2020s Foresight

“In the church and society we face unprecedented challenges. We could bury our heads in the sand or scream ‘the sky is falling.’ Or we could follow the lead of Sine and Friesen, who invite us to face uncertain times with courage and creativity. With relentless optimism, this book sounds the alarm and casts a vision for practical action. Let’s reimagine a better future together.” —Mark and Lisa Scandrette, co-authors of Belonging and Becoming and FREE: Spending Your Time and Money on What Matters Most “In a time of disorienting, rapid change and unprecedented worldwide events, the church needs trusted guides and teachers. In 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change, Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen demonstrate that they are just the guides and teachers we need. Offering a combination of reflective wisdom, hopeful anticipation, and humble experimentation they not only help us see the future but teach us how to participate with God in creating it. Chock full of examples that challenge and inspire, now more than ever, we need books like this to give us the wisdom and courage we need for facing what feels like a daunting future. I highly recommend it and will be rereading it myself often.” —Tod Bolsinger, Fuller Seminary and author of Canoeing the Mountains: Leading in Uncharted Territory “2020s Foresight has arrived just in the nick of time. It begins with a question that made me laugh out loud: ‘Have you ever been blindsided by change?’ The new decade has begun with a period of such unprecedented turbulence. Never in recent memory have we more needed the skills Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen write about here. In a time of continuous, accelerated change, this book is timely, practical, and inspiring.” —Michael Frost, Morling College, Sydney, Australia “In 2020s Foresight: Three Vital Practices for Thriving in a Decade of Accelerating Change, Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen have given timely and courageous voice to their passion for the church to be a vital change leader in community. Tom has been a partner for years in encouraging scenario forecasting for Christian organizations. Dwight is a passionate advocate for churches engaging their parish. Together they have provided a timely and critical guide for church leaders to lead creatively in these challenging times, which include the economic impact of COVID-19.” —Andrew Ryskamp, executive co-director (emeritus), World Renew “If there is one thing we know for sure, it’s that tomorrow will not look like today. We are living in a period of incredible change, and this book will help you and your church prepare for that. In 2020s Foresight, get ready to have your imagination stretched and your vision enlarged.” —Ruth Valerio, global advocacy and influencing director, Tearfund “I’ve been listening, learning, and conspiring with Tom and Dwight for a couple of decades now. I read everything they write. And this book is a lovely theological cocktail of the best of both. It’s been said that the ancient prophets were not fortune-tellers but truth-tellers. They were not just trying to predict the future . . . but they were trying to change the future, by naming the present. In that Spirit, Sine and Friesen invite us to reimagine the world, and to begin building the kind of future that God wants for us and for the world. Dig in . . . and join the revolution.” —Shane Claiborne, author, activist, and co-founder of Red Letter Christians “Christian leaders, if you want to dance your way through the 2020s, my friends and teachers Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen can teach you the steps you need. Intelligent, practical, and very readable. Highly recommended!” —Brian D. McLaren, author of Faith After Doubt “You may have thought only hindsight is 2020, but think again. Tom Sine and Dwight Friesen have gifted us with a clearly articulated vision for navigating the ‘turbulent ’20s.’ In their new work, 2020s Foresight, your perspective and life practices for dealing with change will increase tremendously. Today, change occurs seemingly at the speed of light. Jam-packed with explicit examples and rich references, this book and the deep wisdom contained therein, is long overdue. The thoughtful questions at the end of each chapter provide excellent group and classroom study. Do yourself and your community some good; study this book well. Sine and Friesen’s timing couldn’t be better!”

Randy Woodley