Starting Mission-Shaped Churches

Starting Mission-Shaped Churches
with discussion questions Stuart P. Robinson
Rights of use: Copyright 2007. Stuart P. Robinson. Published by: St. Pauls Chatswood 1 View Street Chatswood 2067 Telephone: + 61 2 9419 2200 www.stpauls.org.au Edited by: Lesley Hicks 1st Printed June 2007 Printed by: THE GEON GROUP Agency Graphic World Unit 3/13 Stanton Road Seven Hills 2147 Telephone: + 61 2 8825 8900 Graphic Design by: Created Image Marketing www.cimarketing.com.au All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission of the author.
Robinson Stuart P. Starting Mission-Shaped Churches ISBN 978-0-9579832-1-2
Scripture, unless otherwise stated, is taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan Publishing House. All rights reserved.
Starting Mission-Shaped Churches

with discussion questions
About the author. Stuart P. Robinson, an ordained Anglican minister, has served as a pastor and church planter in Australia and North-West Europe for more than 20 years. Stuart is the National Mission Facilitator for the Anglican Church in Australia and the Chairman of Church Army, Australia. In 1989, Stuart led the team that founded Quakers Hill Anglican Church (in North-Western Sydney), the student ministries on the Nirimba campus of the University of Western Sydney, and Parklea Anglican Community Church. After a decade or so, Stuart accepted a new assignment in Brussels, Belgium as the senior minister of St. Pauls Tervuren and the English Church, Liege. In 2002 Stuart returned to Australia to work as a consultant with Evangelism Ministries and as the founding minister, Peninsula Anglican Community Church, Pyrmont. Stuart now serves as the rector of St. Pauls Chatswood a church in its 106th year. Stuart is married to Jane, a Special Education consultant. They have four children Jonathan, Nicola, William and Edward. All six Robinsons currently live together in Sydney.
Stuart P. Robinson (far right) with family1
Photo courtesy of Miriam Ollis
Acknowledgements
I am most grateful to my church family, St. Pauls Chatswood2 for their encouragement and support in the production of this manual and with my involvement in the wider Anglican Communion. Special thanks also to the staff team at St. Pauls. They share the load and continue to amaze me with their creativity, their commitment to Jesus and their willingness to have a go. My P.A. Faith is no exception. She has served with me at St. Pauls and Evangelism Ministries. Faith has a cando-anything-anytime attitude and the skill to make it happen. I am indebted to the editorial prowess of Lesley Hicks. Lesley is an accomplished writer and investigative journalist in her own right. More importantly, she loves the Lord Jesus and is committed to the growth of the Kingdom. Thanks to my colleagues Wayne Brighton and Greg Middleton who have urged me to complete this project. Their input and encouragement has been much appreciated. I do also want to acknowledge the work and thinking of my friends Mike Wilson and Cheryl Smith with whom I wrote Mission Action Planning. Many of the ideas and concepts that we unearthed in that publication are rehearsed and restated in the pages that follow. Finally, I want to express my very deep appreciation to my family. Theyve been a part of the church-planting journey. For more than 20 years as a family, weve experienced the highs and lows of starting mission-shaped churches in Australia and abroad. Theyve quite literally given their lives over to the Great Cause. Thanks be to God for their grace, love and very necessary sense of the ridiculous!
For Jane Eliza
http://www.stpauls.org.au/
Table of Contents
About the author ..........................................................................................................5 Acknowledgements .....................................................................................................6 Foreword: Wayne Brighton ..........................................................................................7 Chapter 1: Starting Mission-Shaped Churches: An Introduction ...............................10 Chapter 2: Biblical Foundations: A Brief Survey ........................................................13 Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church Jonathan Holt ...................19 Chapter 3: Planters and Pioneers .............................................................................21 Chapter 4: Methods and Models ...............................................................................25 Reality Check: North Forbes Lyn Bullard ......................................................30 Chapter 5: Five Big Questions: Target, Task, Team, Timing, Tools............................32 Chapter 6: Writing a New Ministry Prole ..................................................................38 Chapter 7: Recruiting a Core Team ...........................................................................41 Reality Check: Maroubra Surfers Church Steve Bligh .................................46 Chapter 8: The Mission Action Plan - MAP ...............................................................48 Chapter 9: Biblical Values - MAP I .............................................................................51 Chapter 10: The Mission Statement - MAP II ............................................................54 Reality Check: Berkeley Life Centre Wayne Pickford ...................................58 Chapter 11: The Vision Statement - MAP III ..............................................................60 Chapter 12: Key Ministry Areas - MAP IV..................................................................65 Chapter 13: Prayer and Faith Goals - MAP V ...........................................................68 Reality Check: Church by the Bridge Paul Dale ...........................................73 Chapter 14: Going Public ........................................................................................75 Chapter 15: The Last Word .......................................................................................80 Appendix I: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavored?....................................................82 Appendix II: Resource List.........................................................................................87
Foreword - Wayne Brighton

Jesus knew the challenges of ministry very well. The harvest is plentiful, but the labourers are few, he observed to his disciples after travelling through the towns and villages of northern Judea3. Today, many might wonder at Jesus words. As we cast an eye around our congregations the story we might see is one of diminishing returns. While the work of preaching, caring and challenging the powers never seems to end, the harvest of church membership and leadership looks thinner and smaller than ever before. This story of diminishing returns has two inadvertent consequences for us as a church. First, we become preoccupied with managing our own viability. We want to grow but we like our barns. We want them lled, so long as we dont change their architecture. Second, we grow cautious and conservative. As it is inconceivable that Gods work can be accomplished without us, we nd ways to keep the same ministry going in the same way, even if it means making do with less. Stuarts book cuts through this story of diminishing returns to show us Jesus perspective once more. For a start, he challenges us to get out into the elds where the people are living. Spend time amongst those outside the church and youll see that the harvest is larger than we can handle people need the hope, healing and wholeness that comes from a life lived in Jesus Christ, even if they dont express it that way. Many Christians acknowledge the fact that Gods mission should shape the life of the Christian community. Many would agree that our sense of purpose, our values, our ambitions, our work, and our priorities should be shaped by Gods work of redemption in the world. However, too few of us nd ways of turning these lofty ambitions into fruitful labour. This book is the fruit of a lifetime working in Gods eld. It provides a wealth of grounded, practical advice born of much experience and reection. Stuart is a good teacher because hes made mistakes too. Wayne Brighton
Matthew 9:37 NRSV.
This material provided here gives grounding and direction for our life together, as life in the eld is far from easy. This book will challenge you to think carefully about the way your church lives. Whats clear is that the work requires a team effort. Having scoped the harvest, Jesus commissioned the apostles and sent them out too (Matthew 10.1-15). God will multiply labourers. Some will be sowers and planters; others will see them through to maturity. Coaches, cheer squads and the drinks trolley are all needed too. Mission-shaped churches become communities shaped for the benet of outsiders only because the purpose, values, vision and tasks of mission are part of their DNA no matter what they do. The apostles founded communities of faith throughout the Mediterranean world and the near east. For a generation or two they barely registered in the vast Empire. Then, like seeds, they sprouted and the Empire that once crucied Jesus came to worship him. How far will our labourers be willing to go? Will their work register? Stuart reminds us to look out, see the harvest and pray that willing, wellequipped workers will go out once again. If youve felt conned by the barn and just want to do some renovations this book is for you. If you are someone who yearns to see God change your neighbourhood, scene, workplace or city but doesnt know where to start or what to do rst - this book is for you. If youve been at the harvest for a while and wonder if an old dog can learn new tricks this book is for you. The story of diminishing returns can be overturned when we see Gods mission afresh. As God sent Christ out into the harvest, he sends us too.
Wayne Brighton is a scholar and ministry practitioner. Wayne is the National Research Officer for the Anglican Church (General Synod), Australia, the convener of Converse Network4 in Sydney and a Director of Church Army, Australia.
http://www.spirited.net.au/converse
Chapter 1 Starting Mission-Shaped Churches:
An Introduction
This manual is intended as a guide for starting (planting) mission-shaped churches that will start mission-shaped churches. When I speak of starting or planting mission-shaped churches I mean:
The formation of new communities of faith, or new fellowships, that (will) exhibit the values of the Kingdom of God; principally making and growing disciples of Christ.
I also want to emphasise the notion of mission-shaped. The shape (style, look, feel, character) of what we do is to be informed by the kinds of people were seeking to reach and their situations; our mission-eld, rather than that which works best for us, or with which we are most comfortable. I am not advocating novelty or innovation for innovations sake. Far from it. A new formal/ liturgical service in the Cathedral might well be as mission-shaped as the 90 Chinese people who gather every Friday morning for American-style line-dancing followed by small group discussion on the person and work of Jesus5. My aim in producing this manual is to offer a simple generic framework for starting mission-shaped churches. It is based partly on my own experiences as a church planter in Australia and Europe. Starting mission-shaped churches is hard, exacting work. And Ive mad a great many mistakes. That said, I heartily endorse the oft quoted observations of the American commentator and consultant, Dr. Lyle E. Schaller,6
New churches are more likely to reach more people and to grow in size than long established parishes. Perhaps the simplest explanation of this pattern is that new congregations are organised around evangelism and reaching people not actively involved in the life of any worshipping community. By contrast, powerful internal institutional pressures tend to encourage long established churches to allocate most of their resources to the care of their members. Lyle E. Schaller.
To this end, this manual has the outsider7 in view. How might we, lovingly, compassionately and prayerfully, establish new communities of faith that really will reach and enfold people who do not know God in Christ; the women and men, boys and girls who so often are harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.?8 It is my deeply held conviction that people who are living apart from the shepherd are still dead in transgressions9. Mission-shaped churches are to be conduits of grace through which these innitely valuable but lost people might be saved10; that those who are without hope and without God11 those who are far away, will be brought near only through the shed blood of the crucied, risen and ascended Christ12. On the basis that salvation is found in no-one else, I want to address the question, how might we, lovingly, compassionately and prayerfully, establish new communities of faith that really will reach and enfold people who do not know God in Christ? In the next chapter, before we move into methodology, Id like to introduce some Biblical foundations for starting mission-shaped churches.
13
This ministry was started (and continues) under the leadership of the Reverend Dr. Wilfred S. H. Chee. It began eight years ago in Chatswood, Sydney. Wilfred can be contacted at wshchee@stpauls. org.au
6 44 Questions for Church Planters, Nashville, Abingdon, 1991, 22ff 7 8 9
Colossians 4:5. Matthew 9:36. Ephesians 2:5. Ephesians 2:5. Ephesians 2:12. Ephesians 2:13. Acts 4:12.
10 11 12 13
Chapter 1 An Introduction | 11
How to use this book.

Starting Mission-Shaped Churches is designed to be read by groups of people learning in community, seeking to engage with the not-yet-Christian world in new, practical, Christ-honouring ways. At the end of each chapter is a Think it through series of questions and reections. Please take the time to complete these exercises and discuss them with your group. Ive also included ve stories of recently started mission-shaped churches each under the head, Reality Check. About every three chapters youll encounter women and men immersed in the reality of making disciples in different and challenging situations. Four questions are asked of the reader at the end of each story, such as; Is it clear who the planter and his or her team is seeking to reach?; Is their approach to ministry bearing fruit?; What are the greatest challenges that this planter faces?; A transferable principle or idea that we might apply in our context is . May God bless you in the reading of this manual. May he grant you the desire and the courage to move forward in the eternally signicant work of starting dynamic new communities of faith - communities making and growing disciples of Christ who in turn will make and grow disciples of Christ.
Chapter 1 - think it through for groups or individuals...

Have you given serious consideration to starting a new mission-shaped church or ministry? If so, what is your motivation and what is the context?
Does the denition, The formation of new communities of faiththat make and grow disciples of Christ resonate with what you are seeking to accomplish? Explain.
Do you concur with Schallers observation that powerful internal institutional pressures tend to encourage long established churches to allocate most of their resources to the care of their members? If accurate, why might this be so?
As a result of reading this chapter I/we intend to
12 | Chapter 1 An Introduction
Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations:
A brief survey.
The Mission of God.

At the turn of this century, the Baptist Union of Great Britain produced a short and helpful resource, Planting Questions14. The document rightly noted that,
Church is not just an idea in the eternal mind of God; it reflects the inner life of the Godhead between Father, Son and Spirit. A Trinitarian God exists in eternal relationship and community. With the Son becoming a human being we have a conclusive demonstration that God is committed to drawing human beings into relationship with himself. The Trinity points us towards a God who exists in a community of love that is dynamic, creative and active. Church planting offers the opportunity to experience something of the inner community life of God and the opportunity for a community of believers, existing to invite others into relationship with God, to witness more effectively in a new locality or situation. Baptist Union, Great Britain.
The initiative for mission therefore rests with God. That has always been the case. A simple illustration of this is seen in the story of Abraham, beginning in Genesis 12. Gods clear intent is to bring blessing to the nations: all the families of the earth will be blessed through you15. Paul understands this promise as the gospel in advance16. What is more, in the Revelation to St. John, that Abrahamic promise is fullled through Christ as the elect from every nation, tribe, language and people are gathered as the new creation, before the throne and in front of the slain, risen and ruling Lamb17. Dr Chris Wright18 from the Henry Martyn Centre, UK makes the point,
The gospel and mission both begin in Genesis, then, and both are located in the redemptive intention of the Creator to bless the nations. Mission is Gods address to the problem of fractured humanity.
God is a God of mission.
14
Chris Wright.
Commenting on the mission of God (or Missio Dei), Stuart Murray states, 19
http://www.baptist.org. uk/resources/downloads/ plantingquestions.pdf Genesis 12:3. Galatians 3:8. Revelation 7:9; 13:8.
15
Missiologists have increasingly been drawn to this [Latin] phrase Missio Dei to express the conviction that mission is not the invention, responsibility or programme of human beings [per se], but flows from the character and purpose of God. Stuart Murray
16 17 18
Short paper, Christian Mission and the Old Testament: Matrix or Mismatch? Henry Martyn Centre 2006. Church Planting Laying Foundations 2001, 31.
19
14 | Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey.
The Mission of God and Starting New Churches.

