Summary It is a duty of pastors and leaders to train new shepherds and leaders by modelling pastoral skills on-the-job in new, small, highly interactive, loving churches, as Jesus and Paul did. Relational modeling and teaching At People Of Yes! we have noticed a debilitating deficiency in relational skill modeling in many aspects of Evangelical work. We recently surveyed a group of successful field practitioners, who told us that one of the most important needs that they saw in their … [Read more...]
To Shepherd Thirty Congregations
January 30, 2015 by Leave a Comment
Some pastors in growing movements cause stagnation by trying personally to lead ten, twenty, thirty or more gatherings. Consultants Bill Smith, Patrick O’Connor and others have identified several reasons for pastors failing to delegate leadership to others: Dependence—I receive a stipend from overseas for the work I do. Dignity—I alone can do the work in a manner worthy of the Almighty. Doctrine—I trust my doctrines but remain unsure about yours. Economics—I meet my needs … [Read more...]
“How quickly can new believers start new churches?â€
November 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Someone recently challenged, “Where in the Bible does it say that you can let new believers quickly start new churches?†“Go quickly and tell ... that he has risen from the dead.†Mt 28.7 “Go out quickly ... and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.†Lk 14.21 Quickly means, “as soon as practical,†“as soon as the Lord makes it possible.†Quickly does not mean, “after years of formal education†or “after raising … [Read more...]
“How quickly can new believers start new churches?â€
November 23, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Someone recently challenged POY!, “Where in the Bible does it say that you can let new believers quickly start new churches?†“Go quickly and tell ... that he has risen from the dead.†Mt 28.7 “Go out quickly ... and bring in the poor and crippled and blind and lame.†Lk 14.21 Quickly means, “as soon as practical,†“as soon as the Lord makes it possible.†Quickly does not mean, “after years of formal education†or “after raising … [Read more...]
Church Planting during Political Upheaval
August 31, 2014 by Leave a Comment
Visibly shaken, Brett announced to the gathering, “The city council decreed today that churches are forbidden to meet outside of designated chapels, and they must sign agreements not to comment on other faiths or on alternative life styles, nor to pray for sick children. We have to comply or disband and drop our plans to start new churches.†The believers looked at each other in dismay. Some wept. Sixteen current global trends require that we church planters make adjustments to our … [Read more...]
George Talks to Christian Leaders
July 10, 2014 by Leave a Comment
I am talking to Christian leaders whose decisions affect the fruitfulness of many workers. Conclusive evidence is pouring in from many fields that where workers heed certain New Testament guidelines, churches multiply rapidly where God has prepared the people. This is today’s challenge to visionary leaders. Has God placed you where, as a leader, you will decide between mediocrityand a vigorous church planting movement? Maybe God has, and you don’t know it. Perhaps you’ve thought that a … [Read more...]
Start churches now!
March 24, 2014 by 1 Comment
John Patrick O'Connor lived his early years in northern India. He pioneered work in the mountains of Honduras that has birthed several generations of new flocks and shepherds. His several publications include Reproducible Pastoral Training and more recently Start Churches Now! Patrick's joyful style, scriptural orientation, and practical approach to church reproduction have helped several stagnant ministries start moving again, and fruitful ones gain momentum. Write to Patrick in English or … [Read more...]
Neighborhood Home Churches and Climate Change
May 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Home-church and small-group advocates have rightly underscored many ways in which little gatherings can function as authentic expressions of the Body of Christ in the world. These ways include loving intimacy, meeting of urgent needs, participation by all, manifestation of each one’s spiritual gifts, easy mobility, low cost, ethnic sensitivity, rapid reproduction, leader training, neighborhood involvement and much more. Evolutionist-scientists and Creationist-scientists alike have been … [Read more...]
Seven Current Trends that Favor Organic Churches
April 21, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Small, unfunded, family-based churches remain the primary units of reproduction in spontaneous Christian movements. Whilst movements do result in some classical congregations, a continual starting of new, little ones remains part of their strategy for continuous multiplication of believers, disciples and leaders. Little, organic, face-to-face, Christ-obeying communities or gatherings, that remain free to reproduce in every kind of venue, are becoming more and more a necessity, besides a method … [Read more...]
Go as a CPM Tourist or as a CPM Servant?
February 26, 2013 by 1 Comment
Do you want to serve a CPM ministry overseas? Several of the church-planting movements in Asia have become touristic attractions. Scores of foreigners come to visit ministry leaders and watch them in action. Some hope they will absorb some experience or insight that will make them equally effective in their homeland. Bigoted authorities in some countries have started sending police agents to tourist hotels to check the papers of foreign Christians, in order to black-list them. Journalists come … [Read more...]