New Book Addresses the Motivation for Megachurch Scandals

Online, October 21, 2010 (Newswire.com) - As she watched the news accounts about Bishop Eddie Long of New Birth Baptist Church, Annette Johnson remembered when she, a church member at the time, was arrested at his church for temporarily parking near the front door to pick up a package. She had never seen the inside of a jail cell before that night 15 years ago and has not seen one since. She recounts the details of the arrest in her new book, "What's Your Motivation?: Identifying and Understanding What Drives You" (Allwrite Publishing, October 2010, $14.95, ISBN: 978-0974493510).

In chapter 10 on the topic of modern worship, Johnson not only mentions this incident, but uses it to provide a full picture of how the modern church, namely the megachurch, has changed into a religious business enterprise with celebrity pastors. "A minister of the Gospel is supposed to be a 'servant,' not a 'successful businessperson,'" the book states. "A servant's job is to esteem others, not himself, by giving. A businessperson's job is to esteem himself, not others, via profits. Some pastors seek to be 'business-servants,' serving themselves and God."

Along with topics on worship, the book explores what is currently motivating the reader and, ultimately, what should be motivating the reader in ten different areas of life, including money, love, marriage, health, communication, children, and work. This second edition of the book provides examples, self-examinations, charts, and diagrams to help readers understand and identify their motivation. The author created the "Value Matrix" (chapter 12) so people understand exactly what triggers them and why some things are unable to motivate them.

"Our motivation, especially for church people, should be to demonstrate love in all that we do," says Johnson, a former university instructor who holds a master's degree in journalism.

The Midwest Book Review has called the book an "excellent advisory" for daily life.