organic paradigm shift

My Christmas present from Amazon arrived finally a couple of days ago. It included Neil Coles book on their organic church planting movement in the US. They have now seen almost 800 churches planted in 6 years. And although each one has an average of 16 people, this represents over 10,000 people in total, around 40% of whom were previously non-churched. The other factor is that rather than plateauing out like most mega-churches of this number, the movement will continue to expand exponentially, without costing millions of dollars or requiring 1000's of men and women to take 3 years out studying at seminary.

What has surprised and pleased me about the book is that it is not a 'here's 10 steps to how to start the latest model of church planting movement' type book, but instead it is a mind renewing book, rightly so because as Neil has correctly understood what we are dealing with here is a new paradigm not a new model as such. And unless people grasp the new way of seeing/thinking about church they will only end up frustrated if they attempt to emulate what Neil and others are doing.

PS. I would love to get Neil over here sometime. Anyone else interested?

posted by alexander @ 10:03 AM    2 comments

2 Comments:

Alexander,
Neil Cole is in Europe in early February. Perhaps you could arrange something with him on short notice.

By  Steve Bufton, at 7:30 AM  

Thanks Steve for flagging that up. I have been in touch with Neil, but my feeling is that it would be too short notice for Feb, so would look at later in the year.

By  alexander, at 11:56 AM  

Post a Comment

---

 
30 hallmarks - 22-28: and finally...

Think it's time to get this marathon finished before the new year! So here's a burst of the remaining 8 hallmarks of emerging, simple churches.

22: Constipation in the church. A congregation without a working excretory system will have a lot of pain! We're talking about sin here! Easier done in a small context of trusting relationships where the Holy Spirit has free reign.

23: Sinners or saints? Although John reflects the paradox in this in his first letter, the truth is that sinning is 'out of character' for the believer. We are saints. There is no underclass of sinner, while a superior, more holy class of professional clergy exists. That is total nonsense.

24: Perseverance or victory?

25: Spiritual growth or stagnation? Do you want a weekly spiritual fix or a daily encouragement to spiritual growth?

26: Hitting the wall or not? Traditional churches tend to hit a wall when they reach certain numbers, 100, 200 etc depending on the ability of the head minister. Small organic churches in networks just keep on going. With new leaders being constantly developed there is no growth limit.

27: The devils worst nightmare. This happens when all these churches come together, not for a polished, front-led 'celebration' but an opportunity for the army of ordinary christians to bring their powerful contributions and share them with the whole body.

28: The old gets older, the new newer. You just can't put new wine in old wineskins. That's sad but true.

29: Bosses or brothers? What would you prefer? A hierarchy of church leaders telling you what to think or how to behave? Or a warm circle of devoted friends who are committed to you come what may? NOWHERE in the NT does it say that one believer should be another's boss.

The word 'Pastor' appears once in the NT, 'Overseer' four times, 'Elder' five times, BROTHERS 346 times!!

Archeologists have fragments or whole parts of around 500,000 papyrus from the early christian era; NOT ONE of these papyrus makes any reference to a clergy man. There is no mention of a priest, minister or pastor or any other term for any office or any kind of leadership!

30: The church where YOU matter. In a small open-church you are important. Needed. Loved. This is about family. A family that also cares about those next door.

Knock on most doors & they'll bleed.

posted by alexander @ 12:24 PM    2 comments

2 Comments:

Thank you for posting these things. Now I wonder if any house group has experienced what Jim Rutz is saying in these thirty points. The best line is “knock on most doors and they’ll bleed. That in itself will involve cost. Because this will involve cost I believe we need channels of discipleship. People do not just naturally go out there and make friends with non believers…… They need equipping.
So where do we go from here. I am finding blogs so very redundant. Alexander do you know of any small group that is taking seriously the call to go knocking on doors that bleed……… If you do let me know. We would like to contact them so that we may be edified and encouraged to do likewise in our context. I’ll end with a quote from Alan Roxburgh
“We are in a moment when the deconstruction and critique of existing maps needs to be wedded to a company of people willing to risk forth upon the seas to discover the holy gusts of the Spirit pulling us to new lands and worlds that can’t be imagined yet.”

