5 keys to a successful harvest!

In previous posts I have written about the keys to a successful harvest. There are five! And I will get to those in a moment. I like them for they are uncluttered, I believe they work in any culture or people group and they are powerful truths that are do-able for everybody.

But I found another factor that relates to this, just last week. The soil. In India the spiritual soil or the spiritual climate (especially in South India) has been plowed and it seems ready, people are responsive, churches are planted daily and relatively easy. Now compare this to the soil in Western Europe. The spiritual climate is completely different and that fact needs to be recognised. So we need to remember this as we action the 5 keys! 

Previous posts talk about, 1. Keep SOWING seed.  2. We RECEIVE in the Harvest what kind of seed we sow.  3. We always receive MORE than what we sowed.  4. You reap in ANOTHER SEASON than when you sowed.  

5. We can't do anything about yesterday's harvest, but we can effect & influence the harvest of tomorrow!

This encourages me to keep sowing, praying and labouring today. We might not see all we would like...even in our lifetime, but as we are doing our part, we will effect the harvest of tomorrow! 

A successful harvest...HOW? keys 1-4! (There are a total of 5).

I am sure there are more keys than these, but these are my 5. It was well over 20 years ago I heard them, for the life of me I can't remember where, but they have really helped me to keep focused on what God has called me to do. 

I like them for they are do-able, simple and uncluttered. I do believe we have cluttered Christianity & Church for that matter... When I hear some speakers, read some books & articles, Christinaity can seem so complicated & difficult, especially in Western Europe. Christianity is profound & supernatural, but certainly not complicated.

The first 3 keys on how to have a successful harvest are, (mentioned in previous posts): 
1. SOW SEED.
2. We RECIEVE in the harvest what kind of seed we sow.
3. We recieve in the harvest MORE than what we sowed.
Now number... 
4. We reap in ANOTHER SEASON than when we sowed. 
I remember when my mum was teaching me about gardening, I  was in primary school. We planted the seeds on a Saturday. On the Tuesdsay I came home from school and went straight to the garden. I looked & couldn't see anything! Now for a small boy, Saturday till Tuesday was eternity, so I dug up the seed to show mum. She smiled and asked me to replant it and leave it buried. She reminded me that as I have the patience to wait & trust, I WILL be able to see it rising above the ground!  Supernatural... but it's so true. Of course that's exactly what happened. 

Often we plant and expect to reap a harvest immediately. I wish... Sometimes it takes weeks, months or even years!! This is a powerful principle. We always reap in another season then when we sow!! It often takes time, personally I don't like this! I want things to happen now, today, immediately, straight away...

We always reap in another season then when we sow!!  This teaches us, to wait on God, patience, keep on sowing & simply learning the art of continuing & persevering to do what God has called us to do. And of course the biggi...keep trusting Him! 

How to have a successful Harvest...keys 1, 2 & now Number 3...

I just arrived back from the Czech Republic! What an amazing country and history. I think Prague (Praha) is one of the most beautiful cities of Europe. YET only 0.06% of the population have a personal realtionship with Jesus! So much needs to be done. Whole towns & small cities have little or no churches at all. We are losing a generation, probably more!! What can we do, here are a few thoughts? 

(See the last few BLOGs for the first 2 keys on how to have a successful harvest...)

1. SOW SEED. Just keep sowing. It is impossible to havest without sowing!! 

2. We RECEIVE in the harvest what kind of seed you sow.

3. We recieve in the harvest MORE than what you sow!

This is an amazing & encouraging supernatural truth. If I sow ONE apple seed in the ground, in time an apple tree grows. But it produces many many apples. But more than this, it produces hundreds of seeds...from ONE apple seed! If this happens in the natural, IMAGINE as you have God of Heaven backing you, (for HE want's no person to perish...He so desires people to know HIM & new churches to begin), it's called multiplication, supernatural... In fact if we are really serious about reaching countries like Czech Republic, we need to find God  inspired reproducable ways / systems of multiplying churches to reach this generation and the next!! 

Last week it was very exciting to be with a group of leaders who have the vision, faith and perseverance to plant at least one church a year. They are aiming to double this & more next year!! 

For more information: contact www.jinacirkev.cz  

Spain...keep sowing, 1st key for a successful Harvest!

I'm posting this again as, I was was trying to be fancy & highlight a few things, but unfortunately you can't read them!!!! haha. 

Last week I went to Spain for the 3rd time. It was so encouraging. 47 million wonderful people whom God has created live in Spain. Yet top Christian leaders who have worked in Spain for over 30 years told me only 400.000 have a personal vibrant relationship with God. (This is from research done in Spain, the 400.000 is being very generous, ). That's less than 1%...  99% to go!!!  Western Europe is THE mission field of the 21st century!  