In the rst chapter of Marks gospel we read,
16. As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 17. Come, follow me, Jesus said, and I will make you fishers of men. 18. At once they left their nets and followed him. 19. When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. 20. Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him.
From the outset, Jesus called individual people to follow him and to sh with him. Jesus ministered to and with a group of disciples. In community they learnt and experienced the values of the kingdom.20 In addition, Jesus mission, his reason for coming into the world - searching for and rescuing lost people 21, was to be continued by the community of faith. Jesus was quite clear about this. In John 20:21 we read,
21. Again Jesus said, Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.
And that is exactly what happened, even prior to Jesus resurrection. Matthew notes Jesus compassion for the harassed, helpless and shepherd-less crowds22. In response to this desperate situation Jesus enjoins his disciples to pray that the Lord would send workers out into the harvest eld. Jesus then calls his twelve disciples together and sends them out 23 as workers for the Lord of the harvest24. That is, Jesus gives his friends authority to heal every disease, to cast out evil spirits, to perform miracles (such as raising the dead) and to preach about the kingdom of heaven25. As the Father sent him, he indeed sent them. The mission of God will continue through the Son and those whom the Son appoints. This is made especially clear in the risen Jesus mandate to go and make disciples of all the nations 26. That directive was not given to individuals per se, but to the community of faith.
20
Matthew 5:1-7:29. Luke 19:10. Matthew 9:35. Matthew 10:1. Matthew 9:38. See Matthew 9:35-10:42. Matthew 28:19.
And the rite of (Trinitarian) baptism, a key element in this Great Commission of Matthew 28, implies among other things, incorporation into the church of God and the local community of faith. Luke illustrates this for us in the second chapter of Acts. Following the outpouring of the
21 22 23 24 25 26
Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey. | 15
Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, Peter urges the crowds to repent and be baptised. Their sins will be forgiven through the Lord Jesus sacricial death on the cross and they too will receive the gift of the Spirit. 27 A miracle ensued - Acts 2:41-42.
2:41 Those who accepted his message were baptized and about three thousand were added to their number that day. 42. They devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
Those who responded to the news of Christs death and resurrection28 were immediately baptised. The three thousand 29 continued to meet together and in community ministered Gods grace to all in need. 30 That pattern, with local variations, continued throughout the rst century. Here are six quick snapshots from the early chapters of Acts: Philip began a new work in Samaria Acts 8:1b-14. A group of unnamed disciples established a church in Damascus. In Acts 9 prior to his conversion, Saul sought to imprison all who belonged to the Way in Damascus. Following his encounter with the risen Jesus, Saul then spent several days with the disciples in Damascus - Acts 9:18. Churches had also sprung up in Judea and Galilee. Luke notes they were strengthened and encouraged by the Holy Spirit, [they] grew in numbers, living in the fear of the Lord - Acts 9:31. A church had been established in Lydda - Acts 9:32. Peter, preaching in Caesarea, under God births a Gentile church. Upon receiving the Holy Spirit (as evidenced by speaking in tongues) Peter directs his colleagues to immediately baptise the new believers - Acts 10:9-48. Those scattered by the persecution in connection with Stephen [in Jerusalem]31, began new churches in Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch. Barnabas was dispatched from Jerusalem to verify the soundness of these faith communities. Luke writes that when he arrived and saw the evidence of the grace of God, he was glad and encouraged them all to remain true to the Lord with all their hearts. Acts 11:23. We then come to the missionary journeys of Paul and his colleagues. New churches are begun and the more established ones are encouraged and strengthened 32. Acts 14:21-28 is a case in point.
21. They preached the good news in that city and won a large number
27
of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, 22. strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God, they said. 23. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in
Acts 2:38. Acts 2:32. Acts 2:41. Acts 2:44-45. Acts 11:19.
28 29 30 31 32
Acts13:1-14:28; 15:36-18:23; 19:1-21:26.
whom they had put their trust. 24. After going through Pisidia, they came into Pamphylia, 25. and when they had preached the word in Perga, they went down to Attalia. 26. From Attalia they sailed back to Antioch, where they had been committed to the grace of God for the work they had now completed. 27. On arriving there, they gathered the church together and reported all that God had done through them and how he had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles. 28. And they stayed there a long time with the disciples.
Note the pattern: The gospel is preached and people are invited to follow Christ - v.21. Disciples are strengthened and encouraged - v.22. Leaders for each church are appointed - v.23. Celebration and fellowship ensue - vv.27, 28. The founder of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York, Tim Keller cogently argues33 that Paul had a simple two-fold strategy to plant (urban) churches: Firstly, Paul went into key regional centres34 and secondly he planted churches in each city . Once he had done that, he could say that he had fully preached the gospel in a region and he had no more work to do there. 36 Keller concludes,
This means Paul had two controlling assumptions: a) the way to most permanently influence a country was through its chief cities and b) the way to most permanently influence a city was to plant churches in it. Once he had accomplished this in a city, he moved on. He knew that the rest that needed to happen would follow. Tim Keller.
A nal word to draw the threads together from church planter and scholar Dr Brad Boydston 37,
Church planting is one of the means through which disciples are gathered into viable Christian communities. In many ways, the new congregation is more like the initial community of disciples that Jesus gathered than it is like more established churches. This is not to say that established congregations are any less the church; rather that the ministry of the whole church is most clearly evident in the new congregation which has a fresh
33
sense of mission.
Brad Boydston.
In the paper, Why Plant Churches? February 2002 http://www. redeemer2.com/resources/papers/ why%20plant%202%2011%20TLe aders.pdf Acts 16:9, 12. Note Titus 1:5, appoint elders in every town. Romans 15:19, 23.
34 35
36 37
Brad Boydston, Getting Started: A Church Planting Handbook for Laypeople, Turlock 2002, http://www. bradboydston.com/handbook/
Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey. | 17
Chapter 2 - think it through for groups or individuals...

In your experience, is the statement from the Baptist Union, Great Britain, Church planting offers the opportunity to experience something of the inner community life of God and the opportunity for a community of believers, existing to invite others into relationship with God, to witness more effectively in a new locality or situation accurate and valid? Comment:
Do you believe that the pattern of ministry recorded in Acts 14:21-28 is instructive for starting mission-shaped churches in the 21st century?
Can you think of (and list) situations where Brad Boydstons analyses, In many ways, the new congregation is more like the initial community of disciples that Jesus gathered than it is like more established churches. This is not to say that established congregations are any less the church; rather that the ministry of the whole church is most clearly evident in the new congregation which has a fresh sense of mission, have proven to be correct?
Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church38 Jonathan Holt

Jonathan Holt is the pioneer minister at Lanyon Valley Anglican Church. The church began is 2006 and meets in rented premises a local Catholic Primary School in Canberras outlying southern suburbs. Jonathan (35) is married to Ruth. They have three young daughters. Jonathan grew up in a Christian home and reports, there is no time I did not know Jesus as saviour. His father was a Church of Christ minister and following his baptism (by his dad) at 14, Jonathan recognised the growing need to adopt for myself the faith I had received and to nd how I might please God in my life and work. That quest eventually took Jonathan to St. Matthews Anglican Church in Wanniassa with a brief to begin a new work in the Tuggeranong Valley area.
Jonathan Holt
Q. Who are you seeking to reach? A. Young families, second generation Canberrans, who are onto their next home. That said there is a signicant socio-economic mix; large privately owned residences and Government supplied housing. I initially set about gaining a picture of the community by working through the maps, driving around, speaking to school principals and meeting with community leaders. Q. Did you have a Core Team when you began? A. We had two teams. The rst began to meet and pray and plan nine months before we went public. This team comprises ten mature, ministry minded followers of Jesus; four married couples along with me and my wife. Most of the leadership and coordination came from this group of people. In the nine months before we went public we recruited a further thirty people from St. Matthews Wanniassa39 (to whom we are still linked). Q. How did you make contact with people in the valley? A. Our plan was simple enough. We intended to be a faith community and allow people to see Christs love in and through us. We started a fortnightly bread run in the community centre; a holiday kids club; coffee and dessert nights; a parenting course; a winter collection for Anglicare40 and weekly music program called Mini-Music. Q. Do you have a stated Mission or Vision? A. Our mission is, to know Christ and make him known. By Vision we mean the measurable outcomes used to determine progress over one year. The Vision was to double the number of adults attending; to start another congregation; and to acquire the lease on some community land and build on it.
38 39 40
http://www.lvac.org.au/ http://www stmattswanniassa.org.au/ http://www.anglicarecg.org.au/
Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church | 19
Q. Did you begin with public worship? A. No. As indicated, whilst public worship was one of the planks in our structure, we knew that it would take an enormous amount of effort and planning to go public. So we met to prepare and pray for almost a year. We began our rst public meeting in term 1 2006 and small groups started in term 2. Q. How many people are you currently reaching and will you plant again? A. We have about eighty to one hundred adults on a Sunday with another forty to sixty children and teenagers. Our desire is to create a multiplying community. We expect that both the morning community and the newly formed evening community will again look to reproduce themselves well wait on the Lord to see where and when he would want us to begin further communities.
Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church Jonathan Holt

1. Is it clear who Jonathan and his team are seeking to reach?
2. From the information to hand, does this ministry appear to bearing fruit? If so, why?
3. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges that Jonathan and his team face?
4. A transferable principle or idea that we might apply in our context is
20 | Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church
Chapter 3
Planters and Pioneers
In 1989 with my wife Jane and a gaggle of toddlers in tow, I began a new work in North-Western Sydney. At that time church planting literature was thin on the ground. So without church planter inventories and gift assessment analyses, we simply plunged in and intuitively drew a core group together. Had coaching and training been available we would have readily availed ourselves of such support. Many avoidable mistakes, heartache and misunderstandings would have been averted. Experience has also taught us that any person called by God, lay or ordained, can be equipped and deployed as a church planter. Age, gender and health should not present as barriers. Those whom God calls and equips seem to exhibit certain skill-sets, gifts and character traits. That they have already exhibited certain ministry skills is all-important. People who start mission-shaped ministries will be women and men whove been actively involved in evangelism and disciple-making ministries in local churches. Theyll be people with an excellent track record in leading small groups, in articulating the gospel with conviction and clarity, and in Christian character. Pauls instructions to Timothy - in I Timothy 3:1-10 - concerning the selection of overseers and deacons are, in my opinion, an excellent starting point for identifying potential pioneer ministers and church planters. Those who are not recent converts and who have a good reputation with outsiders must also be: Above reproach. Faithful to their spouse. Even tempered and self-controlled. Respectable and hospitable. Able to teach. Responsible and temperate with alcohol. Neither violent nor quarrelsome but gentle. Someone who is not a lover of money. A person who has nurtured and managed well their own family. Clear about the deep truths of the faith. A recent (2005) Church of England report41, helpfully lists a schedule of Core Elements that church planters should (and generally do) exhibit. The latter informs sections of the following table. I have added a simple self ranking scale to help potential planters identify strengths and/or areas in their life and ministry that will require attention. Note: I use terms pioneer and planter interchangeably from this point. I would strongly urge potential planters to ask three other people who know them well to rank their skills, experiences and giftedness against the Core Elements schema.
22 | Chapter 3 Planters and Pioneers
41
Guidelines for the identication, training and deployment of Ordained Pioneer ministers 2005, 13-14.
Core Elements in pioneering ministry

(with self assessment ranking) A Vision for planting churches within contemporary culture and an ability to clearly articulate such a vision in an engaging, winsome, Christ-honouring manner. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
An authentic, integrated understanding of the particular ministry (and target group) envisaged. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
A passion for connecting with those outside the church. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Capacity to innovate and initiate and to recover well from setbacks and failure. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Mature and well developed devotional life for the pioneer/planter and his/her spouse. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Well developed abilities to initiate change in a balanced and creative way (as evidenced in other evangelistic/disciple-making contexts). Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Demonstrable maturity, robustness and resilience to face the demands of pioneering mission and ministry (for the planter and his/her family). Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Highly motivated, faith-lled and prayerful. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Well-developed understanding of the interaction between gospel and culture. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
A clear (and Biblical) theology of mission; a condence in the efcacy of the gospel. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
A willingness to work with and/or partner other groups engaging in similar ministries. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
The ability and desire to work in a team, to create cohesion and to develop the gifts of others. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High
Chapter 3 Planters and Pioneers | 23
Note: The above schema is indicative only. It is not predictive (re suitability or outcomes). As I stated earlier, God can and does use all kinds of people to build the Kingdom. That said, low scorers would need to have a call very clearly conrmed by elders and denominational leaders prior to moving ahead in pioneering ministry. Id also strongly urge interested planters to seek coaching and ongoing supervision from a consulting organisation like Church Army Australia, for example.42 Readers might also consider the very ne tool, The Church Planter Assessment Guide prepared by North American church planting doyens Bob Logan and Dr. Charles Ridley, Psychology Professor and organizations consultant at Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.43
Chapter 3 - think it through for groups and individuals...

