Church Planting (Page 8)
Mark Dever & Jim Wallis on Justice & The Gospel (Must See!)
This is an excellent series of clips debating some of the issues around the gospel, social justice and the mission of the church. Part I [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tA9xs_nWiXQ&feature=related] Part II [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PKshfOGUGMk&feature=relmfu] Part III…
Shalom in our Schemes: Impossible Ideal or Gospel Soaked Reality?
The righteous care about justice for the poor, but the wicked have no such concern (Prov. 29:7). Shalom has become a popular buzzword in certain evangelical circles, particularly around the whole ‘justice for the oppressed’ debate. What do we exactly mean by the word Shalom? Tim Keller…
Inner City Regeneration: Friend or Foe?
This is an emotive issue for many on our scheme. Much of the old housing and tenements have now gone from what was, historically, regarded as ‘old’ Niddrie. In its place are green fields, building sites, new flats, houses and a variety of government agencies and voluntary services. Almost everything feels new and shiny. The school, the doctor’s surgery,…
Multiplying Churches in Housing Schemes!
My team and I were recently discussing one of the units of our current Porterbrook Training course which was looking at the whole idea of reproducing churches, ministries and missionaries. I was personally struck by the catchphrase of the Chinese church: “Everyone is a church planter”. According to our reading one of the key factors in reproducing growing…
Preventing Burnout In Housing Scheme Ministry!
Ministry in any context is tough but ministry in housing schemes can be the cause of much burnout, stress and depression among pastors, planters and gospel workers. In Brasil we saw people come and go, attracted by the romance of working with street children, but soon demoralised by the reality…
What is the Number One Failure of 90% of Pastors?
Joe McKeever, Preacher, Cartoonist, Pastor, and retired Director of Missions at the Baptist Association of Greater New Orleans has written about this question here.
How Do We Reach People On Housing Schemes With The Gospel?
I often get asked how and why we have so many contacts and have so many unchurched people attending our services throughout the week. The answer is quite simple: 1. We pray for people. Are you really praying for people in your area, consistently, specifically an intelligently. when I first came to…
The Christian & The War On Drugs (2)
Is the idea of treating addiction as a disease preventing addicts from overcoming their problems? Daily Telegraph writer and recovering alcoholic Damian Thompson, who has written a new book on the subject, explains that what worries him is the way addicted behaviour is “spreading around society”. “There is an acceleration of addictiveness”, he told…
What’s Wrong With Some Evangelical Churches?
A thoughtful post here from Kevin DeYoung on this question.
Four Reminders For Church Planters & Pastors
A good little post here from my pals at the Sojourn Network.