The Power of Asset Mapping: How Your Congregation Can Act on Its Gifts

by Luther K. Snow

Asset mapping isn't a new system or theory. It's a way of thinking, a doorway into an "open-sum" perspective rooted in the Bible and common experience. The Power of Asset Mapping, by long-time community developer Luther K. Snow, shows congregational leaders how to help a group recognize its assets and the abundance of God's gifts and to act on them in ministry and mission. Congregations will find the book easy to read and immediately useful. Leaders can begin with the tested Quick and Simple Asset Mapping Experience to strengthen and inspire any group in the congregation in as little as an hour. Futher tips, techniques, stories, and lessons drawn from the experience of diverse congregations will help readers discover how asset mapping works. Finally, Snow provides lessons about why asset mapping strengthens faith and community.

160 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2004

Reviews

[Amy]

I read this as part of a church class. We didn't actually do the Quick and Easy Asset Mapping, but I want to! I think it looks very motivating.

The book starts out showing how to do the active asset mapping, then works backward and ends with the biblical principles that support the open-sum thinking that asset mapping is based on. I like how the author just jumps right in with the activity, but the subsequent chapters sometimes seem redundant since they're just more and more specific each time. There are several typos, which I always find annoying in a professional manuscript, but the message is still empowering.

[Douglas]

Sometimes four-star reviews are simply for books that do exactly what they intend to do from the outset. Having read this, I feel like I can run asset mapping with my congregation, or any group really, and get something out of it. Some of the theory behind it is interesting, though nothing is ground-breaking. This is a functional text, though, not a theoretical one. IF you want to be able to go do asset mapping, read this book.

[Luke]

The author is supposed to be a speaker at a Rural and Small Town Ministry conference in Iowa I will be attending. Looking forward to hearing him!

[Mary]

A useful book. I would like to work through some of the exercises with a really engaged group. Reminds me of some of the continuous quality improvement work I used to do.