Do you agree with the statement, People who start mission-shaped churches will be women and men whove been actively involved in evangelism and disciple-making in local churcheswith an excellent track record in leading small groups, in articulating the gospel with conviction and clarity, and in Christian character? How might this statement apply in your context?
Set aside 20 minutes or so to individually work through the Core Elements in pioneering ministry schedule. In the course of the next week invite three other people to rank you (and you have permission to photocopy the page). Do the external rankings match your own assessments? How do you interpret the results?
Do you believe you are called of God and suitably equipped to start a missionshaped church? List reasons for your response (and share with the group if appropriate).
42 43
http://www.churcharmy.com.au
http://www.churchplanting4me. org/ridleyfactors.htm
24 | Chapter 3 Planters and Pioneers
Chapter 4
Methods and Models
The team at Quakers Hill Anglican church44, N.S.W. (in the late 80s) comprised me, my wife and a wonderfully enthusiastic and energetic woman, Lorelle Farmer, who ran a kids ministry in town on alternate Sundays. Through some local contacts a small weekly bible study began. Four other adults and an 11 year old boy (who is now actively serving the Lord in a schools ministry) attended. Not all were believers at that stage. We met for six months and decided to have a go at a Sunday service. From our own funds, our little group renovated a lice lled building (there were pigeons in the roof!), letterboxed the area twice over (only 3,000 people in town in those days) and announced the launch date, March 4, 1990. On the rst Sunday, 174 turned up. On week two it was 39 and on the third week 27 people attended our morning service. It was revival in reverse! We didnt really have a Mission Plan (a topic to which Ill return momentarily) nor did we have a trained core of envisioned leaders. For the next six months we stumbled forward and as Christians moved into the new sub-divisions, leaders emerged. I now refer to what we did as the Ministry Family going it alone model.
The Ministry Family Going it Alone Model

This model that Jane and I stumbled into is all about travelling light and (in theory) becoming immersed in the culture prior to any public worship. It is similar to a Local Start-Up (see below) and can work well if the pioneer ministers:
Have prayer support (and accountability) from a sending body. Have been trained in disciple making, recruiting/deploying leaders and the formulation of a mission plan. Receive ongoing coaching from a senior planter or an external consultant. Have themselves experienced a church plant in action and have some sense of what to expect (though every situation is of course quite different). Have initialnancial support from the sending body or from a support base such as friends and relatives. Have demonstrated resilience and creativity in ministry.
44
http://www.qhac.org.au/
26 | Chapter 4 Methods and Models
Other models (and there are as many models as there are pioneers) could include: Multi-congregational church plants. Local Start-Ups. Re-potting.
Multi-congregational (Mixed Economy) church plants

This common model recognises the inadequacy of the one size fits all approach to ministry. In many cases the church will target age, interest or ethno-specific groups. Services (if in fact a worship style service is what the leadership team have determined is the best way to reach their target group) are conducted at different times (on Sundays, midweek, evenings) and oftentimes off-site. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams helpfully refers to this approach as the Mixed Economy model45. St. Basils, Lakeview Heights (a real urban church name changed) is a good example of a multi-congregational, mixed-economy model. St. Basils weekly service schedule is as follows:
An early Sunday morning service, traditional and geared towards people whove been worshipping in a particular style for many years. A midmorning family service. Childrens ministry takes place at the same time. A midmorning service (in one of the halls) for the Korean congregations. A Friday evening service for teens and young adults. A midweek afternoon service in the local retirement village. A midweek lunch hour ministry (in a CBD auditorium) for the business community. An evening midweek on-site prayer for healing service.
Each congregation has a designated leader (or leaders) and the program is oriented towards the kinds of people they are seeking to reach.
45
http://www.freshexpressions.org. uk/section.asp?id=1378
Chapter 4 Methods and Models | 27
The Local Start-Up model

Some years ago I was invited to lead what would become a new church plant in a revitalised docklands area in Sydneys inner-west46. Four local families (from different churches) had been meeting together for three years for prayer and fellowship. They were keen to see a new community of faith come to life in area that would eventually house around 20,000 people in just one square kilometre. Because the people lived locally they had a growing sense of what was needed to effectively and creatively reach their friends and neighbours. They were motivated to start a new work not because they had fallen out with another local church but because of their common desire to see people reached and discipled for Christ. This is a good example of a local start-up. Oftentimes, planting teams from without (comprising two or three families) will prayerfully select a community (a new subdivision, a regional centre, a city or suburb with a specific ethnic concentration) and intentionally immerse themselves in that community. Theyll buy or lease homes, send their children to school locally, join sporting teams and do volunteer work. On view is a longer term missionary commitment. Having moved into the community, the team is able to take a read on the culture and discern how best they might serve them. Local Start-Ups often begin with easy-entry activities like the running of English classes, playgroups, homework clubs, neighbourhood barbeques, cleaning-up neglected or no go areas. These activities meet genuine community needs, create community credibility and prepare the ground for things like small group forums on spirituality or parenting or process evangelism courses (like Alpha47, Christianity Explored48, Introducing God49, Simply Christianity50, Christianity Explained51, Jesus All About Life52, Credo53) and perhaps a public worship service (if thats what the planting team believe is appropriate).
46
Re-potting and Transplanting

Re-potting describes a process where new leaders (usually with teams) assist an ailing fellowship in starting afresh. This may mean beginning a new work in a different time slot to existing services or it may mean handing over the reins of every activity to the new team.
Peninsula Community Church, Pyrmont http://www. peninsulachurch.com.au/ http://www.alphaaustralia.org.au/ http://www.christianityexplored. com/ http://www.introducinggod.org/ http://www.matthiasmedia.com. au/Samples/sc.html
47 48
49 50
51
http://www.christianityexplained. com/ http://www.jesusallaboutlife.com. au/jaalResources/JAAL-Products. aspx#b4 http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu. au/theological_school/academic_ program/credo
52
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28 | Chapter 4 Methods and Models
Both groups (old and new) need to prayerfully structure the hand-over as loss of control will be an issue for some. A mission plan (with input from both groups) needs to be in place prior to any public activity. I include this model as a church plant because the process results in the formation of [a] new community of faith that exhibits the values of the Kingdom of God; principally the making and growing disciples of Christ the definition of church planting that I am offering. Transplanting is a less common option but it can be an effective way of breaking into new contexts. In this model, a whole community of faith relocate. The example that comes to mind is of three urban churches each struggling to survive, selling their properties, and together moving to a new location. As one new congregation (with a bold and clear vision and with excellent ministry resources) they have accomplished their principal objectives; restructure, relocation and a more strategic approach (as they have a plan) to making disciples. As with re-potting, a clear mission plan is to be in place prior to any attempts to move forward.

Have you had any personal exposure to a new community of faith? For whom was this faith community started and were people from that group genuinely reached and enfolded?
Which (or what combination of) model(s) canvassed in this chapter could be right for the people group you are seeking to reach?
Can you identify and list common themes found in the models presented in this chapter?
Chapter 4 Methods and Models | 29
Reality Check North Forbes Lyn Bullard

Lyn Bullard (51) has been in full-time Christian ministry for 30 years. Lyn, a former elite sportswoman, gave up an athletic career to serve the Lord as an evangelist with Church Army, Australia. Lyn has returned to her roots. In the early 70s Lyn worked as a parish youth worker in Forbes. She is an ordained Anglican minister and Team Convener at St. Johns Forbes and the Resource Ofcer for the Diocese of Bathurst. In 1998 Lyn founded Brisbane City Athletes Church. She has recently overseen the planting of a caf style church and has just begun a pioneering work in North Forbes. Lyn Bullard54 Q. Lyn, who are you seeking to reach in North Forbes? A. The victims of domestic violence, those with serious addictions to drugs and alcohol; people who have a limited understanding of a healthy functional family. I didnt have to select this target group, as it happens it is screaming at us for help. Q. How did you make initial contact? A. People are very receptive to visitation. Weve literally been going from house to house, door to door. And weve had great contacts through the local school. The Principal and the School Counsellor have been very helpful in helping us discern local needs. Q. How would you describe your Mission? A. Our Mission is to reach the least, the last and the lost. Isaiah 61:1-355 pretty well sums it up! Q. You have a trans-denominational Core Team, I believe. A. Yes. We have a team that comprises Anglicans in the main though the Lutherans, Uniting Church and Baptists have come on board and have sent people to serve with us.
54
Photo courtesy of Lew Hitchick.
Q. Did you begin with public worship? A. We did begin with public worship. Unlike my experience in Brisbane where a public meeting began at the very end of my ministry56 we started in North Forbes with public worship. Its a context thing. Id heard that if a teacher came to the local school to do something innocuous like picking up a book from her ofce, kids would ock around the car to nd out why she was there and if there something on for them! After loads of publicity, we just turned up. I stood under the COLA57 and turned in a circle; mothers, prams, the occasional dad and kids ocked into the school from ve different points. I was overwhelmed. We had a churchthough they didnt know it yet! Weve been up and running for 5 months now. We continue to meet under the COLA. At 4.00pm there are games, at 4.30pm the service, and at 5.00pm there is a barbeque. We had 140 people at our last service only 20 of whom were Christians (from our team).
55
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the LORDs favour and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and to provide for those who grieve in Zion - to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendour. Lyn worked with Brisbane City Athletes Church from 1998-2003.
56
57
COLA Covered Outdoor Learning Area.
30 | Reality Check: North Forbes
Q. How will you enfold people and begin the disciple-making journey? A. The plan is to conduct groups and workshops on grief and loss, depression, divorce recovery and self esteem in youth. Our childrens ministry is really thriving with a breakfast program, Kids Club and school scripture. Weve also run a couple of camps for kids in the schoolyard on the weekends as well. Q. Highs and lows? A. The greatest joy to date was having a person from this section of town give his life to Christ in gaol. At our rst service this man gave his testimony. Everyone knew him (and had probably been harassed by him). The biggest low is that too few people have a heart for the lost. Q. Will you plant again? A. Our dream is to create a multiplying community. Well have both morning and evening meetings that will reproduce themselves many times over. That said were also waiting on the Lord for his direction. Its all still very new!
Reality Check: North Forbes Lyn Bullard

