Most denominational systems have a Glenn Townend. Someone who breaks the mould and sees the gospel spread, disciples made, and churches planted. Normally they are regarded as an exception. Most denominational systems don’t know what to do with someone like Glenn. This is what I’d do with him. . . First, I would leave him [...]
Monthly Archives: March 2010
Why the exception?
29 March, 2010 – 8:47 PM
One hundred and ten people turned up for an Adventist church planting summit in Western Australia recently. Up from forty-five the year before. Two new churches have already been started since the summit. They’re not just starting individual churches, whole networks of new churches are popping up. Among indigenous people, immigrants and Aussie battlers. Another [...]
Australian population growing at double the world average
27 March, 2010 – 8:49 PM
Australia’s population is growing at double the world average. Underpinned by an economy that weathered the global financial crisis, Australia grew by 451,900 people in the year to last September, taking it beyond the 22 million mark, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures reveal. That is an increase of 451,900 people during the year, keeping the [...]
What is Jesus doing?
26 March, 2010 – 5:14 PM
I recently caught up with a the leader of a parachurch ministry committed to making disciples. They’ve reoriented all their training around the ministry of Jesus. It’s good material. I asked him, “What about Acts?” He wasn’t interested. The way he saw it, the gospels show us Jesus as a kingdom movement leader—Acts just gave [...]
Annapolis
26 March, 2010 – 3:27 PM
I’ll be in Orlando next month for the Exponential Conference. Look for me at the Church Resource Ministries stand. Looking forward to meeting with the church planters from the Evangelical Free Church and the Anglican Mission in the Americas as well as folk from the Sent Network. Then on to Annapolis MD for a Movements [...]
Best practice
24 March, 2010 – 11:19 AM
I’ve just had the opportunity of a lifetime. Four days in Singapore with a room full of church planting movement practitioners from around the world. They do what I write about. Some of the case studies included thousands of new churches and hundreds of thousands of new disciples. Others were much smaller. The common factor [...]
Koorong offers 20% off
22 March, 2010 – 1:45 PM
For the Aussies out there Koorong Books are running another web sale. Movements is 20% off until the end of today.
The movement continuum
20 March, 2010 – 6:52 AM
There’s a lot of talk about movements, but how do we know when the movement dynamic has kicked in? One indicator to look for is the multiplication of disciples, workers, groups and churches. Here’s the continuum of progress towards a church planting movement (CPM). 1. Unsure: No clear plan for moving toward a CPM. 2. [...]
Beginning with the end in mind
19 March, 2010 – 2:01 AM
I’m in Singapore for a consultation on church planting movements. Doing a lot of listening because the participants are practitioners. One of the greats in the room is David Watson. Here’s his handy definition of a church planting movement: A Church Planting Movement is an indigenously led gospel planting and obedience-based discipleship process that has [...]
Atheists convert agnostic
17 March, 2010 – 5:41 PM
Agnostic Andrew Bolt reports on how atheists have nearly converted him to Christianity. THE Global Atheists Convention in Melbourne last weekend worked a miracle on me. I’ve never felt more like believing in God. Especially the Christian one. My near conversion occurred because the convention’s speakers managed to confirm my worst fear. No, it’s not [...]