2 years ago I came to Spain and met with a number of leaders. I must say I was somewhat disappointed, as I thought nothing had transpired from my 2 trips. As it turns out, a pastor caught the vision of "bringing church to people” from our discussions. They had a midweek food distribution Center servicing 100s of people. He was inspired to start a church service around this programme. Since then a congregation has grown and has seen over 100 people saved. (amazing for Spain!) Many healings have also taken place. This same Pastor picked up the role of church planting director for his movement & in March ran his first church planting conference. As a result many Churches are believing for one or more towns or cities near them to begin new churches.

While there this time I was invited to speak by a Pastor in Tudela (4 hours drive from Madrid) who was also at our meetings 2 years ago. We spoke on church planting, plus spoke in his church. A church of 250 people or so, which by the way is quite large for Spain. What a blast, people came to Christ, God spoke very clearly to the church which was recieved, people were healed and many simply dedicated themselves to His purposes and to the call of God. God is moving...yet Labourer's  are needed to focus on the best way to fulfill the Great Commission that Jesus gave to us in Matt 28. What can you do???

Harvest is ALWAYS dependant on the seeds we sow! Don't give up, keep sowing seeds. As in the natural, so in the spiritual, it can take months & years! But it WILL happen. The tree is in the seed! 


CONTACT US: nickandkaren@visionchurches.com
www.visionchurches.com
www.booksbynick.com

Failure & Condemnation; how we handle it in ourselves & others... (article by David Wilkenson)

Failure & condemnation, how we handle it in ourselves & others.  

This is a great Article by the late David Wilkenson (Cross & Switchblade fame), written in 1978. He was reflecting on how ungracious, condemming & hurtful he had been in his earlier years of preaching.         Full article on:  www.worldchallenge.org

Would you consider Moses a failure? Hardly! He was to Israel what Washington and Lincoln together were to America - and much more. But look closely at the great lawgiver's life. His career began with a murder, followed by forty years hiding from justice.

Moses was a man of fear and unbelief. When God called him to lead the Israelites out of slavery, he pleaded, "I am not eloquent...I am slow of speech...send...by the hand of him whom thou wilt send" (Exodus 4:10,13). this angered God (4:14). All his life, Moses longed to enter the Promised Land, but his failures kept him out. Even so, God compares Moses' faithfulness to Christ's in Hebrews 3:1,2. His failures did not keep Moses out of God's Hall of Champions.

We usually think of Jacob as the great prayer warrior who wrestled with the angel of the Lord and prevailed. Jacob was given a vision of heaven with angels ascending and descending. Yet this man's life was filled with glaring failures, and Scripture does not hide any of them.

As a youth Jacob deceived his blind father to steal his brother's inheritance. Married, he despised his wife Leah while he nursed a great secret love for her sister Rachel. He did not accept his responsibiligy as a husband. After the birth of each manchild, Leah kept saying, "Now this time my husband will be joined unto me" (Genesis 29:34). But the fact was - Jacob hated her.

Here was a man caught in a web of trickery, graft, theft, unfaithfulness and polygamy. Nevertheless, we still worship the God of Abraham, of Isaac and of Jacob.

King David, singer of psalms and mighty warrior, delighted in the law of the Lord and posed as the righteous man who would not stand among sinners. Yet, how shocking are the weaknesses of this great man. Taking Bathsheba from her husband Uriah, he sent that unsuspecting man to death at the front lines of his army. The prophet Nathan declared this double sin gave great occasion to the enemies of the Lord to blaspheme.

Picture the great king standing by the casket of his dead illegitimate child, a stolen wife at his side and a world filled with enemies who cursed God because of his notorious sins. David stands there a total failure. Yet, God called David a man after His own heart (1 Samuel 13:14). He blessed the murderer Moses and the schemer Jacob, too, because these men learned how to profit from their failures and go on to victory.

If you are discouraged by your failures, I have good news for you. No one is closer to the Kingdom of God than the man or woman or young person who can look defeat in the eye, learn to face it, and move on to a life of peace and victory. Here is the program to do this.

1. Don't be afraid of failure. This seems like an automatic reaction. When Adam sinned, he tried to hide from God. When Peter had denied Christ, he was afraid to face Him. When Jonah refused to preach to Nineveh, his fear drove him into the ocean to flee from the presence of the Lord.

But God has shown me a truth that has helped me many times: Something much worse than failure is the fear that goes with it. Adam, Jonah and Peter ran away from God not because they had lost their love for Him, but because they were afraid He was too angry with them to understand. Satan uses such fear to make people think there is no use trying.

That old "accuser of the brethren" waits like a vulture for you to fail in some way. Then he uses every lie in hell to make you give up, to convince you that God is too holy or you are too sinful to come back. Or he makes you afraid you are not perfect enough, or tells you that you will never rise above your failure.