1. Is it clear who Lyn and her team are seeking to reach?
3. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges that Lyn and her team face?
4. A transferable principle or idea that we might apply in or context is
Reality Check: North Forbes | 31
Chapter 5
Five Big Questions
At this point I want to encourage potential planters and pioneer ministers to pause and think carefully about ve questions that shape ministry from this point forward. The ve questions pertain to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Target Task Team Timing Tools
Target. An obvious question but not always carefully and prayerfully thought through is the notion of target. It is the, who are we in fact seeking to reach? question. This vital question must be considered if a church is to be truly a mission-shaped church.
Let me illustrate this. Myrtle and Tony Tan have been living in Yarmouth Cove (Y.C. to locals) for just over 4 years. Y.C is a burgeoning commuter community of 34,000 people, 65 minutes by train from the city centre. For many years Y.C was a haven for retirees. Not surprisingly St. Michael and All Angels (known to all who attend as St. Micks) comprises people over the age of 60 about 35 in all. The Tans have two children under six years of age, and though they love the people and the traditions of St. Micks, sitting through a formal 70 minute service is a struggle (for everyone). Myrtle approached the minister at St. Micks, Sheldon Grey and asked if they (St. Micks) might consider starting a new ministry to families. Sheldon was very positive and suggested they form a small team (an ad hoc task force) to clarify exactly who lives in Y.C and how they might best meet their spiritual needs. The task force gleaned and then collated data from: The website of their local authority (Yarmouth Cove City Council) it was full of helpful information. An hours interview with a representative from the town planning department of their local authority. Demographic proles from the Australian Bureau of Statistics website58. The local library (especially in its community information section). An hours interview with an ofcer from the regional Department of Social Security and the Department of Housing. Their own denominational headquarters. The National Church Life Survey ofce and web-site59.
58
The pastors of the eight other denominations in Y.C.
http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/ d3310114.nsf/home/Census+data http://www.ncls.org.au/
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Chapter 5 Five Big Questions | 33
The police ofcer in charge of the local area command. The local Chamber of Commerce. Three large development corporations. The managers of the two large shopping complexes in Y.C. Simple observation; the team visited malls, recreation facilities such as the local pool, the indoor tness centre, markets in the mall and observed the kinds of people present. They then had at their disposal a very helpful picture of Y.C. From all the data collected (pertaining to population, gender, ethnicity, age ranges, income, education and so on) they realized that families with younger children (below school age) with at least one partner working full-time (and generally commuting) not only comprised the fastest growing cohort, they were also poorly served by community facilities (such as playgroups, parks, professional childcare). This conrmed the Tans hunches. People just like them were underrepresented in church (as most they discovered were no religion families) and had needs that were not being met by the community in general. With Sheldon and the task force they met to pray through their ndings (indeed they sought Gods direction and leading in prayer each time they met). They decided that St. Micks should begin to target families with pre-school children. The question they next had to work through was how!
Task. Having identified a target, the leadership team need to consider the how will we in fact reach them? question. What is the task?
Sheldon invited the ad hoc task force to think through how they might best reach and enfold their target group. They all immediately dismissed the notion of a family style service on a Sunday morning (given that the people they wanted to reach had little if any church background or if they did, they were no longer interested). In line with their research, the group believed that some kind of a mid-week daytime playgroup could be the way forward. The team hit the net and worked the phones. They discovered the Mainly Music program and believed it could be a useful tool as it functioned like a playgroup and featured singing (and dancing to) songs with Christian themes.60 To test this idea, the group set aside two Saturday afternoons to doorknock a section of one of the new sub-divisions. Having briey explained the new playgroup concept, they asked people three simple questions: Does our community need a service like this? Would you be interested? Would your friends be interested? Whilst the sample group was small, the results were so overwhelmingly positive, the task force were certain they were on the right track.
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http://www.mainlymusic.org.au/
34 | Chapter 5 Five Big Questions
The task force also discussed the possibility of running Messy Church once every other month (in the same time slot as Mainly Music) if trust and interest levels were high enough. This program uses music, food, craft, stories and games to illustrate and explain the gospel.61 The ad hoc planning team were keen for the ministry to move at a pace that is right for the new group. They were also fairly certain that should God prosper this new ministry, it would probably not look like anything that St. Micks was currently doing. Indeed the ad hoc group would like to see something that is shaped by mission rather than by tradition. To this end, they recognised their need for an integrated plan (a matter to which well return shortly). Note: Sheldon and the Tans are seeking to create what is increasingly being described as a Fresh Expression62 of church.
A fresh expression is a form of church for our changing culture established primarily for the benefit of people who are not yet members of any church. It will come into being through principles of listening, service, incarnational mission and making disciples. It will have the potential to become a mature expression of church shaped by the gospel and the enduring marks of the church and for its cultural context.
Team. Who will take responsibility for the project and what kind of assistance will she/he need? It is the crucial question, who will in fact oversee, organise and orchestrate this ministry?
Having fullled their brief, Sheldon thanked the ad hoc task force for their work and asked Myrtle and Tony if theyd be willing to head up a team to undertake this new ministry. Myrtle, a local part-time GP is keen as is Tony; the possibility of working a nine day fortnight to accommodate the program is very appealing. The opportunity to work together is something that interests them very much. Sheldon is convinced that Myrtle and Tony are godly, gifted, highly motivated, resourceful self-starters. They reckon that at least ten other helpers are required (for set up and tear down, supervision, refreshments, relationship building, and prayer support). They are of a mind to approach the Seniors Fellowship, a group of older Christians - many of whom are grandparents. This group have experience in child care and are keen to see the community reached for Christ. Note: Once Sheldon and the Tans have addressed the 5 Big Questions they will be able to create a New Ministry Prole.
61
This simple document is a summary statement of the 5 Big Questions and will, among other things, help potential ministry recruits for the Core Team understand something of the nature and shape of the new ministry.
http://www.barnabasinchurches. org.uk/pages/data.asp?layout=page. htm&Type=&Id=2799 Fresh Expressions Prospectus: Phase 2, Lambeth Palace 2006, 3.
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Timing. Lead times and scheduling are on view here. Were asking the question(s), When ought we to in fact commence this event - given the need for recruiting and training helpers, advertising and fund raising - and for how long will it continue? And then, When will we review the work?
Following conversations with the Church Council (as their support and blessing is required) Sheldon and the Tans decide on a spring launch for the new ministry. This will give them just under 30 weeks for things like: Scheduling special times of prayer for this new ministry. Sheldon is keen for the whole church to embrace the work philosophically, physically and prayerfully. Recruiting a Core Team. Deciding what the weekly tasks will be, writing simple job descriptions, recruiting more helpers and drafting rosters. Training in: welcoming people to the group; conversational evangelism; sharing ones own faith journey; child protection; Occupational Health and Safety (O.H & S); operating equipment; set-up and tear-down. Drafting a budget and identifying ways of raising money to fund the project. Creating an outreach/publicity plan. This will include: simple invitations that people will give to friends; letterbox drops; information on the Y.C. Council website; leaets in the Community Centre, schools, doctors surgeries and the like; a large banner (once theyve settled on a venue) and so on. At least two dry runs prior to the ofcial launch (if a public event is what is planned). A formal commissioning of the team (during the morning service at St. Micks).
Tools. This is the what help and/or resources will we in fact need to get this ministry off the ground? question.
To begin this pioneering work, the Tans and their Core Team (once they recruit them) will need to: Identify equipment required: toys, story books, sandwich signs, banners, cleaning materials and so on. Secure a venue. They like the local library. It has a large meeting room for hire with easy access to toilets, a ramp for wheelchairs and a fenced courtyard. Ensure they have appropriate insurance and liability cover. Find a way of transporting equipment to the venue. Acquire resources (materials and people) to train their team. In the faith-sharing aspect they note that Just walk across the Room63 and Friends for Life64 are readily accessible DVD training resources that will work well in their culture. Cost and fund all the above (hence the need for a budget).
63
http://www.justwalkacrosstheroom. com/commit.aspx http://www.greatjourneys.org
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36 | Chapter 5 Five Big Questions
It is also becoming clear to Sheldon, the Church Council and the Tans that a plan - a Mission Action Plan - that ties their activities to the overall direction of the church is required. Such a plan will give the whole organisation a consistent, aligned focus. A good Mission Action Plan (MAP) comprises: A schedule of Biblical Values. A clear Statement of Mission. A compelling Vision. Activities grouped under Key Ministry Areas. A set of achievable Goals for each Key Ministry Area. In Chapter 8 well revisit and enlarge upon the elements of a good Mission Action Plan. For a fuller treatment of this subject, I suggest readers consider acquiring the book, Mission Action Planning: For Churches and Organisations in the 21st century (186 pages) from Gospel Outreach Ministries.65
Chapter 5 think it through for groups and individuals...

Set aside 10 minutes or so write down in a sentence or two a description of the target group you are seeking to reach. Complete: We are seeking to reach
From what sources did you collect data in relation to this group? Is the information decient in any way?
Given the Five Big Questions, to what areas will you need to give further attention?
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http://www.gospeloutreach.com. au/resources/resource1.pdf
Chapter 6
Writing A New Ministry Prole
Having considered the 5 Big Questions pioneer ministers are in a position to write a New Ministry Prole. The New Ministry Prole is no more than a paragraph in length. The New Ministry Prole will describe the kinds of people that the new ministry will serve, possible points of entry into their community and the gifts and skills that potential Core Team members will need. The New Ministry Prole will serve as: A succinct guide for prayer (for a sending church or for friends and relatives who are supporting the pioneer ministers). A basic statement of intent for the purposes of recruiting potential Core Team members. A starting point for the development of a Mission Action Plan once a Core Team is in place.
A New Ministry Prole for the Yarmouth Cove project66 could read as follows:
New Ministry Profile: St. Micks Playgroup, Yarmouth Cove

The fastest growing cohort in Yarmouth Cove (Y.C) population 34,000 is commuting-type families with pre-school children. St. Micks has little or no contact with this group. In addition, programs and activities for this cohort are limited. We believe a playgroup-style ministry will begin to address community needs and create a stable base for gospel initiatives. Myrtle and Tony Tan have been appointed (by the Church Council of St. Micks Y.C.) as the part-time honorary Team Leaders. A Core Team, comprising not less than 12 mature Christian women and men is needed to serve alongside the Tans. The Core Team will work towards a spring launch. Together they will meet (at least weekly) for prayer and training in outreach and evangelism. The Core Team will write a Mission Action Plan that will inform and shape this new ministry.
66
See above, chapter 5.
Chapter 6 Writing A New Ministry Prole | 39

Take a moment to list (again) the kinds of people you are seeking to reach
List possible points of entry into the community/culture of the people you are seeking to reach.
What gifts, skills and experience are you looking for in potential Core Team members?
With the above information to hand, you are now in a position to write a draft New Ministry Prole
40 | Chapter 6 Writing A New Ministry Prole
Chapter 7
Recruiting a Core Team
What to look for when recruiting a Core Team

The Core Team comprises the group of women and men who create the relational, theological, philosophical (and physical) structures that will sustain a new ministry over time. To this end it does not, in my view, need to be a large group. That Jesus appointed 12 members to his Core Team is instructive. Historical/theological reasons to one side, a team of a dozen or so affords each person the opportunity of being closer to the centre and to the side. That is, it is possible to know and be known by the team leaders (and other team members) whilst at the same time maintaining friendships with unbelievers, as this is essential in church planting. In a group this size accountability (and a sense of responsibility) tends to be higher; the buck generally stops with whoever is given an assignment and if people do not attend meetings (for whatever reason), their absence is, or should be felt keenly. In my opinion, the Core Team, are people who will be exercising a diaconal role within the new faith community. To this end, the qualities to which Paul makes reference in I Timothy 3:8-13 should be re-visited when considering potential team members. In short, Core Teams should comprise women and men who are Faithful, Available and Teachable. Faithful that is, people who are passionate disciples of the Lord Jesus and passionate when it comes to making disciples for the Lord Jesus. These women and men are faithful to and inspired by the Great Commission (Matthew 29:19, 20). Available that is, people who are able to carve out the time to serve. Available people are women and men who make pioneering ministry a priority. They are the sort of people wholl enthusiastically turn up to prayer meetings, set out chairs, clean the lthy toilets in the rented premises youve secured for your event, knock on doors, invite their friends to outreach activities and give of their own personal nances. Pioneering ministry is really hard work; available people have a clear understanding of the cost in time, money and effort and do not hesitate to throw their lot in with the leadership. Teachable that is people who are willing to be shaped and formed by the Scriptures. Teachable people are disciplined in their devotional life. They are seeking to be more like Jesus in outlook and character.
Once in place the Core Team will be responsible for the oversight and operation of the Key Ministry Areas (that well discuss in chapter 12).
Getting the word out...

The rst strategy in recruiting a team is to ask that the Lord of the Harvest [might] send out workers into his harvest eld67.
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Matthew 9:38.
42 | Chapter 7 Recruiting a Core Team
We must pray. And we must not take short-cuts at this point. Sending churches, denominations (and dioceses), small groups and friends are to make every effort to pray that the Lord would indeed raise up a Faithful, Available, Teachable Core Team. People need to be informed in their prayers. The New Ministry Prole serves as a very helpful guide to prayer. The New Ministry Prole from Yarmouth Cove is reproduced below.
New Ministry Profile: St. Micks Playgroup, Yarmouth Cove

The fastest growing cohort in Yarmouth Cove (Y.C) population 34,000 is commuting-type families with pre-school children. St. Micks has little or no contact with this group. In addition, programs and activities for this cohort are limited. We believe a playgroup-style ministry will begin to address community needs and create a stable base for gospel initiatives. Myrtle and Tony Tan have been appointed (by the Church Council of St. Micks Y.C.) as the part-time honorary Team Leaders. A Core Team, comprising not less than 12 mature Christian women and men is needed to serve alongside the Tans. The Core Team will work towards a spring launch. Together they will meet (at least weekly) for prayer and training in outreach and evangelism. The Core Team will write a Mission Action Plan that will inform and shape this new ministry.
The New Ministry Prole can also be posted on neighbouring church web-sites, Bible College sites, para-church and mission agency sites and denominational websites. Not only does this create a broader base of prayer support but it gets the information into the hands of interested potential team members. Now God may (and does) call people to serve on Core Teams via dreams and visions but in my experience the usual way is through direct invitation (from the leaders), recommendations and word of mouth. Having hard copies of the New Ministry Prole will facilitate the word of mouth process; people can readily give the information to possible candidates. The second strategy is to set time aside for a series of information meetings. The meetings are simple enough in structure: Welcome and prayer. Introduction of Team Leaders. Those present introduce themselves (and how they heard about the new ministry).
Chapter 7 Recruiting a Core Team | 43
The Team Leaders work through the New Ministry Prole in greater detail and explain what they are looking for in a Faithful, Available, Teachable Core Team. The Team Leaders then take questions from the group. A general time of prayer for Gods guidance. Those who are still interested should leave their contact details and the names of three mature Christian people who might serve as referees. Prior to the next stage (which is meeting with people or couples individually), I would urge the Team Leader(s) to check all references. Much heartache can be avoided down the track if this simple action is taken. Questions to referees are to be shaped by the Faithful, Available, Teachable schema. I would also suggest Team Leaders send referees a New Ministry Prole for their information and thoughtful reection prior to answering questions.
Interviews
Team Leaders are now ready to spend time meeting and praying with couples and individuals. As with referees, questions to and dialogue with potential Core Team members is shaped by the Faithful, Available, Teachable schema and the New Ministry Prole. Never appoint people to Core Teams to ll up numbers. It is far better to watch and pray for what (and whom) God will provide. Dont be in a rush. The people with whom I worked at Pyrmont waited three years before the Core Team was complete. To this end, if people are unsuitable, then graciously tell them as soon as is practicable. From the outset let people know that an information evening and an interview in no way guarantees a berth on the squad.
Commissioning
A last and important step in the recruiting phase is the commissioning. The sending church or the denomination (if applicable) or even friends and family should set time aside to pray over and send out the new Core Team. This is a very exciting time in the life of a new ministry. It should be well planned, well attended and well supported in prayer.
44 | Chapter 7 Recruiting a Core Team