By  frank, at 6:01 PM  

Frank hi, I cant remember where you are based? USA, Canada? Anyway the answer to your question is yes. There are organic, simple churches which are making disciples who are making disciples. Here in Bath we dont 'knock on doors' in the traditional sense - partly because Luke 10 indicates that we dont need to go from house to house! Instead we pray for people of peace to invite us into their homes. As a result of doing this for example we shared Christmas eve with 2 muslim families; sharing from the Bible and praying blessing upon them and their families back home in Iran. Neil Cole of church multiplication associates have seen nearly 800 small organic churches planted in the last 6 years. That must have involved some risk taking!

By  alexander, at 12:01 PM  

Post a Comment

---

 
Bishop Peter
Had a meeting with Bishop Peter Price (Bath & Wells) last week. He has been wholly committed to developing small christian communities, what I would call simple churches, within the parish system - though he doesn't limit them to Anglicanism as he has a genuine Kingdom vision. We had a pretty broad ranging conversation which included politics which he obviously feels strongly about. One comment sticks in my mind - about how the politics of fear will eventually clash with the God of 'fear not'.

His small christian communities, based on the south american base ecclesial communities, must engage with Community, Scripture and Reality (surrounding society) to qualify as 'church'.

I enjoyed meeting him and felt a little glimmer of confidence in the C of E return. He has instigated an 8 year process within the diocese aimed at creating healthy christians - healthy churches - healthy communities.

posted by alexander @ 10:07 AM    0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---

 
exciting new trends in the church in the uk
Having presented the first draft of the research report yesterday for Mission 21 it is now apparent that we may have uncovered some exciting new trends and signs in the church in this nation. You may well see the highlights of this in the media in the next month or so, so I won't divulge any more at this point.

Clearly we are in the midst of a major paradigm shift and no part of the church is unaffected. What this shift is and what implications it will have will be among the major issues raised at the Mission 21 conference next March. Whether you are working within, on the edge or far beyond the edge of the existing structures these three days in Sheffield could turn out to be critical for the future of the church here.

Those responsible for organising the event are all committed to the goal of seeing this nation reached and discipled, regardless of denominational affiliations. Their desire is to see something of the 'phenomenal movements' we are currently observing in many other parts of the world, begin to happen here in the UK.

If you have any interest in this sort of thing as a practitioner or strategist then I would strongly encourage you to book a place ASAP as there is limited space.

posted by alexander @ 11:06 AM    0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---

 
new story
Now that the church planting report is almost put to bed I will have more time to add stuff to this site.

First off there's a new story on the Stories page. Jim & Juliet Kilpin have been part of Urban Expression for several years. They have been pioneering a new church in the East End of London. Their vision is to see households of faith on every street of the surrounding estates.

posted by alexander @ 6:27 PM    0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---

 
30 hallmarks - 21: Jesus - host or guest of honour?

In traditional worship services, we say to Christ (in effect) Welcome, Lord Jesus! Please take the seat of honour here while we worship You and sing your praises! Only please don't interrupt our service.

Order is important, but when programmed order becomes more important than the presence and power of the Lord then we've lost the plot.

Jesus wants to be the host of our gatherings.

Is the Holy Spirit so real to us that we can trust the leadership of a meeting to Him? Just as we would with a visible 'person'?

posted by alexander @ 5:26 PM    0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---

 
more from addison

Yet another post of interest from Steve Addison! It's just too good to miss.

"While in Singapore I spent a couple of hours with Bill Smith and Steve Smith. They run a centre for training in church planting movements and have trained workers all over the globe.

As usual when I meet with great practitioners I just keep asking, “What are you learning?”

I came away aware of the contrast between the practice of church planting movements in the developing world and our experience of church and mission in the West.

Here are the contrasts that stood out.

1. Churches vs Movements
We are quick to call anything that moves a “church planting movement”.

They believe you don’t have a church planting movement until you have four generation of churches—a church that plants churches that plant churches that plant churches.

2. Reproducible vs Reproducing
We talk about “reproducible methods” but don’t ask, “Are those methods actually reproducing?” Our methodologies are often too complicated to be reproduced.

