The concept of "doing things differently" is not popular in most churches, in fact it is bordering on the heretical. Anyone attempting to launch out into Church planting Movements, or having a stab at Training4Trainers will quickly realise that this approach demands a fairly significant shift in thoughts and actions. Even this is a process which can be implemented as given, but the key I suspect will be the small but significant tweaks which will be made according to the individual context.

The little churches we have planted are full of keen, enthusiastic and excited-about-Jesus people; thrilled to be meeting every week to be trained so that they can share with others, and loving every minute of our times together. We are around eight weeks in, so in my typical orderly fashion I would expect us to be reaching week eight in the training manual, or at least week seven, and surely week six. Reality -  week four, two, and "haven't actually got the initial stuff straight yet"!

There seem to be two main reasons. Some people simply live chaotic, drama-filled lives, so the chance of doing anything with a large degree of regularity is fairly remote.For others, especially those of Maori or Pacific Island backgrounds, family takes priority - and frequently we turn up for a group to find other people there before us!

So, we have a problem - every Tuesday at 3.30pm may not work - so how do we learn to do things differently? Well perhaps we start by seeing not a problem, but an opportunity - how can the love and life of Jesus flow into the chaos of some people's lives, bringing not an orderliness which would alienate our new friends from their community, but rather a sense of the presence of Jesus in the midst of the storm? How do Jesus' new followers introduce him into the hospital, family dispute, drunken brawl or the latest local tragedy? And can we view the "invading" family not as a rival or competition for group time, but as a great way for people to share their own and God's stories naturally?

We have much to learn, and I think that is how it is going to be for a long, long time!

I'll just sleep awhile

I love the story Jesus tells in Mark 4:26-29 of the farmer who sows seed, then basically ignores it! Whether he sleeps, watches TV, plays cricket or keeps himself busy, "the seed sprouts and grows...all by itself." This past week I have been in and around Dunedin (South Island for those who don't know - this is after all an international blog!) so of course all progress has come to a complete standstill in our little Church Planting Movement.

 Okay, that isn't entirely true. Monika, John and Heidi have been continuing with the four embryonic churches we have running in homes, as well as all the follow up. But not much more. Except that when they re-visited a Fijian lady and her partner they were really keen to host a training group and invite friends and family, so I suppose that's mini-church number five launching on Friday. Then there is the young Samoan guy who invited one of his friends to their group, and his friend committed his life to Jesus - our first spiritual grand-child. How cool to see a teenager leading his friend to faith in Jesus, just wish I'd been there...

 There's something disturbing about a church being planted in my absence. I'm the trained and commissioned (Church Army) evangelist don't you know? Three years full time training, years of experience, a licence from every Bishop in New Zealand...seem to count for very little these days! The farmer in Jesus' story observes the growth taking place "though he does not know how." That makes two of us! Though I am wondering if I should go away more often - perhaps a return to Dunedin in the spring to launch a Church Planting Movement down there?

Consolidation

One dictionary definition of consolidation is "to make strong or secure; strengthen". After the excitement of our initial two weeks of door-knocking, we deliberately decided to slow down and build strong foundations - following up on those who had either come to faith, or had at least been warm and welcoming. Where opportunities permit, we look to start groups, embryonic churches, with both established and brand-new believers. We immediately train everyone in how to tell their own story, and how to share the Gospel, and help them think about who they could share with or train! Where the contact is warm, but uncommitted, we see where the relationship goes, always hoping to share Jesus with them. There is always the fear that people will have cooled in between visits, and indeed this does happen sometimes, which is always a disappointment. But sometimes we discover that when we return, God has been busy! One lady we visited initially claimed to have no story to tell, and on 2 or 3 occasions when we went back for various reasons she could not meet with us - but last Wednesday evening she welcomed us in. The conversation included her son, a guy in his 30's whose life was going nowhere quickly! They both received the Gospel message with joy, and responded to our questions with humble delight. "Would you like to receive forgiveness for your sins?" Bowing his head, this young man who is well known to the local police, and has been battered by both life and acquaintances many times over, sheepishly and quietly replied, "yes, please." There and then mother and son surrendered their lives to Jesus, and a new church is born!

As we meet with new followers of Jesus, as well as training them, we take time to listen and allow their stories to unravel. We have learnt of a sister who committed suicide; a lady who years ago was involved in something so horrific she had only ever told three other people - and us; and celebrated with one new believer who for the first time in many years has not used cannabis since he gave his life to Jesus some weeks ago. As we step out, we discover time after time that we are merely catching up where God has gone before!