A Core Team of 12 or so affords each person the opportunity of being closer to the centre and the side . Does this ring true for you in your context? Take a moment to explain your answer.
Are you comfortable with the notion that the Core Team exercises a diaconal role?
List the avenues that you intend to explore in the recruiting of a Faithful Available Teachable Core Team.
Chapter 7 Recruiting a Core Team | 45
Reality Check Maroubra Surfers Church Steve Bligh

Steve Bligh (50) came to faith in Christ at age 17. He was a member of the surng community. Fellow surfers who followed Christ explained the Bible to him and answered his questions. Steve is married with three young adult children. He is the pioneer minister at Maroubra Surfers Church. Q. Please describe the group you are seeking to reach? A. Local Maroubra surfers, their families and their networks. In addition we also seek to reach visiting surfers from other suburbs and abroad. The latter includes Japanese, Brazilians and some French surfers too. Q. Why surfers? A. Personal experience over a generation convinces me that few within this group know Christ (nor are they being nurtured in good local churches). Surfers comprise 14% of Australias population according to the Sweeney Report68. Ive been a part of the surng community all my adult life. I immersed myself in the Christian Surfers69 movement and Ive run surf missions and had close contact with leading surfers for decades. Q. Do you have a Core Team? A. Yes we do 8 at present. Our leaders are trained in Bible reading, teaching, giving their testimonies, evangelism, and management of teams and so on. The Core team are Faithful, Available, Competent and Teachable. Q. Do you have a Vision for the ministry? A. Yes. 2035 saved. Let me explain. 2035 is Maroubras postcode and it also a Bra Boy70 tattoo. We dream of seeing Maroubra surfers and their networks saved from death, addictions, mediocrity. Thousands saved is what we long for. Q. You make contact with locals in culturally appropriate ways, I believe. A. Right. We run regular coffee mornings, surng contests, surng coaching, surng trips, dinners, barbeques, beach and street evangelism. We have an internet site71 and two of our members run a gym for boxing and weights. Q. Did you begin with a public worship service?
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Steve Bligh
A. No way! In my opinion that would take far too much of our resources and detract from the real work of person to person mission and evangelism. Q. So when and where do you gather to teach and train people?
http://www.sweeneyresearch. com.au/
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http://www.christiansurfers.org. au/main.html http://www.mediaman.com. au/proles/the_bra.html http://www.myspace. com/177308990
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71
46 | Reality Check: Maroubra Surfers Church
A. 6.00pm on Sundays in a rumpus room for Grom Church 72 (kids, families and their friends); 7.00 pm on Mondays in a beachside caf for our main Bible teaching; 7.30pm Wednesdays in a beachfront ofce for training leaders; 10.00am on Saturdays for evangelistic coffee mornings at a footpath caf by the beach. All up we minister to around 200 people. Q. Who pays you, Steve? A. Financial support comes from what we raise ourselves, from Church Army Australia and from the Diocese. Q. Will you plant again? A. From the outset we made it very clear to all our people that our model can be reproduced all over the world. This will mean, among other things, envisioning and training our overseas surfers. Q. Highs and lows? A. Seeing Bra Boys and their families put their trust in Jesus and seek to live for him thats a high. The greatest bummer is seeing people without Christ self destruct.
Reality Check: Maroubra Surfers Church Steve Bligh

1. Is it clear who Steve and his team are seeking to reach?
3. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges that Steve and his team face?
72
Grommets are surfer kids or children of surfers.
Reality Check: Maroubra Surfers Church | 47
Chapter 8
The Mission Action Plan An Overview

MAP
The acronym MAP says it well! A Mission Action Plan a MAP is a foundational document. The MAP - prayerfully written by the Core Team, claries direction and shapes priorities for new (and existing) ministries. A MAP will express what were on about and where were going as a community of faith. A MAP will enable the Core Team to draft budgets and to know how (and where) to deploy people. A MAP informs prayer. This is especially true once goals are set; for unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labour in vain. 73 Mission Actioning Planning is a process that requires some time. I think you should allow between three to six months. This is no bad thing. Creating a M.A.P. affords the Core Team an excellent opportunity to read through the Scriptures and to spend time together in prayer as they mull over their ministry context. The mapping process in itself fosters community among the Core Team. A Mission Action Plan should in my view, comprise: A schedule of Biblical Values. A clear Statement of Mission. A compelling Vision. Activities grouped under Key Ministry Areas. A set of achievable Goals for each Key Ministry Area. Let me now outline what I mean by these terms. Ive written a fuller account of this process in Mission Action Planning: For Churches and Organisations in the 21st Century. Much of the following information is drawn from that volume.74
73 74
Psalm 127:1.
http://www.gospeloutreach.com. au/resources/resource1.pdf
Chapter 8 The Mission Action Plan An Overview | 49

Having read the brief introduction to Mission Action Planning are you able to list some of the benets of leading your Core Team through the process?
It may take from between three to six months to produce a MAP. Could this create hurdles for your Core Team? If so, how might they be overcome?
50 | Chapter 8 The Mission Action Plan An Overview
Chapter 9
Biblical Values
MAP I
Biblical Values are the priorities, assumptions and principles, the essential tenets that describe the character of a new (or existing) ministry. Biblical Values are essential for clarifying direction. That is, Biblical Values are used by the leadership team to shape, direct and inform goal setting for every activity within the church. This is the great strength of Biblical Values. In addition, Biblical Values may be used to measure progress in ministry. Let me explain. In pioneering ministry results may not be all that obvious. Numbers may remain small for some time and income growth may not be all that spectacular. This is also often true in student/campus ministry, military and international expatriate communities and in inner-urban high-rise developments where population turnover can be signicant. A helpful way to measure (or get a sense of) forward movement is against Biblical Values. Keep on asking the question, how are we tracking in relation to our Biblical Values? For example, a church that sees prayer as foundational in all they do and nominate prayer as a Biblical Value should regularly be asking, are we in fact spending time in prayer?; is prayer both reexive and intentional? If the answer to these questions is a resounding yes, even though they may not be bursting at the seams, they are nonetheless being faithful to that which they believe God has called them to do. Here is a set of Biblical Values from a local church. Please note that these Biblical Values are context specic. They have been worked up with a particular target group in mind.
At St. Micks Family Church we are committed to

Reading and teaching from the Bible, Gods Word. The Bible, Gods revealed Word, is essential for knowing God and for personal life-change. The Bible is our standard for faith and conduct and leads us to honor Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord. II Timothy 3:16. Prayer. Prayer is an expression of our dependence upon and our relationship with God our Father. Prayer is a priority in all our gatherings. Ephesians 6:18. Sharing our faith, making disciples and planting churches. Locally and globally, individually and corporately, we will engage in the work of presenting the Lord Jesus to a lost and broken world with a view to making disciples and starting new congregations. I Peter 3:15; Matthew 28:18-20. Servant leadership. Following the example of Jesus and with training, nurture and modeling our leaders are to selessly nourish and guide those in their care. John 10:11. Integrity, transparency and accountability in all relationships. Our words and actions are to be consistent with Gods Word and above
52 | Chapter 9 Biblical Values MAP I
reproach. This requires willingness (and a reliance on each other) to speak the truth in love. Matthew 5:13-16; Ephesians 4:15. Alleviating human need through just and loving service. This will mean being generous with our resources and making every effort to stand against systems and agencies that dishonour Christ. Hebrews 13:16. The process by which Biblical Values are decided is open to discussion. One simple ways is as follows: The Core Team lists (on a white board or good old fashioned butchers paper) what they individually deem to be central and non-negotiable. Once a list is produced the scribe or a facilitator decides if certain ideas can be grouped with other like or similar ideas. Each person in the Core Team is allocated a predetermined number of votes (Id suggest somewhere between eight and ten) that are cast in favour of certain groups of ideas. The highest ranking eight to ten groups are then discussed, nuanced, wordsmithed, prayed through and agreed upon. This methodology may seem a little clumsy but in my experience it is a surprisingly satisfactory process.

Are you aware of a church organisation that has a set of Biblical Values in place? Do they adhere to them and do they inform and shape what they do?
List at least three reasons why Biblical Values are central to the MAP process.
Note down a preliminary list of four or ve Biblical Values that could be included in a Core Team discussion on the subject.
Chapter 9 Biblical Values MAP I | 53
Chapter 10
The Mission Statement

MAP II
By Mission Statement I mean,
A simple, clear and memorable written description of a churchs reason for being.
A Mission Statement should ask the, why does this church or ministry exist? question. The Mission Statement articulates the churchs purpose and in so doing establishes identity (who we are). A church in a dormitory suburb articulated their purpose thus;
We exist to please and honour God as we engage with our community, evangelise the lost and equip and establish the church.
That works for them. That describes who they are and what they are on about; they are those who exist to glorify God as they engage with people in their spheres of inuence, evangelise those outside the community of faith, and equip and establish the people in their care. Im not suggesting readers adopt that particular statement (with its 4 es) but I think youll agree that it is simple, clear and memorable.
Formulating the Mission Statement.

In some ways the church has a real advantage when it comes to formulating and articulating Statements of Mission. That is because God, in his Word, has given us some very helpful and clear guidelines as to why we exist. Here are three for your consideration; As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ our life mission is to know, love and serve God with all our heart, soul mind and strength - Matthew 22:37-39. We exist therefore to please, glorify and honour God. This might be described as the Great Calling. A clear outworking of this is to obediently and graciously call other people to love and serve the Lord Jesus; Go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. - Matthew 28:18-20. This disciple making mandate is often spoken of as the Great Commission. And our words will be underscored by our actions. Jesus made it very clear that those who followed him were to selessly and sacricially care for each other and in so doing honour God and impact the community; A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this will all people know that you are my disciples, if you love one another. - John 13:34-35. These words of Jesus are known to many as the Great Commandment.
Chapter 10 The Mission Statement MAP II | 55
The following real Mission Statements are informed in varying degrees by these three guidelines: We exist to reach people and teach them to follow Jesus. We exist to preach the gospel, teach the Bible, create community, show compassion and promote justice. We exist to establish Gods kingdom on earth, through people. We exist to introduce people to Jesus and equip them to serve Him. From the above we can see that clear Mission Statements are; Simple. Short - an economy of words is used. Memorable. Uncluttered with strategy. Peter Wagner75 adds that an effective Mission Statement is; Explicit. It must be written down, not just taken for granted. Writing disciplines thinking, and as you go through several drafts, the Lord may reveal new and creative things to you. Mutual. The Mission Statement is the same for the team leader/minister, the staff the elders (church council) and the congregation. A deeply held conviction. If you do not really believe that your Mission Statement is apt, clear and biblical, youll need to work on it further. Static. By this Wagner means that churches that do not adhere to their Statement of Mission are inclined to lose growth potential. Having the New Ministry Prole to hand will enable the Core Team to carefully and prayerfully consider the Scriptural imperatives mentioned above in the light of their socioeconomic/demographic context.
This process is sometimes called double listening76; an ear attuned to culture and community and an ear attuned to the Word!
75 Leading Your Church to Growth, Regal Ventura, 1984 76 See http://www.cofe.anglican.org/ info/papers/mission_shaped_church. pdf
56 | Chapter 10 The Mission Statement MAP II

Does the church in which you are currently serving have a simple, clear and memorable written description of why it exists? If so, are you able to write it down (unassisted)? If the answer is no what does this suggest?
Do you think that the Great Calling, Great Commission and Great Commandment are helpful parameters for formulating Mission Statements? Explain.
With your new target group in mind, take 20 minutes or so to think through an initial rst draft Mission Statement that you might share with your Core Team. Note: keep it simple, short, memorable and uncluttered with strategy.
Our Mission We exist to
Chapter 10 The Mission Statement MAP II | 57
Reality Check Berkeley Wayne Pickford

