Category: church planting

How can you tell if your church planting is successful?

I think that’s helpful.  Being fruitful as individuals and churches seems good Biblical language.  Keller is right to caution against a shallow understanding of faithfulness.  In fact, the church claiming to be faithful may in fact be unfaithful if it has just dug a hole and buried its talent. So, what will it mean for… Continue reading How can you tell if your church planting is successful?

Church planting – is there a size not to aim for?

I sometimes get asked whether I think there’s an optimum church size to aim for.  My response is usually to the effect that there isn’t an optimum size.  Some people are happy in and with larger church gatherings.  There are benefits to this.  It means that a preacher can open God’s Word with a lot… Continue reading Church planting – is there a size not to aim for?

Could you be a church planter?

I’m consistently on the look out for potential church planters to come and join us here in the West Midlands.  There is a particular need for people who are willing to go into inner city, council estate and multi-ethnic cross-cultural contexts. Whilst conventional church planting involves gathering together a significant sized core team, often from… Continue reading Could you be a church planter?

Birmingham’s bankruptcy is exactly why we need church planters

The recent announcement that Birmingham City Council is in effect bankrupt will not have done the city’s image much good.  It may put off business from locating here and people from investing in the city. It is likely to make a lot of people reluctant to relocate here for work.  This might affect your thinking… Continue reading Birmingham’s bankruptcy is exactly why we need church planters

Learning from the Brethren

I read this article with interest and some sadness the other day.  I’ve a personal connection to the Brethren Assemblies as, whilst I was at University, I started attending a fairly traditional Gospel Hall when back home in Bradford. It was there that I really began to cut my teeth, preaching and teaching.   Later, when… Continue reading Learning from the Brethren

When the church plant is mainly taking people from other churches

I’ve been writing a little bit recently in response to comments about church planting and whether it has played its part in the decline of existing local churches.  One question that has come back my way has been “what about situations where the plant has mainly drawn members from existing churches? What if after a… Continue reading When the church plant is mainly taking people from other churches

Together for the city and the Gospel

In part of the conversation that followed on from Jonathan Carswell’s provocative tweet about church planting, he followed up with this statement: “I wonder what great good could come by sacrificing style prefs and prize unity/partnership?” It’s a good question to ask and fortunately, we are in a place to answer that question.  I can’t… Continue reading Together for the city and the Gospel

Church planting is not the enemy of the local church

I recently wrote in response to John Benton’s rather premature funeral service for the local church.  I just spotted that Jonathan Carswell, CEO of 10 of Those shared John’s original article with this comment.  Imagine reading Jonathan’s comments as a church planter labouring away perhaps on a council estate in the West Midlands or a… Continue reading Church planting is not the enemy of the local church

We need pastors who have never read the Brontes …and who never will

I saw this Tweet the other day.  I think I get the point the tweet author is making. I can’t say for certain. I’ve watched a TV adaption of Jane Eyre as a child and seen trailers for similar adaptions of Pride and Prejudice but I’ve read neither book. I write as someone with post… Continue reading We need pastors who have never read the Brontes …and who never will