Hello planters,<\/p>\n
A couple of weeks ago I was in Brisbane for a Central City apologetics conference. On the Sunday I caught up with some planning to team up with a commercial caf\u00e9 \u2013 as a place for getting together with unchurched friends to share life, support charities and share faith. I was really encouraged with the creativity \u2013 and recognition of mission as the activity of God\u2019s heart (missio Dei). Encouraging the others involved, one of the team, Naomi Jaques, wrote: \u2018Prayer is the breath of our spiritual life and so often I seem to struggle through hyperventilating when I could be energized and filled with His power and energy with my approach to life.\u2019<\/p>\n
Why hyperventilate when you could be energized? And \u2013<\/p>\n
Be creative for God,<\/p>\n
Peter Roennfeldt<\/p>\n
CHURCH PLANTING NEWS \u2013 22 Mar10 (check out www.newchurchlife.com)
\nStories & news<\/p>\n
JCC connects to community & worships! The Joondalup Community Church (JCC) launched with their first gathering in the northern suburbs of Perth, Western Australia, on March 6 with 36 people present. Dave Butler-White reports that a number of them also went along to the community run \u2018blue light\u2019 (police) disco that evening to assist as chaperones for the 165 young people (8 to 14 year olds) who attended. Dave says, \u201cIt is not recommended for the ears \u2013 but 3+ hours a month is not too difficult an effort to reach our \u20184-14 Window\u2019!\u201d we heard about.<\/p>\n
Samoan Church Plant: On March 13 a new groups of Samoans met at the Thornlie Community Centre (in Perth, Western Australia) \u2013 the first gathering of another church plant in the city. There were Bible classes for kids and adults \u2013 with 27 present! That is about the size of a New Testament church \u2013 and what the apostle Paul would have called a \u2018church\u2019! In New Testament times all churches met in homes, were extended families (oikos) and multiplied from there! Some of the core team attended the Western Australia Church Planting Summit just a few weeks ago. Church planting leader Uili Mauga says, \u2018The entire group that came (to the summit) thoroughly enjoyed it and have learnt a lot from it. The Holy Spirit is just moving in their lives.\u2019 Now they are putting what they learnt and experienced into practice!<\/p>\n
7-9 @ Carmel: This is a fresh opportunity for secondary students at Carmel College to \u2018experience God\u2019 and also \u2018participate in community service programs.\u2019 At the Western Australia Church Planting Summit the \u20184-14 Window\u2019 was discussed, the research that indicates most who accept Jesus do so between 4 and 14 years of age. Most churches do well at this \u2013 but many young people disconnect from churches in the 16-20 age group for they are not released to create the next generation of churches. 7-9 @ Carmel may facilitate this.<\/p>\n
Principles from the Welsh Revival: Glenn Townend, leader of the Adventists in Western Australia, has sent on these principles from the Welsh Revival a little over 100 years ago \u2013
\n1. Confess all known sin
\n2. Get rid of anything questionable in your life
\n3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit immediately
\n4. Confess Christ publicly whenever you have an opportunity<\/p>\n
Ongoing Impact of Church Planting Summit: \u2018That summit was another milestone in my ministry,\u2019 says pastor and church planter Abby Aviles from Western Australia. \u2018Our people, young and old, caught the vision. After we went home that Monday our core team met in the evening to put onto paper our plans for the next twelve months. The discipline of prayer became evident. I have never prayed so much in my life. But I can see the Spirit working in ways beyond me. In short, right now we have 4 core teams working on the ground preparation for three church plants in the next twelve months. I can\u2019t believe this. BUT IT IS HAPPENING. Sometimes I thought we prayed too much!\u2019 Leaders of denominations and those committed to cultivating church planting movements in regional or State areas find that it is import to have (1) an annual church planting summit or equipping\/inspirational event, (2) a morning or afternoon training\/sharing opportunity every two to three months, and (3) support systems to mentor.<\/p>\n
Core teams working! Abby Aviles reports on core teams working around Perth in Western Australia \u2013
\nIn Ellenbrook we have 2 core teams from Morley and Koondola, working on alternate weeks doing ground work. \u2018We letterbox and door-knock \u2013 distributing literature and meeting people,\u2019 says Abby. After just two days working for about one hour each days they have 4 requests for Bible study \u2013 and one gentleman indicated he wants to join a small group. Some from Morley have family members in Ellenbrook \u2013 and they are highly motivated to be involved to witness to their family.
\nIn Lockridge\/Kiara, Abby says, \u2018I tried to test the water and worked for two hours, letterboxing and door-knocking. I found a family of 4 who wanted to come to church \u2026\u2019 The mother wants to start a children\u2019s Bible group in her front-yard!