Evangelist and professional wrestler Wayne Pickford (49) with his wife Mary and three teenage daughters have started a pioneering ministry, Berkeley Life Centre, in the Illawarra region of N.S.W. Q. Wayne, who are you seeking to reach? A. Working class Australians. Our ministry is primarily in the Housing Commission77 area. 23% of the households are single parent families (half as much again as the national average). Berkeley has a label - a place without hope in the region. Q. Why this group? A. The church, in my view, fails to reach working class people. I grew up in Mt. Druitt, in Sydneys working class west Ive worked as a storeman, a correctional ofcer, a professional wrestler; I love being around these kinds of people. Q. Do you have a Core Team? A. Yes. There are currently 7 members of Berkeley Life Centre. Its only a small team. Each person has a key ministry area to oversee. Clyde coordinates our Adopt a block program. June is our disciple-making coordinator. She follows up and nurtures all new believers. Pam coordinates prayer. We meet every Thursday night for prayer and weve established a prayer chain and a prayer letter. Ken takes care of evangelism and is the primary speaker at Alpha. Daves focus is youth; hes very experienced in getting alongside working class young people. Q. Do you have Mission Statement? A. A Life Worth Living sums up what we are on about at Berkeley. The letter t in worth is in the shape of a cross; life is only worth living when you discover that Jesus came into this world to deal with brokenness and sin and prepare us for eternity. Q. Did you begin with a public worship service? A. No. We are committed to reaching the local community and we want our church to comprise locals. We meet each week for Bible study. When this group reaches 50 or so we plan to begin a public meeting on a Saturday night. Q. How does Adopt a block work? A. Each week one couple visits homes (around 30 families) in the same block. We have targeted the streets that are adjacent to our church property. We knock on their doors and offer bread donated by Bakers Delight78 and share our life and faith with them. We pastor our block and do whatever it takes to serve people. We cook for those who are ill or alone. We listen, laugh and cry together. We spend time praying for and with them.
77
Wayne Pickford
Public housing
At present we are reaching 120 households about 500 people. Were also getting
78
http://www.bakersdelight.com. au/cms/
58 | Reality Check: Berkeley
requests from locals to adopt their block too! Q. Where does the wresting t in? A. I reckon wrestling events are the poor mans opera! Weve hosted professional wrestling events combined with Gospel messages; Youve seen him wrestle, now come and hear him preach! Q. How are you supported? A. Im mentored and trained by Church Army. They also provide a portion of my stipend. I raise the rest myself. Q. Where do you meet? A. In the old bro Anglican Church hall in Berkeley. It was disused for 18 years. Q. Your Vision for this ministry? A. To see a community of local believers worshipping Jesus, being missionaries to the people of Berkeley and for these people once saved reaching their friends and families in Berkeley for Jesus. Well keep on planting churches that plant churches.
Reality Check: Berkeley Wayne Pickford

1. Is it clear who Wayne and his team are seeking to reach?
3. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges that Wayne and his team face?
Reality Check: Berkeley | 59
Chapter 11
The Vision Statement

MAP III
Vision exists to provide a link between mission and action.
Contrary to widely held misconception, vision and mission are not synonymous. Mission is the broad based description of why you exist your purpose for being. Vision is much more specific; it details the particular direction you will pursue within the broad framework of your mission. Vision provides focus. George Barna.
A question Im often asked runs something like this Isnt this Vision stuff overly Corporate and quite foreign to the Bible? Whilst Jesus does not use the term Vision as such, he nonetheless constantly seeks to inspire the men and women who were following him with a vision79. John chapters 13 -15 are a case in point. Having spent three years together, the faith community that Jesus called into existence appears to be unravelling. There will be a betrayal80, a denial81, and Jesus himself has just announced that he is leaving them82. We know the mood is dark because Jesus states (in John 14:1), Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me. Jesus then sets a Vision before his friends. It is a Vision of fellowship, unity, safety and satisfaction. He says in John 14:2-6,
2. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4. You know the way to the place where I am going. 5. Thomas said to him, Lord, we dont know where you are going, so how can we know the way? 6. Jesus answered, I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Christina Drouin from the U.S. based Centre for Strategic Planning83 rightly observes that...
Vision is a compelling word picture of a desired future state.

Thats what Jesus creates for his friends. He paints a compelling word picture of a desired future state. A time is coming when Jesus friends will again experience rich, uninterrupted, unsullied fellowship for all time with Gods people, in Gods Heaven, through Gods Son. Thats the Vision. And then the strategy (if I may use such a term) follows.
79
I understand vision to mean to see with ones minds eye John 13:8. John 13:38. John 13:33. See http://www.planonline.org/
80 81 82 83
Chapter 11 The Vision Statement MAP III | 61
In the light of this grand Vision Jesus friends are to press on with Selessly serving and loving one another - John 13:34; 15:12. Obeying his word and commands John 14:15, 23. Prayer and bold supplication John 14:13. And for his part Jesus will send the Counsellor to indwell, teach, nurture, instruct and comfort them.84 I believe Vision is very much a function of leadership. A Vision that is born out of prayer, consultation and research will resonate with those in the planning group (the Core Team) and will be a unifying focus for the whole church or ministry. To this end, Vision is to be tailor-made to the individual passions and giftedness of the church; their call, their target group, their leaders and their faith. Clear Vision Statements should answer these four questions: What does God want us to do and to achieve; is it consistent with Biblical Values? Will this Vision stretch us beyond our natural abilities so that we really are depending on God to see its fulllment? Does the Vision offer a clear Christ-honoring focus? Is the Vision easily communicated, readily understood, and heartily embraced? Noting that Vision Statements are context specic, I offer the following real examples for your perusal. Our vision is for men, women, boys and girls to move from being outsiders (Colossians 4:5) to disciples (Matthew 28:19) within eighteen months. Our vision is to exercise pastoral care and outreach through a developing network of cell churches. Our vision is to engage in gospel growth by multiplying congregations. Our vision is to provide a safe place for emotional and spiritual healing. Our vision is to provide the greater metropolitan area with a church geared to the needs of baby boomers, who are nominal Christians. Our vision is to identify, train and support believers as leaders who carry the ministry of the local church to the world. Our vision is to plant and grow a bible-focused, cell-based, Christcentred Anglican church amongst the people of the valley. Our vision is to reach the greater metropolitan area through planting four new churches by 2004.
62 | Chapter 11 The Vision Statement MAP III
84
John14:23, 25ff.
Our vision is for 207 people attending services by 2007. Our vision is to plant churches that plant churches.
Discerning Vision.
With risk of being formulaic, I would suggest that the Vision discernment process could incorporate the following: An extended period of time be set aside for the Core Team to pray (together); they are to ask the Lord for clarity and direction. Each member of the Core Team be given an A4 work-sheet upon which is already printed the New Ministry Prole, Biblical Values and the Statement of Mission. On this worksheet each member of the team, informed by the Ministry Prole, Biblical Values and Mission Statement writes down impressions and ideas about what they believe the ministry could look like; a compelling word picture of a desired future state. These thoughts and reections are then shared with the whole team, recorded on a white board (or post-it type notes) and grouped into common themes and images. After further prayer, the Core Team will then seek to draft a single sentence that might coherently express these themes and images. At this point the Core Team should be asking those four questions of their draft Vision: - What does God want us to do and to achieve; is it consistent with Biblical Values? - Will this Vision stretch us beyond our natural abilities so that we really are depending on God to see its fulllment? - Does the Vision offer a clear Christ-honoring focus? - Is the Vision easily communicated, readily understood, and heartily embraced? Having prepared a draft Vision, I suggest the Core Team allow a week or so for it to percolate. Having prayerfully pondered the draft Vision the Core Team should then meet again for prayer, discussion and re-negotiation. This process can continue until the Vision is rm. The latter must not be rushed. And dont fear impasses they may well be Gods way of alerting you to things not yet considered things that might only come to light through extended prayer and dialogue.
Chapter 11 The Vision Statement MAP III | 63
Chapter 11 Think it through for groups and individuals...

In your own your own words, take a few moments to write out the difference between Mission and Vision.
Does the ministry or church in which you currently serve have a Vision? Can you write it out (unassisted)? If no, what does this suggest?
In preparation for working on a Vision with your Core Leaders, in a sentence or two write out your dream for the ministry you are planning. What could it look like three years hence? Check what youve noted down against the four Vision questions.
64 | Chapter 11 The Vision Statement MAP III
Chapter 12
Key Ministry Areas

MAP IV
With limited resources (people, money, equipment, time) the Core Team must now ask the what specic areas will we focus on in order to full our mission and realize our vision question. Key Ministry Areas are categories into which like ministries are grouped and a leader or coordinator assigned.
People from the Core Team are ideally suited to serve as coordinators; they are clear on Biblical Values and they have an extremely high level of ownership of the Mission and Vision of the church or ministry (or Fresh Expression).
Once Key Ministry Areas are established the coordinator and his or her team will then set goals for each activity (that will also include the public phase of the new ministry). Consider the proposed new ministry at Yarmouth Cove (that we reviewed in chapter 6). The Core Team will be guided and directed by the Biblical Values and the Mission and Vision of St. Micks as they plan their mid-week playgroup program. However as it is an off-site and discrete ministry, targeting families who are not involved with St. Micks, it is quite appropriate for the Core Team to draft a list of Key Ministry Areas that relate to this particular initiative. A schedule of possible activities is included. The Key Ministry Area leader (and her team) will then create a series of goals for the activities they in fact elect to run with.
66 | Chapter 12 Key Ministry Areas MAP IV
Yarmouth Cove Playgroup Key Ministry Areas

Key Ministry Area Possible Activities Weekly Mainly Music group (and the starting of new Mainly Music groups once a predetermined ceiling is reached), monthly outing, birthday celebrations, special Mothers Day, Fathers Day, Easter and Christmas events, recruiting additional help, etc. Coordinator(s)
(usually drawn from Core Team)
Families
Myrtle and Tony Tan
Prayer
Monthly prayer meeting for team and supporters, creation/distribution of an email prayer bulletin, coordination of prayer triplet ministry85, recruiting additional help, etc.
Cynthia Cave-Smythe
Administration and Advertising
Budget creation, venue hire and set up, purchase of equipment, collection and processing of monies received, equipment purchase, correspondence, production of welcome packs for friends and guests serving rosters, coordination of publicity: web page (and web info for other sites); letterbox drops; personal invitations; newspaper ads and stories; banners, recruiting additional help, etc.
Sylvia Chung and Deepak Choudhury
Outreach
Baby Bliss86 and Parenting Toddlers classes87, baby sitting programme, The Marriage Course88, wine and cheese tasting, Introducing God DVD evangelism course, Messy Church, recruiting additional help, etc.
Jeff and Terri Spring
Team Training
Occupational health and safety, child protection, conversational evangelism, set-up and tear down of venue, hospitality: Friends for Life89 course, recruiting additional help, etc.
85
Oscar Bauer
Small Groups
Conduct small group leaders training workshop, identify two small group leaders and two apprentices, start two small groups, select small group study material, plan 3 small group social events, devise welcome/ incorporation program, etc.
A prayer triplet is a group of three people who meet together (in person or via conference call or MSN or Skype etc) to pray for each other, their friends who are living apart from God in Christ and any other special needs or concerns they might have. A helpful leaet, Prayer Triplets written by the Reverend David Manseld is available from Gospel Outreach Ministries at http://www.gospeloutreach.com. au/resources/resource1.pdf
86
Holly Poulos
http://www.g.org.au/resources/ babywise_bliss.html http://www.g.org.au/downloads/ letter-childwisepastors.pdf http://themarriagecourse.org/ marriage/ http://www.greatjourneys.org
87
88
89
Chapter 12 Key Ministry Areas MAP IV | 67
Having now listed a range of possible activities for each Key Ministry Area the people responsible for these ministries will prayerfully consider, in the light of Biblical Values and resources to hand the activities for which goals are to be set.

As you reect on your target group there could very well be many ways to serve them. Given limited resources, simply list three possible Key Ministry Areas. Explain why youve chosen these particular Key Ministry Areas.
Our experience has shown that unless a person (or a couple) is appointed to lead a Key Ministry Area it will languish (or die). From your Core Team, can you identify suitable leaders for the three Key Ministry Areas that you have selected? List and explain.
Choose one of your Key Ministry Areas and write out half a dozen possible activities for which goals (for the selected activities) might be set.
68 | Chapter 12 Key Ministry Areas MAP IV
Chapter 13
Prayer and Faith Goals

MAP V
By goals I mention the action steps required to make ministry happen in each of the Key Ministry Areas. These goals or action steps are to be prayed through from formulation stage right through to completion (and evaluation). I would encourage the Core Team to make a schedule of goals available to friends, family, the sending church, the web-site and of course all those involved in the new congregation or fresh expression. In setting goals we should be asking the four basic what, how, who and when questions: What exactly do we90 want to do? How will we do it? Who will do it? When is it to be done by? In passing, I should add that some leaders nd the SMART formula helpful when setting goals. That is, goals are to be: Specic Measurable Achievable Result-oriented Track-able (or time-dated) In publishing goals we create expectation, ownership and accountability An expectation that God will bring glory to himself in and through our plans and dreams. A sense of ownership interest and involvement among those who are praying for that which we are seeking to achieve. A higher level of accountability in that our supporters will be keen to know how and when goals are realized. Goals are generally exible and mid-course corrections may be appropriate. Goals are to be set for short, medium and longer term ministry seasons (e.g. six months, 12 months, 2-5 years). As goals are drafted for each of the Key Ministry Areas those doing the planning are to lter any ideas through the Biblical Values grid. That is, Biblical Values must set the agenda in goal formulation. In addition goals can and must be regularly revised and evaluated. Quarterly and annual evaluations are oft-used time frames. Lastly, and this is often overlooked, celebrating goals that have been achieved (or in some way realized) is a wonderful way of encouraging the body and bringing honour to Christ. Context is also created. This means the church can look back on what God has
70 | Chapter 13 Prayer and Faith Goals MAP V
90
Assuming that as a group you are continuing to ask God what He wants you to do!
done in their midst and then boldly step forward with new faith-lled goals. Let me give you a very simple example of what a set of goals for a Key Ministry Area could look like. Im using the Key Ministry Area Outreach from the Yarmouth Cove playgroup ministry.
Key Ministry Area - Outreach