First baptism

I mentioned last week that in Church Planting Movements we don't focus on "converts" but on baptisms, so it is a great thrill to be able to tell you about our first. Brian was the first person to respond to our door-knocking by giving his life to Jesus. To be honest, the first time we went back, I half-expected him to tell us to go away - but he didn't, and each Friday afternoon since then we have met. Brian has an "interesting" history, and suffers from MS - so the Bible verse we gave him was 2 Corinthians 5:17 "Anyone who belongs to Christ is a new person. The past is forgotten, and everything is new." Brian is a like a butterfly emerging from the chrysalis, moving into that new life in Jesus. But this is just the beginning, and eternity will see Brian freed from his MS-racked body, and free from the scars of his past. Baptism is a beautiful symbol of being washed, cleansed, made pure and spotless, being raised to life. Most of those gathered commented on how privileged they felt to be present, and indeed this occasion was far removed from the showy baby baptisms I have often been part of with mumbled, half-hearted responses given by largely disinterested relatives. Welcome to the family Brian - may you be the first of many!

CPM latest

After a break of two weeks with no updates, how is it all going - or have we come to a dramatic full stop? After two full-on weeks, with daily door-knocking and continuing follow-up, other commitments have meant that recently we have only been able to follow-up the warm contacts we made initially.

CPM quote figures, not of "converts", but of people baptised and churches planted. This makes good sense, as inevitably some people will make some kind of commitment to follow Jesus, but then either change their minds, decide they want no further contact with us, or feed into more traditional churches - which is fine. But T4T is all about training trainers, so the first thing we look for is people showing they are serious about following Jesus by obeying His command to be baptised. In New Testament times, people seem to have been baptised almost immediately - so we don't hang around either - our first baptism will happen next Friday, hopefully the first of many.

What about churches? Well I wouldn't claim that we have planted any yet! But as people become followers of Jesus, we immediately start training them, so that they in turn can train others...and so on. Firstly, we train people to tell their own story and God's story, and to identify their "oikos" - family and friends they can quickly talk to about Jesus. Then in their homes we meet weekly, and as they participate we model how to run training! Their family and friends help form the embryonic church.

So...one baptism planned, 5 groups (potential churches) running each week, with another 3 likely groups. But the exciting bit comes when these groups don't just grow, but multiply - generationally. Watch this space!

The people we have seen respond bring inevitable baggage. We have been introduced to drug-dealers, met parents hoping to take a baby into their care, and have been thrust firmly into the seedier side of Kiwi life. For the first time since we arrived in New Zealand, I feel that I belong, and that I am walking where Jesus walks.

CPM last day of the beginning

I don't know what to say.

Today we met a Christian who initially told us he was a Muslim, but once inside said he was a follower of Jesus who feared for his life. We met with the young Mum I mentioned a couple of days ago, who told us she had prayed the prayer, and "really meant it." She has started reading the New Testament we left her, beginning at the contents page! We followed up with the guy with MS, who became a Christian just over a week ago, and talked about baptism - he's thinking it over. We hope some of his friends will come along. In any other phase of my ministry this would have been an exceptional day, but in CPM fortnight, it has been fairly typical.

Words are inadequate to sum up the past two weeks. My understanding of evangelism in New Zealand has been transformed. My practice of evangelism will never be the same. I know there are lost people who will be denied the opportunity of receiving Jesus tomorrow or next week or ever because we hide in our church buildings and programmes and irrelevancies, and leave the nation's doors to the Mormons and JWs. We build arguments and theologies which absolve us from the responsibility of telling people about Jesus, and sharing our stories, and offering them the chance to also know him. We employ professionals to do these things for us, though the tragic truth is that many of these too have lost confidence in the Gospel. I know these things because to my shame I have shared in them.

But with God it is never too late. The adventure has begun, and the birth process complete.

CPM second Thursday

There's a Chinese guy in the Community we call home, whom we've been sharing Jesus with in recent weeks - a deep thinking guy who asks endless questions. We just found out that he wrote and prayed his own prayer of commitment on Sunday! In this current atmosphere of Godly activity, I guess he was finally drawn in!

One of our teams met a young Mum at the first door they knocked on with anybody in, and before long another baby Christian was born. We know it isn't always like this, but at the moment God's glory is abundantly present in Avondale!

One of the key concepts of CPM is the "person of peace" (Luke 10). This is the vital person who will welcome you, and be a gate-keeper in the locality. I have previously mentioned Michael, a young guy who recommitted his life to Jesus, though we had intended to speak with his Mum! We met her again yesterday, and it was an astonishing time. She readily welcomed Monika and I, along with Tim, into her home, and although we had not met her prior to this visit, within a few minutes she was telling us her story, a story so moving, deep, profound and intimate that she has only told it to 3 other people in the past 20 years. It was a story of immeasurable darkness, but eventually one of great and abiding hope.

When we explained the "person of peace" concept, and gently suggested that she might be just that person, she put her head in her hands. She explained that she had been in Avondale for 14 years, longing to serve God, but not knowing what to do, and had consistently prayed that God would move her or use her. Now, finally, this beautiful lady has the answer to her prayers. God was powerfully present, and we await with enormous expectancy to see how that home will impact the wider community.