Selling Swimsuits in the Arctic: Seven Simple Keys to Growing Churches

by Adam Hamilton

The pastor of one of today’s most dynamic churches illumines the basic principles of attracting the unchurched to the Christian message.Using the story of Bob, a successful swimsuit salesman whose business takes a turn for the worse when he moves to Alaska, Adam Hamilton reminds us that all of life is about sales. Whether we are in a job interview, a candidates’ debate, or a classroom, we are selling our skills, our convictions, our selves. The same is true of presenting the gospel to the unchurched. In leading a friend to a saving relationship with Christ, in inviting them to join us at church, we are presenting them with something that we believe they need, that will make all the difference in their life. Yet if we don’t understand what we are presenting, who we are presenting it to, if we don’t believe in the message we are offering, or if we don’t believe that people need that message more than anything else, then we will not be faithful witnesses to it. In short, says Hamilton, if we don’t understand some of the most basic principles that all successful salespersons know, then we will not succeed in presenting the message of Christ to those who most need to hear it. By telling the humorous and quirky story of Bob trying to sell swimsuits in the Arctic, Hamilton explains the fundamental concepts of sales that also apply in how we spread the gospel message. Drawing on his experience as the leader of one of the country’s fastest-growing churches, he offers pastors and other Christian leaders solid, simple guidance on how to share the faith, and grow one’s congregation.

59 pages, Paperback

First published March 15, 2005

About the author

Rev. Adam Hamilton is the founding pastor of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas. He grew up in the Kansas City area. He earned a B.A. degree in Pastoral Ministry from Oral Roberts University and a Master of Divinity Degree from Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University.

The United Methodist Church of the Resurrection has grown from four people in 1990 to more than 16,000 adult members with an average weekly worship attendance of more than 8,600 in 2011. The church was listed as the most influential mainline church in America in a 2005 survey of American pastors.

Adam has been married 30 years to LaVon. They have two grown daughters.

Reviews

[Mary Ellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s no secret I love Adam Hamilton books - you’ll see I’ve read and reviewed a bunch of them. This one is worth 5 stars because it’s very short (you can read it in a sitting), easily understandable, and jam-packed with immediately useful information. Not only can the seven tips in this book be used to help you grow your church and spread the Good News of Jesus Christ, but these tips also work to achieve other goals like landing a new job, gaining support for your favorite nonprofit, and motivating people to do practically anything. The truth is, we are all salespeople in one way or another, and just recognizing that reality and studying basic sales technique can make it easier for all of us to accomplish our goals in life. Don’t miss this little jewel of a book.

[Bethany · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5/5 stars

This book was incredibly boring. I mean, the Bob analogy was Hamilton trying to make it more enticing, but....

I read this now because my pastor is having all church council members read it for us to discuss. I suppose some of it is relevant, but it also feels outdated. Maybe because I’ve been doing my own research marketing for my librarian job? Either way, I went in a cynic and came out only slightly less cynical of Hamilton’s decent steps.

[Christopher Pokorny · Rating 3 out of 5]

With the right leader/facilitator, this book would be great to bring a fresh perspective to church leadership to help initiate revitalization. Hamilton brings an intentionally different view to "doing church" in ordinary terms, that the ordinary person can grasp.

I am a little leery of some of his analogies because a with all analogies, they breakdown at some point. But for the most part, the observations from the story of Bob the swimsuit salesman are directly transferable.

[Kyle P · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book, as I've come to expect from Hamilton. Just wish he would have expanded on the ideas presented here. Still a worthy little read.