Yarmouth Cove Playgroup Goal 1: To run a six week Parenting Toddlers program on Thursday evenings with free baby sitting for couples who attend. The program will begin in July. It will be coordinated by Jeff and Terri Spring and a team of four assistants. Goal 2: To host a wine and cheese evening for playgroup parents and friends with a short testimony from a Christian parent. Lucy Greaves will organise this event. It is set down for August 22 at 8.00pm (not long after the Parenting Toddlers program ends). Goal 3: To invite the fathers of children from playgroup to an early Saturday morning fishing trip where they will meet other Christian men. Conversation and fishing are the main agenda items. Enzo Batini will organise the event and provide the boat and gear. The date is Saturday October 7 at 6.00am. Goal 4: To construct and coordinate a live Nativity scene for the playgroup Christmas party on December 17 at 3.00pm. The Olling family will take charge of this venture. Goal 5: The playgroup Christmas party will use the Messy Church format. Outreach coordinators, Jeff and Terri Spring will also oversee this event.
The above sample goals are also working on the principle of ow. By this I mean one activity owing naturally into another. The people who come along to the playgroup will be invited to the Parenting Toddlers course. That cohort (and others) will then be personally encouraged to attend the wine and cheese event where a short, clear testimony (personal faith journey) will be shared. It is hoped that some of the men (having met other fellows from the group) will come to the Saturday shing trip and then with their families to the Christmas party. The Messy Church format will be used for the Christmas party. If the response is positive a series of Messy Church events will be scheduled throughout the next year.
Chapter 13 Prayer and Faith Goals MAP V | 71

Please state (in your own words) the purpose and value of setting goals.
Biblical Values must set the agenda in goal setting. Discuss.
From the possible list of activities that you produced from one of the Key Ministry Areas, select two activities and formulate goals. Make sure they answer the Why, How, Where and When questions. 1.
2.
72 | Chapter 13 Prayer and Faith Goals MAP V
Reality Check: Church by the Bridge Paul Dale

Paul Dale (37) is the minister of Church by the Bridge91 (CBTB), in Kirribilli. This aptly named church is based just metres away from the northern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Paul, a Brit, became a Christian when he was 20 as a result of reading the Bible cover to cover for myself. He came to the conclusion that Jesus was indeed the Lord and Saviour. Q. Paul, tell us about the people you and your team(s) are seeking to reach? A. Kirribilli is an interesting area. The surveys indicate that there are two main groups the 25-30 year old home renters (mainly single like me or married without kids) and the 60 plus years home owners (many of whom were born in Kirribilli). Weve sought to focus on the rst group. Their issues are wealth, prosperity, busy lives, no need for Jesus. We know this because weve spent time with them; walking the streets, speaking to people in cafes, shops and ofces. Q. Do you have a Core Team? A. We began with a team of ten. They were selected by invitation based on skills. We started with a group of people (mainly from St. Thomas North Sydney our parent) who could oversee the following Key Ministry Areas: Men; Women; Outreach; Small Groups; Pastoral Care; Music; Publicity; Welcoming; Mission and Teaching. Q. Now Paul, CBTB has experienced rapid growth in just a few years. I understand around 240 people meet across three services. Did you begin with public worship? A. Heres how it played out. We had an information night three months prior to our launch. By that stage wed xed a venue, time, Core Team, as well as the style of meeting and target group. We had a Mission Action Plan in place (and our Mission is to know Christ, serve Christ, proclaim Christ.) The information night helped people see that we were really planting two new churches one in Kirribilli and the re-planting of the 7.pm service at St. Thomas North Sydney92 from which we were being sent out. As a result of this meeting 40 new people signed on. Q. How do you make contact with locals and where do you meet? A. We knock on doors, do leaet drops and people invite their friends to events. Weve run market stalls, trivia nights, puppet shows, hot topic nights, Carols under the Bridge (outdoor service) and our Sunday services (in St. Johns Kirribilli). We meet in cafs, homes and in the church building. Q. Will you plant again and do you see yourself in the role long term?
91
Paul Dale
A. We planted CBTB in February 2005. By January 2007 CBTB comprised three
http://www.churchbythebridge. org.au/ http://www.st-thomas.org.au/
92
Reality Check: Church By The Bridge | 73
congregations (one morning, two evening). In February 2008 we will plant again in an adjacent suburb. I see myself more as an initiator rather than a maintainer. I just want to keep on planting! Q. Downsides? A. There is great joy in seeing so many people come to Christ. My greatest disappointments have been in relation to members of the original Core Team leaving. Thats tough.
Reality Check: CBTB Kirribilli Paul Dale

1. Is it clear who Paul and his team are seeking to reach?
3. In your opinion, what are the greatest challenges that Paul and his team face?
74 | Reality Check: Church By The Bridge
Chapter 14
Going Public
In our journey together so far we have93: Noted that in starting mission-shaped churches we are referring to a process by which new communities of faith that make and grow disciples of Christ are formed. Considered some of the Biblical evidence for starting new communities of faith. Reviewed the characteristics that pioneer ministers tend to exhibit and some of expectations of leaders that the Bible sets out for us. Surveyed a range of models for mission-shaped start-ups. Asked the ve big questions pertaining to data gathering prior to starting a new ministry. Been presented with the concept of and had a go at writing a New Ministry Prole. Thought through the process of recruiting a Core Team and the importance of nding Faithful, Available, Teachable people. Looked at what comprises a Mission Action Plan: Biblical Values; a Statement of Mission; a Statement of Vision; a list of Key Ministry Areas; a schedule of prayer and faith Goals. Having worked through these eight foundational areas we can now speak more briey about going public. The going public stage once meant (more often than not) nding a venue and starting a worship-service (for want of a better term). I do hope that in starting mission-shaped churches it is clear to the reader that the going public phase may mean starting the worship service but in many situations, given the context, it may not. In our Yarmouth Cove scenario it will mean starting the playgroup ministry as per the plan, building relationships and slowly serving that community in line with the goal schedule and making mid-course corrections if the goals are off the mark. As a matter of interest, this ministry is based on a model that is working in an inner-urban community. Each week nearly 100 carers and children meet in a local government owned and managed community centre for movement and dance activities. They sing simple songs about Jesus and do craft activities that relate to the theme of the day. Until they attended the group, the carers, all generally under 35 years of age, knew almost nothing of the person and work of Jesus.
A traditional Sunday service not only does not t their schedules and life-styles (at this point in time), it is completely outside their frame of reference.
It is also worth noting that the team who lead this ministry are non-stipendiary; they are tent-makers or bi-vocational workers. They derive an income from sources apart from the ministry.
93
A checklist version of this list is found at the end of the chapter.
76 | Chapter 14 Going Public
This particular public ministry, as with all the examples given in this manual, has embraced a go to them approach to evangelism - as opposed to the come to us philosophy inherent in much of what we do (or at least much of what I have done!).
What is more, like Jonathan Holt, Lyn Bullard, Wayne Pickford, Steve Bligh and Paul Dale, they are passionate about multiplying their ministries. They want to see more groups emerge and more people reached and brought warmly into the churchs fold. They are not content with the status quo. The going public phase, whatever it might look like locally, must, in my view, ow quite naturally out of the Goals that have been set for each Key Ministry Area. Let me illustrate this once again from the Yarmouth Cove playgroup project. Myrtle and Tony Tan have recruited a Core Team. Team members have been assigned Key Ministry Area responsibilities and specic goals will be set; goals that ask and answer the What, How, Who and When questions. It could look something like this Myrtle and Tony Tan, the Families coordinators will: Organise the Mainly Music programme. Schedule a range of social activities that will forge and enhance relationships. Set dates for the start and nish of each activity. Cynthia Cave-Smythe (and her team) has the Prayer angle covered. Cynthia will: Ensure people are prayerfully informed about all events and activities (including the public launch). Organise small groups (prayer triplets) to regularly meet for intimate intentional prayer. Sylvia Chung and Deepak Choudhury are responsible for Administration and Advertising. Among other things, they will: Secure a suitable venue, draft budgets, produce a web-site. Book advertising space in local media. Coordinate a letterbox drop. Put welcome packs together. Purchase equipment. Serve as a conduit for all correspondence.
Chapter 14 Going Public | 77
Jeff and Terri Spring have taken on the Outreach portfolio. As with the other Key Ministry Areas, they will: Invite people to serve alongside them in this strategic activity. Have in place, or will be developing a schedule of events to which people attending Mainly Music (and others with whom they may come into contact) can be invited. Have scheduled programs for parenting infants and toddlers. Also offer a marriage enrichment course and a range of social events (such as a wine and cheese night) where relational bridges can be built. Also coordinate the Messy Church event(s). Oscar Bauer is looking after Team Training. Oscar will: Cover a range of training activities from how to set-up and tear down a venue to relationship building courses. Schedule his training so that people are well prepared for events and activities before they come on line. Holly Poulos has been assigned the task of coordinating the Small Groups ministry. Initially these groups (2 to start with) will comprise the Core Team. As people sign up for Mainly Music and other associated activities the Core Team members will gently invite them to experience the fellowship and care of a small group.
78 | Chapter 14 Going Public
The Checklist.
Id like to end this chapter with a simple checklist that may assist pioneer ministers and their teams as they work towards going public. After each statement there is space to check-off the item and add a comment if action is required.
A Checklist for going public

(or) 1. A skilled, gifted and experienced pioneer(s) is leading this new ministry [ ] Comments
2. An accurate, researched picture of the intended target group is to hand and a New Ministry Prole has been written [ ] Comments
3. A Faithful, Available, Teachable Core Team has been prayerfully selected and is meeting regularly for prayer and planning [ ] Comments
4. The MAP process is complete and we are agreed on Biblical Values [ ] A Mission Statement [ ] A Vision Statement [ ] Key Ministry Areas and who will oversee/coordinate them [ ] A schedule of Goals and the people responsible for actioning them [ ] Comments
5. To this end we have (if appropriate) - secured a venue [ ] - a public launch date [ ] - worked out budgets and purchased equipment [ ] - devised a strategy for marketing/publicity [ ] - a plan for incorporating and discipling people [ ] - the (informed) prayer support of friends, family and/or a sending church and denomination [ ] - scheduled a time for a formal review of all our activities as per our Mission Action Plan [ ] Comments
Chapter 14 Going Public | 79
Chapter 15
The Last Word
From a distance some of the examples of pioneering ministry and church plants to which Ive made reference look untidy. By this I mean they dont necessarily present like church in a traditional sense. Oftentimes they dont meet on Sundays in church buildings, they dont have full-time ordained clergy and they dont replicate the forms and styles of worship with which many of us are familiar and comfortable. They do however t the denition of mission-shaped churches that I suggested when we began; they are
new communities of faith that exhibit the values of the Kingdom of God; principally making and growing disciples of Christ.
The question, so exactly where will they end up? is a good one. The answer for some even though they have a plan is, were not entirely sure. My own view is that if we begin to release pioneers and entrepreneurs into the mission eld well also need to learn to live with patterns and models that are different, risky and seasonal; they may not, under God, have a long life. Indeed some may fail. That said they all have at least three things in common; they are passionate about the mission to which Jesus has called them; they are prayerful in all their undertakings and they have a exible Christ-centred plan. That plan in every instance involves reproduction and multiplication. Kingdom growth to the glory of God, is a driving force in each scenario. My hope is that those three elements will be present in the work to which the Lord is leading you and that this manual will bless and assist in the process. Let me close with the words of my friend, colleague and British church planting doyen Dr. Martin Robinson94 as we reect on the task ahead.
The challenge for church planters is to give birth to new forms rather than replicate the same structures that have failed elsewhere. Creative church planting that discovers new ways of being the Body of Christ in a changing world will help keep the sinews of our denominations supple and more able to respond sensitively and vigorously to the as yet unforseen challenges of tomorrows world. New churches, and the fresh theological insights that they generate, counter the tendency to ecclesiological ossification that turns structures into strictures.
...stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourself fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labour in the Lord is not in vain... I Corinthians 15:58.
94
http://www.togetherinmission. org/theteam.php
Chapter 15 The Last Word | 81
Appendix
Appendix 1: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavoured?

