Why Would Anyone Go To Church?

For four weeks in the beginning of 2023, you are invited to join with others in a Zoom study of Kevin Makins' book "Why Would Anyone Go To Church: A Young Community's Quest to Reclaim Church for Good." It's a thoughtful and provocatively written book that offers plenty of space for exploration, wrestling, and conversation.

This study is led by Andrew Stephens-Rennie, and will take place weekly on Tuesday evenings at 7.00pm from January 17, 2023 through February 7, 2023.

This study is open to all. You don't have to be a member of Valhalla Parish to participate—you'll just need to get a copy of the book, and be prepared to discuss it with whoever shows up. 

Click Here to Register

Ordering a Copy

You can order copies of the book through your local independent book store, as well as major online retailers. 

About the Book

There are plenty of reasons to criticize, judge, and even walk away from the church. Many of us have been hurt and rejected. We may see church as insular and irrelevant. Despite this, Kevin Makins believes that the church still matters--perhaps more than ever.

When Kevin was 23 and didn't know any better, he started a congregation with some friends who were on the edge of faith. Together they hoped to discover if the church was worth fighting for. In this brutally honest account, he shares their story of becoming a community of misfits, outcasts, and oddballs who would learn that, even with all its faults, the church is worth being a part of . . . and must be reclaimed for good.

If you've been burned or burned out by the church, if you've been silenced or misunderstood, if you've left or never even joined in the first place, this candid, hopeful book is your invitation to consider what you miss out on when you give up on church--and what the church misses out on when it gives up on you.

Week by Week Focus

January 17, 2023 — Introduction through Chapter 2
January 24, 2023 — Chapters 3-7
January 31, 2023 — Chapters 8-10
February 7, 2023 — Chapters 11-13