It took forty years to get the fear out of Moses and to make him usable in God's program. Meanwhile, God's plan of deliverance had to be delayed for nearly half a century while one man learned to face his failure. If Moses or Jacob or David had resigned himself to failure, we might never have heard of these men again. Yet, Moses rose up again to become one of God's greatest heroes. Jacob faced his sins, was reunited with the brother he had cheated, and reached new heights of victory. David ran into the house of God, laid hold of the horns of the altar, found forgiveness and peace and returned to his finest hour. Jonah retraced his steps, did what he had refused at first to do and brought a whole city-state to repentance and deliverance. Peter rose out of the ashes of denial to lead a church to Pentecost.

2. Despite failure, keep moving on. It is always after a failure that a man does his greatest work for God.

Twenty years ago I sat in my litttle car, weeping - a terrible failure, I thought. I had been unceremoniously dumped from a courtroom after I thought I was led by God to witness to seven teen-age murderers. I had seen my picture in the tabloids over the caption, "BIBLE WAVING PREACHER INTERRUPTS MURDER TRIAL." My attempt to obey God and to help those young hoodlums looked as though it was ending in horrible failure.

I shudder to think of how much blessing I would have missed if I had given up in that dark hour. How glad I am today that God taught me to face my failure and go on to His next step for me.

I know of two outstanding men of God - both of whom had ministered to thousands of people - who fell into the sin that David committed with Bathsheba. One minister decided that he could not go on. Today he drinks and curses the Christ he once preached about. The other man repented and started all over. He now heads an international missions program that reaches thousands for Christ. His failure has been left behind. He keeps moving forward.

In my work with narcotic addicts and incorrigibles, I have observed that the majority of those who return to their old habilts become stronger than all the others when they face their failures and return to the Lord. They have a special awareness of the power of Satan, a total rejection of confidence in the flesh.

3. Despite failure, continue to worship. There was only one way for Moses to stay in victory, because he had a disposition like so many of us today. He continually communed with the Lord, "...face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend" (Exodus 33:11). Moses maintained that close friendship with God. I believe the secret of holiness is very simple: Stay close to Jesus. Keep looking into His face until you become like the image you behold.

One evening a hysterical woman stopped me on the street and blurted out a terrible confession. Clutching my sleeve so hard I thought she would tear it, she said, "Mr. Wilkerson, I am facing the darkest hour of my life. I don't know which way to turn. My husband has left me, and it's all my fault. When I think of how I failed God and my family, it is almost impossible for me to sleep at night.What in the world am I going to do?"

I was moved to tell her, "My friend, lift up your hands, right now on this street corner, and begin to worship the Lord. Tell Him that you know you are a failure, but you still love Him so. Then go home and get on your knees. Don't ask God for a thing - just lift up your heart and your hands and worship Him."

I left that lady standing on the street corner with her hands raised to heaven, tears rolling down her cheeks, praising the Lord and already tasting the victory that was beginning to surge back into her life.

Now, let me talk about your failure. Is there trouble in your home? Has some despised habit gripped your life so hard you can't seem to break it? Are you tormented in mind or spirit? Has God told you to do something you have failed to do? Are you out of the will of God? Are you hounded by memories of what you were at one time? Or by visions of what you can be?

Then worship the Lord in the midst of your failure! Praise Him! Exalt Him!

All this may sound like an oversimplification, but the way past failure is simple enought for children, fools and Ph.D.'s to follow successfully. Christ says,

"Him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out" (John 6:37).

"Come unto me, all ye (failures) that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 12:28).

Don't be afraid of failure. Keep going on in spite of it. Worship God until victory comes.

The hardest part of faith is the last half hour. Keep going, and you will yet face your finest hour.

Quotable Quotes, Healing & the QUOTE of quotes!

Fidges are wonderful places to find quotes: Here is one I found on a fridge in Christchurch NZ, "Happy people don't usually have a happy set of circumstances; happy people have a happy set of attitudes". So true!

In talking to a friend he mentioned a quote from a speaker who unfortunately is unknown to me and I have no knowlege of his name...but the quote was great, the context was in praying for people's healing needs, he stated; "I am not going to talk to God about your problem, I am going to talk to your problem about God". Now that's a great one!!!  I so believe and know God heals today! So much so that in most public settings I feel empowered to declare healing over peoples lives. Also I have written, what I believe is a helpful tool for encouraging people contend & persevere for their miracle. It's called, "Daily Medicine". It know this will nurture your faith.  

(www.booksbynick.com  has this resource plus others). 

