#readytoreturn

Ready to Return: Bringing back the Church’s Lost Generation is a timely book written by Ken Ham and Jeff Kinley, with supporting research by Britt Beemer. During a time when more people are leaving churches that they have grown up in and post-modernism is increasing in popularity, this book couldn’t have been released as a better time.

As a reviewer, there were two reasons why I jumped at the opportunity to review this book. First, I am a part of that generation and population - growing up in a Christian home and having a Sunday at church tradition but I remember moving up to high school and college and just being presented with all these varying perspectives on knowledge and thought. This book definitely piqued my interest and passion for finding ways to minister to friends belonging to the same age group as well as youth and children. Secondly, I am aware and have been following the Answers in Genesis ministry for years now - having reviewed some of their books in the past and have also used their curriculum materials in bible study with young adults and in classroom discussions with younger children. 

The book provides a good discussion on the context of the problem and how we can encourage and equip ourselves and other individuals we encounter biblically. Research is provided and for those that love the numbers and the survey analysis, the data is contained in the appendix of the book. The book is very careful to discuss all the observable trends today either in perspectives or in cultural group (I.e. church, education, home, etc.) and is consistent in returning to the heart of it all - the gospel of Jesus Christ as evident in scripture. The writers also stress the importance of the authority of the Bible as God’s word - written by human authors following God’s words. 

What I like about this book is that it has a balance between passion and encouragement - There are sections where the truth really hits you and it should propel us towards Christ. At the same time, as a fellow believer, being presented with the gospel encourages me all the more that the Source of all things is God and we are recipients of that grace through Christ, which encourages me to pursue the disciplines of godly and biblical knowledge and diligence. 

I definitely would recommend this book. My only regret is that I have not read Already Compromised and Already Gone - both referred to frequently in this book.