In less than two weeks my small family are heading off to the Big Apple. I will be attending City to City's, Fall Intensive training programme for Church Planters. Although I have been in ministry for about 10 years now I have never had any real training on how to plant a Church. I feel this is long over due.
While I love what I am a part of in London I often feel like I'm just about keeping my head above water. I sometimes struggle seeing a way forward. By going to New York I hope not only to learn things so I may have more wisdom in future plans but also to seek sound advice and council from experienced people and those in the same boat to myself. New York may be a long way to go for a London boy but I'm praying that getting some distance will also help me to see things from a fresh God perspective.
"For you are my rock and my fortress; and for your name's sake you lead me and guide me!" Psalm 31:3The course is based around Tim Keller's vision of Gospel centred Church planting in major world cities and will cover the following subjects:
- Gospel Theology
- Grace Renewal
- City Vision
- Integrative Ministry
- Church and Culture
- Gospel Preaching
- Contextual Mission
- Church Planting
- Movement Dynamics
Those all sound pretty fancy (I normally prefer to use words with one or two syllables) so I need to get my study brain back on before I go.
Emelie, Gabriel and I will be sharing an apartment in New Jersey with another couple attending the course. It will be quite intense training for me (hense Fall Intensive) but I am more worried about Em. While Emelie is really excited to go, she is a bit scared about being in a big city with a baby, without the support that she gets from her church family. Please pray for all three of us in this.
I'll leave you with this vision of Tim Keller's that has greatly inspired me over the past few years.
