What competencies are we looking for in urban planters/pastors?

One of my aims is to find potential urban church planters and then to support and equip them through training, mentoring and coaching.  Coupled with my concern to see new churches  or revitalised churches in communities where there currently isn’t much of a healthy gospel witness is the desire to see many more people equipped… Continue reading What competencies are we looking for in urban planters/pastors?

Revitalisation questions

As promised, here are some follow up thoughts from my article about how to help churches without pastors.  In that article, I suggested that it is likely that you will find yourself in a wider conversation about the need for revitalisation.  Whether the conversation starts with an intentional request for this kind of help, or… Continue reading Revitalisation questions

Who will you send?

It’s been pointed out that the only way that you know if you’ve been called to pastoral ministry is not through an inner prompting, though some may experience this, it’s also not about having a few friends saying that they think you might be good at it.  Rather, it’s about having a local church who… Continue reading Who will you send?

Attitudes to Church Planting

I’m currently running this little survey to find out a bit more about attitudes to church planting. I’m particularly interested to know whether there are people seriously considering the possibility of church planting in the near future. If you are interested in church planting, then I’d like to find out a bit more about what… Continue reading Attitudes to Church Planting

How big should you grow and at what size should you plant?

A friend recently asked this question on Twitter. Now, these kinds of polls are great at getting a quick reaction but often the answers need some detail and nuance.  Often, we find ourselves responding with “it depends”.  So, they work best when they generate further conversation and discussion.  This, to my mind is one such… Continue reading How big should you grow and at what size should you plant?

Why we need a radically different approach to Gospel Training

You will know by now, that I’ve been passionately arguing for -and practically working towards a different approach to training for Gospel ministry.  So, I was interested to see this comment recently from church planter, Jonny Pollock. I believe that Jonny is working in a more rural context in Ireland, so it is fascinating to… Continue reading Why we need a radically different approach to Gospel Training

Pastors and planters -wives and families

Mez McConnell has written an article for prospective planters where their wives are less keen on the prospect of urban/estate church planting.  What should they do.  Mez’s essential point is that there needs to be complete unity in sharing the calling between husband and wife. I agree with this. In fact, I remember one planter… Continue reading Pastors and planters -wives and families