaders to see how the church understands and practices supernatural power.  In A Powerful Presence, Fitzgerald analyzes Bethel culturally and theologically by interacting with thinkers such as Charles Taylor, Jurgen Moltmann, and James Dunn.  Dr. Fitzgerald brings his insights to bear for an appreciative but not uncritical look at Bethel Church.  This book offers new learnings and opens new pathways for churches and leaders to regain their apostolic footing in today’s modern world.”

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“In our instant, social media culture it’s become common to criticize or praise churches and ministries without any genuine acquaintance with them.  Andy’s socially and theologically informed work is different.  He provides an appreciative but also evaluative exploration of Bethel’s potential contributions to the wider church.  In the process, he also invites us to highlight both Word and Spirit, to bring together the best contributions of evangelical and charismatic realities, and to honor God in Christ by the Spirit.”

–CRAIG S. KEENER, F.M. and Ada Thompson Professor of Biblical Studies, Asbury Theological al Seminary

“A Powerful Presence delves deep into both the cultural dynamics that drive Bethel and the churches around it.  It explores the ways Bethel Church challenges modern conceptions of the self using the significant scholarship of Charles Taylor and Andrew Root. Fitzgerald probes what is going on here culturally that shapes the ground for Bethel church to make space for the Spirit, and what perhaps more traditional evangelicals aren’t seeing or understanding.”

–DAVID E. FITCH, Lindner Chair Evangelical Theology, Northern Seminary 

“Andy Fitzgerald’s ‘appreciative inquiry’ of the ministry of Bethel Church in Redding, California, is a scholarly tour de force that seeks to discern the strengths and weaknesses of one of the most influential churches in Northern California.  His ethnographic study of its ministry is personal and academic.  He doesn’t stand outside of the ministry of the church and analyze it from a distance, he participates in it . . . “

–RON SANDERS, professor and campus minister, Stanford University

“By immersing himself in the phenomenon that is Bethel Church and through the skillful use of world-renowned scholars,from a variety of disciplines, A Powerful Presence offers its readers an expansive, appreciative, critical, fairh and useful portrait of this influcial movement. Consequently, Andy Fitzgerald provides contemporary church leaders of any stripe with an exceptional rubric by which they can measure the spiritual vitality and scriptural foundation of any ministry.”

–BERNIE A. VAN DE WALLE, author of The Heart of the Gospel and Rethinking Holiness