» 2005 » October

Alpha is everywhere—152 countries, 21,000 churches, 80% of the prisons in Britain. Four million people of all ages have completed the course so far. The current rate is about a million and year and it’s growing.

I’ve appreciated the input from a number of Alpha practitioners who have reflected on their experience. If you read carefully [...]

It needs to be first stated that almost everyone who has attended the Alpha
course here has done so as a result of a Christian who is their good friend.
This pre-existing relational dynamic is, I believe, crucial to any
evangelistic course

When Alpha is done well, it serves relationships, which are the key to
evangelism. A participant feels [...]

Another day or so and I’ll give you a movements perspective on Alpha.

In the meantime here’s Richard’s thoughts.

Food is involved. Sometimes people have a full meal before the course but I have found just having a supper after the teaching helps to relax people and develop community. Many times, the times over the food becomes [...]

This just came in from Grant Morrison via email. An experienced Alpha practitioner…

We have been running Alpha for over 5 years. We run at least 2 courses a year. I have found it to be a great reaping tool. Here’s what we’re learning:
Don’t fill the course with Christians, make sure you keep the ratio of [...]

I’ve just listened to an interview with Jonathan Aitken, disgraced former British MP and government minister jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice.
Aitken came to faith after friends encouraged him to do the Alpha course.

The interview is worth listening to if you don’t mind the 22meg download. [...]

I’ve just read Robert Frykenberg’s article on indigenous Christian movements amongst the Tamils of Tirunelveli in India.

Here’s seven lessons from this case study of an indigenous church planting movement:

1. Outsiders
The renewal of the church in mission always begins on the fringe. The mission to India was an initiative of the Pietists, a renewal movement that [...]

Time for another Roland Allen classic quote. Read it and weep. Read it and dream.

A professional class does not easily encourage the spontaneous zeal of men who are not members of their profession. Spontaneous zeal is alarming to them. When the faith is spread spontaneously both the charlatan and the saint find an opportunity for [...]

I’ve been planting churches or coaching church planters for almost 20 years now. That makes me an expert in what goes wrong. Here’s my top 10 reasons why new churches don’t survive.

1. Not having a call
Just don’t do it for any other reason than God’s call. However God speaks to you, make sure he has. [...]

Found some others out there with an interest in movements. Check out the OnMovements blog.

Don’t miss Eric Swanson’s treatment of Hoffer’s classic The True Believer.

Looking forward to stealing heaps of their stuff. Hope you’re doing the same with mine.

Now that we have our list of best books for church planters I’d like to remind us all that we’re talking about planting churches not passing essays. Reading the right books is a nice bonus. But it won’t get you across the line if you’re not a church planter to start with.

I remember assessing a [...]