Two of my colleagues, George Lings95 from the Church Armys Shefeld Centre (UK) and Ken Morgan96 a Church Army consultant (and former church planting coach with Church Resource Ministries Australia97) have expressed concerns that many of the emerging expressions of church were not mission-shaped as much as they were mission-avoured instead. With Kens permission, Im reproducing some of his material below. Heres a true story Every Sunday morning about sixty or seventy people take over the Green Macau caf located in a suburban shopping strip. The small space is packed to the door and people sit around tables to enjoy the music, listen to a brief and punchy message, hear stories and generally celebrate the good things that God is doing in their community. Its a pretty unlikely crew a millionaire businessman sits at the same table as a recovering heroin addict. The head bouncer from the local pub is there, along with IT professionals, welfare dependent single mums and an array of others. The young ministers are desperately seeking a larger space in which they might meet. About half the people attending that morning have come to faith in this group. The rest were either part of the original planting team or have re-connected with church after a break. Sunday afternoons, in another city meets another church, which looks virtually the same. The look and feel is caf casual, although they meet in a school hall. The music is not too different, the message just as relevant and punchy. The crowd lacks some of the diversity, but numbers about eighty or so. All in all, youd struggle to see from the outside how very, very different these two churches are. Whats the difference? Our rst example began six years ago as a team of about ten people. For the rst two years they had no public worship service, committing most of their time to building relationships with unchurched people, doing simple acts of service, making disciples one by one and gathering them into small groups. When the people they were reaching kept asking to start church, they commenced a monthly service. They moved to a fortnightly service only when they had enough people involved to sustain both grass-roots mission activity and the public service. Theyve only recently increased the frequency to weekly.
95
http://www.churcharmy.org.uk/ca/ sc/ShefeldCentreHome.asp Ken can be contacted at ken@ churcharmy.com.au http://www.crm.org.au/
96
97
Appendix I: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavoured? | 83
Because a favourite pastime in their area is relaxing in a caf, they chose a one as a meeting place. Founded and formed by mission, this is a mission-shaped church. Although a little bigger, the second example church is only eighteen months old. The origins of the church are found in a small group of young adults, frustrated by the rigidity of the traditional church they attended. They wanted something fresh, contemporary and informal. They wanted something to which they could invite their friends. The group worked hard to bring their dream to reality. They put together a detailed strategic plan, pulled together ideas, people and resources and even gained the blessing of their home church. Local government demographics told them that middle class 18-40 year-olds abounded in their suburb, so everything about the service - from funky music to plunger coffee was chosen with these in mind. Their rst service was everything they had hoped, and since then a steady ow of new faces has delighted the leadership group. While the new church appears to be a resounding success, a few nagging doubts rattle about in the minds of the leaders. Firstly, almost all the newcomers are from other churches. Some stay, some attend for a few weeks and move on. Everyone is encouraged to invite their friends, but all their friends are Christians. Secondly, the churchs efforts at outreach dont seem to be effective in bringing people into the church. Theyve done everything from a battle of the bands to offering free marriage counselling (statistics showed a high marriage breakdown rate in the area), but theres been no ow on from these to the worship service. Thirdly, the core team is growing tired of the effort required to maintain the current standard in the weekly service, plus the outreach activities. Because successful, large churches emphasise excellence, the leaders have drummed into the worship team to give their all. But now the team is starting to lose their energy and creative edge. Contemporary and cool as it may be, the second example is, in our view, missionavoured.
84 | Appendix I: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavoured?
Mission-Shaped Church
Mission-Flavoured Church
Had its origin in a call to mission.
Was born in reaction to the established church. Began work with the churched and their preferences. Made a hip worship service their rst priority. Launched their public worship service according to a schedule. Perceived the needs of the unchurched form a distance and opted for a provider-client approach to serving them.
Began work with the unchurched and their needs. Made serving those outside the community of faith its rst priority. Launched its public worship service according to health indicators. Sought to discover and meet the needs of unchurched by engaging with them in relationship, then serving them in a relational peer approach. Allowed those new to the faith to inuence its form and style.
Designed its look and feel based on its own idea of what the community needed. Remained outsiders in their local culture, trying to bring them to Jesus.
Became insiders in their local culture bringing Jesus to them.
Upshots98.
Clarify the call The basis for mission-shaped church is a call to mission, rather than frustration that our own needs arent met. As far as possible, pioneer ministers will need to deal with frustrations and other gripes before they set off to plant. Be good news Right from the start, pioneers are to spend signicant time with those they trying to reach. Their job is to be good news, not a purveyor of goods and services, religious or otherwise. Keep public worship services in perspective In a mission-shaped framework, a public worship service should be the overow of mission and its fruits, rather than preceding it. It will therefore be shaped by those whove come to faith through mission. The form it takes may or may not follow the style and symbols of the Core Team.
98
Following Morgan and Lings.
Appendix I: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavoured? | 85
Make time for unchurched people Public worship services are usually very resource-hungry. Beware of committing too much of your peoples time and energy to the service at the expense of relational time with the unchurched. Let programs serve relationships Programs as a concept are value-neutral. They succeed or fail as outreach tools largely on the basis of whether they provide a context for relationships to form and grow.
86 | Appendix I: Mission Shaped or Mission Flavoured?
Appendix II: Resources Electronic and Written

(with thanks to George Lings, Wayne Brighton, Steve Addison and Ken Morgan).
There is a growing corpus of material available to interested readers. Two foundational documents that I recommend you buy and read are: Building The Mission Shaped Church in Australia (Sydney: General Synod, 2006; Contributors - Wayne Brighton, Andrew Curnow, Trevor Edwards, Rob Forsyth, Stephen Hale, Stuart Robinson, Di Nicolios, Sue Williams Ed. A. Nichols). Mission Shaped Church: Church Planting and Fresh Expressions of church in a changing context (London: Church House Publishing, 2004; Contributors Graham Cray, George Lings and others).
A selection of other material includes:
Electronic.
Steve Addison planting the next 1,000 Australian Churches workbook: http://www.next1000.org/les/next1000ebook.pdf Alliance Church downloads and training manuals for church planters: http://www.alliancescp.org/resources/index.html Anglican Church Planting Initiatives UK - the title says it all: www.acpi.org.uk Base ecclesial cells and ministering communities resources and links www.newway.org.uk Brad Boydston downloads and manuals: http://bradboydston.com/html/church_planting.html Church of England Fresh Expressions great examples, downloads and links: www.freshexpressions.org.uk Emerging church information and links www.emergingchurch.info Encounters on the Edge Church Army Shefeld Centre UK great research material, links, training information: www.encountersontheedge.org.uk Rural church plants and fresh expressions (UK): http://www.ruralmissions.org.uk/rural%20fresh%20expressions.pdf Charles Ridleys characteristics of church planters checklist: http://www.churchplanting4me.org/ridleyfactors.htm Martin Robinson Together in mission resources courses and papers: http://www.togetherinmission.org/ Stuart P. Robinson articles and downloads: http://www.anglican.org.au/nco.cfm?SID=9&SSID=149 Seven Steps in Planting Churches: http://www.churchplantingvillage.net Ed Stetzers Newchurches.com - and excellent site with resources and downloads: http://www.newchurches.com/
Appendix II: Resources | 87
Written.
Roland Allen, The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church and the Causes that Hinder It. (Eugene, Oregon: Wipf & Stock, 1997). Jennifer Ashley (ed), The Relevant Church: A New Vision for Communities of Faith. (Orlando: Relevant Media, 2005). Paul Bayes, Mission-Shaped Church. (Grove Evangelism 67. Cambridge: Grove Publishing, 2004). John Bellamy, Proling Australians: Social and Religious Characteristics of the Population. (Adelaide: Openbook, 2003). David Bosch, Transforming Mission: Paradigm Shifts on Theology of Mission. (New York: Orbis, 1991). Stuart Christine and Martin Robinson, Planting Tomorrows Churches Today: A Comprehensive Handbook. (Tunbridge Wells: Monarch, 1992). Steven Croft, Transforming Communities: Re-Imagining the Church for the 21st Century. (London: Darton, Longman & Todd, 2002). Steven Croft, George Lings and Claire Dalpra, Starting a Fresh Expression Workbook. (London: Church House Publishing, 2006). Steven Croft and George Lings, Moving on in a Mission Shaped Church Workbook. (London: Church House Publishing, 2005). Vincent Donovan, Christianity Rediscovered: An Epistle from the Masai. (London: SCM Press, 1982). Michael Frost, Exiles: Living Missionally in a Post-Christian Culture. (Peabody: Hendrickson, 2006). Michael Frost and Alan Hirsch, A Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st Century Church. (Peabody: Henrickson, 2003). Eddie Gibbs and Ryan K. Bolger, Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures. (Grand Rapids: Baker Academic, 2005). Eddie Gibbs and Ian Coffey, Church Next: Quantum Changes in Christian Ministry. (Leicester; IVP, 2001). Kevin Giles, Making Good Churches Better. A Workbook for Church Councils and Church Leaders. (Brunswick: Acorn, 2001). Robin Greenwood, Transforming Church. (London: SPCK, 2002). Darrell J. Guder, ed., The Missional Church. (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1998). Alan Howe, Leading Ordinary Churches into Growth. (Grove Evangelism Ev 70. Cambridge: Grove, 2005). Bob Jackson, Hope for the Church: Contemporary Strategies for Growth. (London: Church House Publishing, 2002). Bob Jackson, The Road to Growth. (London: Church House Publishing, 2005). Peter Kaldor et al., Connections for Life: Core Qualities to Foster in Your Church.(Adelaide: Open Book, 2002). Dan Kimball, The Emerging Church: Vintage Christianity for New Generations. (Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2003).
88 | Appendix II: Resources
Alan C. Klass, In Search of the Unchurched: Why People Dont Join Your Congregation. (Alban Institute, 2002). George Lings and Stuart Murray, Church Planting: Past, Present and Future. (Grove Evangelism Ev.61. Cambridge: Grove, 2003). George Lings, Discernment in Mission: Navigation Aids for Mission-Shaped Processes. (Encounters on the Edge. 30. Shefeld: Shefeld Centre, 2006). George Lings, Mission-Shaped Church: The Inside and Outside View. (Encounters on the Edge. 22. Shefeld: Shefeld Centre, 2004). George Lings and Stuart Murray, Church Planting: Past, Present and Future. (Grove Evangelism Ev 61. Cambridge: Grove Books, 2003). Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century. (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1994, 3rd edit). Ann Morisy, Journeying Out: A New Approach to Christian Mission. (London: Continuum, 2004). Michael Moynagh, Emergingchurch.intro. (Oxford and Grand Rapids: Monarch Books, 2004). Stuart Murray, Church After Christendom. (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2004). Stuart Murray, Post-Christendom: Church and Mission in a Strange New World. (Milton Keynes: Paternoster, 2004). Stuart Murray, Church Planting, Laying Foundations. (Scottsdale: Herald, 1996). Martin Robinson, Planting Mission-Shaped Churches Today. (London: Kregel, 2006). Stuart P. Robinson, Cheryl Smith, Michael K. Wilson, Mission Action Planning Kit. (Sydney: Anglicare Diocese of Sydney, 2004). Alan Roxburgh & Fred Romanuk, The Missional Leader: Equipping Your Church to Reach a Changing World. (John Wiley & Sons, 2006). Alan Roxburgh, The Missionary Congregation: Leadership and Liminality. (Harrisburg: Trinity Press International, 1997). Lyle Schaller, 44 Questions For Church Planters. (Nashville: Abingdon, 1991). Robert Warren, The Healthy Churches Handbook: A Process for Revitalizing Your Church. (London: Church House Publishing, 2004). Robert Warren, Building Missionary Congregations: Towards a Post-Modern Way of Being Church. (London: Church House Publishing, 1995).
Appendix II: Resources | 89
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with discussion questions Stuart P. Robinson

Robinson Stuart P. Starting Mission-Shaped Churches ISBN 978-0-9579832-1-2

Starting Mission-Shaped Churches

Stuart P. Robinson (far right) with family1

Photo courtesy of Miriam Ollis

For Jane Eliza

Foreword - Wayne Brighton

Matthew 9:37 NRSV.

Chapter 1 Starting Mission-Shaped Churches:

6 44 Questions for Church Planters, Nashville, Abingdon, 1991, 22ff 7 8 9

How to use this book.

Chapter 1 - think it through for groups or individuals...

As a result of reading this chapter I/we intend to

Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations:

The Mission of God.

14 | Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey.

The Mission of God and Starting New Churches.

Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey. | 15

Acts13:1-14:28; 15:36-18:23; 19:1-21:26.

Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey. | 17

Chapter 2 - think it through for groups or individuals...

As a result of reading this chapter I/we intend to

18 | Chapter 2 Biblical Foundations: A brief survey.

Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church38 Jonathan Holt

http://www.lvac.org.au/ http://www stmattswanniassa.org.au/ http://www.anglicarecg.org.au/

Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church | 19

Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church Jonathan Holt

4. A transferable principle or idea that we might apply in our context is

20 | Reality Check: Lanyon Valley Anglican Church

Planters and Pioneers

Core Elements in pioneering ministry

Highly motivated, faith-lled and prayerful. Low 1 2 3 4 5 High

Chapter 3 - think it through for groups and individuals...

As a result of reading this chapter I/we intend to

24 | Chapter 3 Planters and Pioneers

Methods and Models

The Ministry Family Going it Alone Model

26 | Chapter 4 Methods and Models

Multi-congregational (Mixed Economy) church plants

Chapter 4 Methods and Models | 27

The Local Start-Up model

Re-potting and Transplanting

http://www.christianityexplained. com/ http://www.jesusallaboutlife.com. au/jaalResources/JAAL-Products. aspx#b4 http://www.trinity.unimelb.edu. au/theological_school/academic_ program/credo

28 | Chapter 4 Methods and Models

Chapter 4 - think it through for groups and individuals...

As a result of reading this chapter I/we intend to

Chapter 4 Methods and Models | 29

Reality Check North Forbes Lyn Bullard

Photo courtesy of Lew Hitchick.

COLA Covered Outdoor Learning Area.

30 | Reality Check: North Forbes

Reality Check: North Forbes Lyn Bullard

4. A transferable principle or idea that we might apply in or context is

Reality Check: North Forbes | 31

Five Big Questions

The pastors of the eight other denominations in Y.C.

http://www.abs.gov.au/websitedbs/ d3310114.nsf/home/Census+data http://www.ncls.org.au/

Chapter 5 Five Big Questions | 33

34 | Chapter 5 Five Big Questions

Chapter 5 Five Big Questions | 35

http://www.justwalkacrosstheroom. com/commit.aspx http://www.greatjourneys.org

36 | Chapter 5 Five Big Questions

Chapter 5 think it through for groups and individuals...