I’m blown away by the quality and potency of the research papers that Leadership Network are cranking out with persistent regularity. Did I also mention how well they are presented and the zero dollar price tag? The latest offering is “Models for Raising Up Church Planters†by Glenn Smith, a veteran church planter and church [...]
Category Archives: 4. Rapid mobilization
Superstars or future stars?
18 January, 2007 – 5:11 AM
It took $US250 million to lure David Beckham to sign with the Los Angeles Galaxy. He is already being touted as the saviour of US soccer. I wonder. Christian ministries have a David Beckham saviour mentality to leadership development and selection. Hire a superstar and our success is assured. I wonder. I prefer AC Milan‘s [...]
Answering Tom
8 January, 2007 – 10:48 AM
Here’s an email I received recently from “Tom” and my response to it. Steve I’m reading through your ebook and curious about something. I looked at Ridley’s 13 characteristics in preparation for some training in North Africa, but while there I sensed that while there are a few pioneer church planters like that, most people [...]
Greatness is no accident
29 December, 2006 – 9:59 PM
Planned to be at the fourth day of the Boxing Day Ashes Test today. Never got there. The Poms didn’t last beyond day three. Apologies to any Americans since you’ll never understand cricket. Apologies to the English because 5-0 looks likely. Apologies to other cricketing nations who are tired of being beaten by Australia. Apologies [...]
Growing leaders for a church planting movement
6 December, 2006 – 5:44 AM
Sherwood Lingenfelter’s reflections on non-formal leadership training as pioneered by Paul Gupta and the Hindustan Bible Institute: 1. Non formal training vastly expands the potential recruits. Some of the most successful church planters won’t make it into or through formal training. 2. Practical engagement quickly sifts out those who are not wired for, or committed [...]
Learning from Paul
4 December, 2006 – 2:15 PM
I’ve just finished Paul Gupta’s account of the church planting movement that has emerged out of his Hindustan Bible Institute (HBI). Good case studies of contemporary church planting movements are rare. Everyone is too busy to take the time to write up the story and the lessons. It’s also rare for an established ministry to [...]
A simple goal
22 November, 2006 – 2:48 PM
A simple goal: a church in every village of India in one generation. Makes a lot of sense if you want to reach what will become the world’s most populous nation. Quick calculation: one million churches required among India’s 4,693 people groups. Paul Gupta is not discouraged the by the enormity of the task. It [...]
Mixed emotions
21 November, 2006 – 2:04 PM
I got inspired and I got angry when I read this story about Korasa Paul, a Koya from the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The story begins with Paul’s miracle conversion from what is described as “a debauched life” that nearly ruined his liver. Everywhere his pastor went, he went, learning what he could and [...]
The wrong wall?
20 November, 2006 – 2:49 PM
If you’re responsible for educating and training church leaders you may not want to read this quote. It will ruin your week. The same goes for any theological students out there. Especially if you’re in Australia or New Zealand facing end of year exams. It’s a comment from Sherwood Lingenfelter about the amazing story of [...]
10 reasons why we don’t have enough church planters*
9 November, 2006 – 6:29 AM
For as long as I’ve been in this game the critical issue has always been, “We don’t have enough church planters.” Here’s ten reasons why I think that is so. 1. We don’t ask It’s his harvest field. It’s his mission. If you don’t ask you don’t receive. Keep banging on that door until your [...]
