MULTIPLYING MEN "Multiplication As Spiritual Gardening"
By Chris Atwell
Many church planters want to play the role of church planter rather than live the role of spiritual gardener. Enjoying the results of the harvest requires faithfully attending to the crops in the field. The Bible’s major metaphor for spiritual growth is one of vine, branch, and fruit (John 15, Galatians 5). Jesus Himself is the Vine. God is the Vinedresser. Oh, that as pastors we would see our role to faithfully tend God’s garden. And in God’s garden, He’s growing fruit-bearing people.
Ministry is still a people business. Many of the church planters I know look the part. If I were to make a church planting action figure, he would come equipped with graphic tee, Italian denim and ...
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At the recent Acts 29 Boot Camp in Seattle, WA, I had the privilege of sitting down with Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. In part 5 of this interview, Mark shares some of what he has learned from the mistakes over the years. Thanks, Mark, for your transparency and desire to help us from your own journey.
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Call to Plant
I had been a youth pastor for about 4 and a half years when God began to change my passions, desires, intensions, motivations, etc... God slowly began to reveal His desire for my wife and i to move on and to plant a church. We didn't know what that looked like but the passion for planting grew stronger until it was, honetly, irresistable. We began sharing our heart and vision with friends who confirmed the call in our life. a year and half later we launched the Village. (this is of course the short of it...)
Involvement with Acts 29
I heard about A29 from a friend years ago. I read a few Driscoll books, notably, CONFESSIONS OF A REFORMISSION REV., which was very helpful to inspire mission and to inform of the life that a church planter/church plant will lead. The benefits ...
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At the recent Acts 29 Boot Camp in Seattle, WA, I sat down with Rob Berreth, Pastor of Redeemer Church in Bellingham, WA, to talk about the importance of cultivating your own soul in church planting. I found his counsel to be both compelling and convicting. I believe you will as well.
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By Alex Early
Lead Pastor | Four Corners Church | Newnan, GA
I've heard the following terms regarding church planting, that it is: "cool," "hip," "trendy," and my least favorite, and have no idea how the term is applicable - "sexy." However, what needs to be repeated again and again is that suffering in church planting is not an if but rather a when and how you're going to make it through.
Gospel Resilience is all we have to lean on and into. Holding fast to the promise that nothing will separate us from our loving God fuels resilient men.
If you're reading this blog, you likely find yourself in or close to the Reformed theological camp and therefore give heavy and well-deserved emphasis on the sovereignty of God. In fact, without it, I don't know how a man sets out to plant a ...
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