\nIn Kenwick – \u2018A week after the Western Australia Church Planting Summit we formed another group in the Kenwick area \u2013 with 15 people present,\u2019 says Abby. \u2018Our aim is to have another group before April ends. We will have three core groups spearheading the ground work for this area.\u2019 This group will have a baptism this coming Saturday, March 27.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Kingdom Growth \u2013 ideas conference @ Dandenong Polish Church: The Dandenong Polish Adventist Church has focused on their communities \u2013 with a Children Fun-Day attracting over 600 people and a \u2018Songs of Advent\u2019 Concert in their parking lot, with around 200 participating. There are now plans for an International Food Festival \u2013 and a commitment to relating to the multiple nationalities in the community. On Friday and Saturday (March 19 & 20) a conference event was held with Peter Roennfeldt, exploring biblical stories and principles relating to God\u2019s Kingdom Growth \u2013 with enthusiastic conversations about The Kingdom & the Church (Mark 4); Evangelism made less difficult (Luke 10); The six-steps in \u2018church formation\u2019; a Case-study in Church Planting (Acts 11); and How to be a Church Planting Hub \u2013 like Ephesus (Acts 19).<\/p>\n
Cottage Beck Caf\u00e9 Church \u2013 centre of community & activity! Cottage Beck Caf\u00e9 Church in Scunthorpe, north England, acts as a hub for authorities in the town (police, council, media, etc) working together for the good of the community. It also connects denominations and faith groups in the town \u2013 and links people to Church in the Pub. Recently the entire wooden front of the Caf\u00e9 (which was seriously rotting) was replaced \u2013 as well as custom made cupboards built in the lounge area, the main working part of the caf\u00e9, by a very skilled worker doing community service. Each person who comes into contact with Cottage Beck Caf\u00e9 Church is highly valued. Pray for planters and team leaders – Isobel & Bryan and Eija & Andrew.<\/p>\n
Equipping Church Planters in Sudan: An email from Maywald Jesudass (who cultivates church planters in the Middle East and northern Africa) tells of the Middle East University Off-Campus graduation at Arua in northern Uganda of 44 Sudanese for ministry in Sudan as pastors and church planters. The inspiration to provide this educational program \u2013 equipping pastors while they are fully engaged in evangelism and church planting \u2013 came when 97 pastors joined Rein Muhlberg and Peter Roennfeldt in Yei (south Sudan) for a field school during which three new churches were planted. These church planters establish a base church and then fan out from there planting a network of satellite groups and church \u2013 and in turn some of these become hubs around which other clusters of groups, house churches and plants form!<\/p>\n
Church Planter \/ Bible Worker needed for Kosovo: Adventists would like to identify a person (maybe a student or young adult) who would respond to a call as a volunteer to do Bible work in Kosovo \u2013 and help in planting new churches! If you are interested \u2013 please contact me peter@newchurchlife.com.<\/p>\n
Resources, websites & equipping<\/p>\n
Planting Churches that Multiply Dialogue (15-17 April): A few church planting teams from a couple of church backgrounds will get together to experience some of the ministries of Revive plant (Vive Caf\u00e9, Vive School, small groups, Revive worship, etc) \u2013 and to dialogue with Peter Roennfeldt on Planting Churches that Multiply. It will start with Vive Caf\u00e9 on Thursday evening April 15 (at 5 pm) and end after Revive worship on Saturday April 17 (by 6 pm). If you think you may like to be involved contact peter@newchurchlife.com.<\/p>\n
2010 Exponential Conference (19-22 April): The 2010 Exponential Conference is quickly approaching – April 19-22, 2010. \u2018We are expecting over 3,000 church planting leaders to converge on Orlando. Our theme is Transformation,\u2019 says Todd Wilson, Director Exponential Network. For more details or registration, go to www.exponentialnetwork.com<\/p>\n
Adventist Fresh Expressions Dialogue (2-8 May) in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (USA) with Monte Sahlin and Peter Roennfeldt: Andrew and Mayda Clark will host the event at their church plant and community service project in Pittsburgh. You will be able to worship with their PULSE congregation on Saturday and tour the many projects they have completed in the Carnegie neighborhood\u2014housing rehabilitation, a community park, small-business development, eradicating hunger in the community, help for teens and young adults, community organizing, etc. This is one of the most innovative outreaches in America today\u2014the Pittsburgh Metro Initiative. For details on registration, fees, accommodation etc write to \u2013
\nMonte Sahlin: msahlin@creativeministry.org
\nWilliam Peterson: wpeterson@paconference.org . This event is sponsored by the Pennsylvania Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and the Ohio Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.<\/p>\n
Interesting – Update! Peter Brook from Campus Crusade Student Life (www.studentlife.org.au) checked out the link re earthquakes in the last CHURCH PLANTING NEWS \u2013 and thinks the data used by the Horizon Project (http:\/\/www.thehorizonproject.com\/earthquakes.cfm) \u2018might be a little bit skewed.\u2019 He did a very quick chart of all Mag 8+ earthquakes since 1900 \u2013 and shares this with us. Thanks Peter.<\/p>\n
What do we see? Each Tuesday morning at 7am a teacher, businessman and I meet at a caf\u00e9 for coffee and toast \u2013 and to talk life, read the Bible and pray. It\u2019s a great idea. A week or so ago one of the others sent this story (maybe parable) \u2013
\nSherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson went on a camping trip, set up their tent, and fell asleep. Some hours later, Holmes wakes his faithful friend to ask: \u2018Watson, look up at the sky and tell me what you see.\u2019
\nWatson replies, \u2018I see millions of stars.\u2019
\n\u2018What does that tell you?\u2019 asks Sherlock Holmes.
\nWatson ponders for a minute. \u2018Astronomically speaking, it tells me that there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Chronologically, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three. Theologically, it\u2019s evident that the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems that we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What does it tell you Holmes?\u2019
\nHolmes is silent for a moment and then speaks. \u2018Watson, the answer is elementary: someone has stolen our tent!\u2019<\/p>\n
CHURCH PLANTING NEWS
\nPeter Roennfeldt<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Hello planters, A couple of weeks ago I was in Brisbane for a Central City apologetics conference. On the Sunday I caught up with some planning to team up with a commercial caf\u00e9 \u2013 as a place for getting together with unchurched friends to share life, support charities and share faith. I was really encouraged… Continue reading