I am extremely excited and humbled by the Presidency of Acts 29. God has shown immense favor on our little network that is over 400 churches on six continents. Every weekend men and women are being saved and lives are being transformed by the gospel being fearlessly proclaimed in every environment imaginable. From rural areas to the suburbs, to urban centers like Manhattan, Boston and Seattle, in the UK and in Australia, South Africa and South America men of God are proclaiming the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ with Holy Spirit power and God is saving, healing and transforming. I often dwell on this during the week. The thought that God is at work everywhere around us, it’s warm water to my soul to know that I am in the trenches with such godly men who love the God ...
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I am thrilled that Acts 29 is moving to Dallas and will be led by my friend, Pastor Matt Chandler. I think it is good for the network that other leaders will add different perspectives, nuances, and emphases. It will only be a better network as healthy, reproducing churches will continue to plant churches for the glory of God.
I was honored to serve in Acts 29 as God allowed some amazing outcomes in spite of man’s feeble efforts. I never deserved the opportunity. I never deserved the love of so many planters. I never deserved the fruitfulness God enabled.But I wasn’t planning to stay forever. I was anticipating a change for my ministry in the future, and the move to Dallas makes it a perfect time to allow new leadership to emerge. I am looking forward with great anticipation ...
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As a young church planter I wanted a tribe to belong to. So, I started gathering a few other young church planters for mutual learning, accountability, and encouragement. Before long, Mars Hill Church was formally supporting church planters in both the U.S. and India. Then, I met Pastor David Nicholas, whose Spanish River Church had generously supported church planters for many years. Together, we founded the Acts 29 church-planting network.
For the first years, the network offices were housed in Florida, as David served as our president. Then the offices were moved to Seattle when I assumed the presidency. Since that time, David has passed on to see the Jesus he loved face to face, and Acts 29 has grown rapidly, now totaling more than 400 churches in the U.S., as well as ...
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I am eager for the March 28 and 29 to get here. Next week, The Village will host an Acts 29 Boot Camp on church planting and mission, with Eric Mason (Philadelphia), JR Vassar (Manhattan), Matt Carter (Austin), Steve Timmis (U.K.), and myself (Dallas) teaching.
The brotherhood that is present among my Acts 29 co-laborers and friends is one of the great graces God has poured out on me in ministry. The Bible has much to say about the joys of pastoring but minces no words about the difficulties, pains, and sorrows that can accompany being an under-shepherd of the flock of God.
Through the highest highs to my lowest lows in my journey as a pastor, my brothers in Acts 29 have celebrated with me, cried with me, and prayed with me. At some of my darkest hours, some of these brothers flew ...
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It’s my belief that we’re living in a new movement, with the potential to see revival in our generation.
Many people in the United States and around the world have a general feeling that something is happening. There’s an excitement in the air worldwide. The hearts of church leaders from around the globe are pounding from an increased sense of urgency for evangelism, discipleship, and church planting. This increased heart rate was felt by the thumb of Collin Hansen back in 2006 when he penned the article Young, Restless, Reformed. Just a few years later in 2009, this new movement was considered by Time magazine as one of the top ten ideas changing the world.
What Is a Movement?
A movement is an unusual work of God, sometimes called a revival or renewal. During a ...
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