They focus on “reproducing methods”. Methodology is kept simple enough that ordinary believers are confident and competent to win and train others.

3. Ologies vs Acts
We begin our training of workers with our theology, missiology, anthropology, sociology, and all the other ologies.

They spend a lot of time in the book of Acts, learning how churches and new believers rapidly lead others to faith and start new churches that are starting new churches.

4. Equipping vs Accountability
We spend a lot of time equipping with very little accountability.

They raise the expectations of ordinary believers that they too can make disciples. They start local churches that encourage new believers to immediately form churches which equip and hold new believers accountable.

5. Safety vs Boldness
We wisely protect local believers and ourselves from the risk of persecution and our witness is weak.

They challenge believers to count the cost and be bold in their. They encounter persecution and like the church in Acts their witness is bold and effective. They don’t hide Jesus but believe his promise that “if I am lifted up, I will draw all men to myself.”

6. Converting “culture” vs winning people
We study Islam. We study Buddhism. We study postmodernity. We think mission is about ideas.

They witness to people who happen to be Muslims, Buddhists, or postmoderns. They think mission is about people.

7. Pastoral vs Apostolic
We make it a priority to gather disciples and raise up pastoral leaders to care for them.

They also gather disciples and raise up pastoral leaders. But they don’t stop there. They identify and empower apostolic leaders who have a burden for their people group, city or nation."

posted by alexander @ 1:48 PM    0 comments

0 Comments:

Post a Comment

---

 
training for pioneer leaders
Spent a couple of days with a group of C of E theological educators last week, delivering a report on current training provision for pioneering missional leaders for the emerging church. Had some great conversations and met a number of people I had wanted to for a while including Mark Berry.

However I also came away with mixed feelings about the future of the C of E, but that's for another day!

By contrast (in terms of training provision for pioneers) I read this today over on Steve Addison's blog on Movements.

Let’s start with “Barney”. We renewed our friendship over a lunch and he updated me on his story.

In his first year in the country, with inadequate language, he led a local to Christ. We’ll call him “Paul”. Paul had become interested in the Gospel after he saw God answer prayer for healing.

Eventually Paul began to stand out by his passion to follow Christ, to make disciples. Barney challenged him to begin training others to do evangelism. As Paul demonstrated faithfulness Barney made it a priority to spend time with him — up to 20 hours per week!

They prayed together. Ministered together. Had fun together. Studied the Scriptures together. Traveled together.

As Paul began other growing leaders Barney continued to support and train him. Barney made sure the training was geared towards obeying Christ and simple enough to be passed on to others.

All the while Barney made it clear that Paul had to go to God for the wisdom and power to lead a growing movement of new churches.

When the police came to shut down the movement, Barney challenged Paul and his new leaders to come up with a strategy in response. Despite persecution, the movement now has around 400 churches with 3,500 to 4,000 believers.

Barney has since moved on to a different region and begun the process again. A few times a year he drops back to encourage Paul and his key leaders as they continue to make disciples and multiply groups. Apart from Paul and about half a dozen other leaders, Barney is unknown by the vast majority of believers in the movement.

What am I learning?

1. It takes faith
Barney is committed to mastering the language and culture. But the significant breakthrough came when he was out of his depth trusting Jesus to intervene in someone’s life.

2. God’s timing
There is a sense of God’s “kairos” time in the country in which Barney serves. His story is repeated in different versions across the region.

3. Keep it simple
Barney made sure that his training of Paul was always geared towards obedience in following Christ. He made sure it was simple enough for Paul to immediately begin training others who would also follow Christ and make disciples.

4. Grow leaders
Once Barney saw Paul’s faithfulness and effectiveness as a leader he made it a priority to invest large amounts of time in him. Not in the classroom but doing life and ministry together.

5. Make room for pioneers
A key to an indigenous church planting movement is the emergence of someone with an “apostolic” gift.

6. There’s still a job to do
There is still a role in world missions for westerners like Barney, if they are willing to find and empower emerging leaders like Paul.

posted by alexander @ 8:16 PM    1 comments

1 Comments:

cool. i like it

By  andrew, at 4:07 AM  

Post a Comment

---