» 2006 » September

Just finished reading Bob Logan’s book on church planting movements. Here’s a great story from it:
In 1977 Paul Okken, a Baptist missionary to Rwanda, returned from Africa for medical treatment. During the most recent five years of his ministry, 60 new churches had been started, and the number would climb to 80 by 1980.

How did [...]

If the universe is not governed by an absolute goodness, than all our efforts are in the long run hopeless. But if it is, then we are making ourselves enemies to that goodness every day, and are not in the least likely to do any better tomorrow, and so our case is hopeless again.

We cannot [...]

It’s 2.30am. Took this photo with the MacBook web cam to show you how bad I feel and look. It’s hay fever season in Melbourne. I can’t sleep. Cup of tea with honey does the trick but now I’m wide awake.

I should be praying but instead I pick up my email. Why do a I [...]

Another great debate ruined. Should we grow big churches bigger? Should we plant more churches? Are small churches better?

Wrong question says Bob Logan.
Most pastors think about growing healthy churches or growing large churches, but they typically don’t think of growing multiplying churches. . . . The best way to reach the harvest isn’t through large [...]

Following up: Anyone for TEE? Michael Higgins has sent through this comment on the application of TEE to evangelism and church planting in the West.
A Vision for Life

October 6th-8th Friday-Sunday 2006

We invite you to join us at Weycroft Hall to explore together the challenge of discipleship and training in the UK. drawing from International and [...]

This post from Seth Godin was so rich in application for church planters and movement leaders that I’ve decided to reproduce it her in full:

I was reading John Hammond’s biography entry, (John discovered Bob Dylan, Aretha Franklin, Bruce Springsteen and yes, Count Basie) and I noticed that he was independently wealthy.

Woz wasn’t looking to make [...]

According to NCD (Natural Church Development) research, church planting is both a sign of church health and a promoter of health.

The research as found that multiplying churches are healthier than non-multiplying churches. NCD health survey scores for churches that multiply are consistently higher than the scores of those that don’t.

Research also shows that multiplying churches [...]

Sam Metcalf is mad. He tilts his lance and charges at the traditional church and mission. Ok that’s fair game. But then he turns and charges straight at the Emerging church. Foul play old chap!

His indictment #12 is an outrage! Bloggers are above criticism. Jesus never criticized the Scribes of his day . . .?

What [...]

HT: Reason to Believe

Jesus

Here’s a nice sequel to the series on the rise and fall of Atheism in the modern world. Philip Jenkins on the future of Christianity.

I read authors who change the way I see the world. So I’ve ordered it.

A review from Publishers Weekly:
In his highly acclaimed The Next Christendom (2002), Jenkins boldly proclaimed that the [...]