But still the greatest commission summed up profoundly in few words by the greatest teacher who ever lived; "Go...Make Disciples of the Nations...Baptise...Teach everything I have commanded you", is still the greatest quote ever!!  It sums up with succinct clarity why Jesus came, our purpose in life and our mission! Lost people SO matter to God He sent His Son Jesus. The question is this: Is this our purpose, our mission?  I think if we find ourselves getting tired & weary of this...this GREAT commission quote...we loose meaning, purpose & why we have been placed on earth for, no matter what our job or vocation is... To finish...here is a great quote I heard by Dr George Sweeting in Amsterdam in 1986, "The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing".  

There are sooo many detours in life, even in church life, to sideline us from what the master teacher, God Himself, has Commissioned us to do. Let's follow the Master. 

Radical Relocation of GOD??

There are certian Bibilcal truths that are so liberating and foundational for me, that are keys in our Christianty. This is one of them! "GOD is with us". I get so passionate that I want to SHOUT out to everybody... The KING of all KINGS is with us 24/7...that's better news than I thought the GOOD News was!! 

No other religion promises this. Yet, Christianity boldly & unashamedly declares that God is with us, in fact, He never leaves us or forsakes us!  Matt 28:20. Heb 13:5. In fact it's announced as Jesus comes to earth His name is "Immanuel". Matt 1:23. (It's interesting that this is declared at the beginning of Matthew & again at the end). 

I think some Christians if not purposely, but certainly in their actions, are saying God is a far away God. That's not only bad theology, it's so wrong. The songs we sometimes sing, "implore God to be with us". Sometimes the prayers we pray are, "please God be with us today...".  NO...we have a near-by God, not only is He before, behind, beside, above and below, but the amazing good news is HE is IN us!!! Wow! Paul says approx. 164 times the phrase, "Christ IN us, with us etc". For eg. Col 1:27 which is the theme for Colossians, says "Christ IN you the hope of Glory".

Let me push this a little further, I wonder if some believers have an Old Testament God. In the Old Testiment, God worked with special people, at special places & at special times. In the New Testament, God announces, HE is with us!  There has been a radical relocation of God!  We are now the temple of the Holy Spirit!  He NEVER leaves us! He works not only through a certain race or 'men', but through EVERYBODY...boys, girls, women, every race and in any place. Amazing! God the Father, Son & Holy Spirit, live in us...WOW!!  When you pray for somebody, He is there! When we meet together, He is there! When we go to the office, school or home, He is there! Why? Because YOU are there...He lives IN you...in fact His address is your address!!! 

HE has already come 2000 years ago...let's walk in it. I encourage you to meditate on this truth and allow it to become a revelation within you. For this is indeed a life-changing foundational liberating truth! 

It's supernatural...7000 new churches!!!!! Now that's multiplication.

Last week I had the privilege to travel to Chennai India & meet again with my church planting friend & apostolic leader Ps Kalyan Kumar. We have known each other for 20 years. It was fun to be with him & see what God is doing through him as he plants new churches. By 2025 he is aiming for 1000 churches!!! The way things are going it will happen!

We were talking about a person Dr R (Bobby) Gupta. Kalyan happened to know him well and I was able to meet with him. I was so excited!

25 years ago I first met Bobby Gupta at a church planting forum in London. I remember that day well. He spoke about His "Hindustan Bible Institute" (HBI), training leaders to begin new churches. (HBI began in 1952). The students fully graduate when they have planted a church, (or been part of the team). I thought that was so exciting when I first heard it & have kept it in my heart ever since. My dream is to see a Bible College in Europe do the same!!

So now,  fast forward 25 years to February 2013 in Chennai & I meet him again at the HBI.
We end up talking non stop for a few hours...You guessed it, church planting, movements... it was so inspiring to hear what has happened. In the last 28 years over 7000 churches have been planted! Now I'm not discrediting this number, but even if it is half of this it's absolutely amazing!! Included in this are new movements, that are self sustaining and multiplying. Of course as we were speaking I was imagining a few 'Church Planting Training Centres for Western Europe', (CPTC for WE). Then I begin to dream ... what would it feel like to see whole new movements / networks begin in Europe. Some would have 30-50 churches, some would have 100's of new churches...I must admit I began to feel somewhat emotional. It was a wonderful God moment...

Paul R Gupta & Sherwood G Lingenfelter have written a very inspiring book which records the journey.
"Breaking Tradition to accomplish VISION... 
Training leaders for a Church planting movement".  
www.bmhbooks.com

A chapter describes how 'formal education gradually cripples & derails a school originally founded to produce church planters. The books states, few Reformation leaders imagined the essential questions of modern mission - evangelism, making new disciples of new believers, & planting new churches.' (pge 11). Very challenging!

It is a very clear call to the church; 'Unless the church focuses on the task of making disciples & planting churches, we will not fulfill the mission of God for our generation'. (pge 4). He begins his introduction, 'God's mission for the church is to make disciples of the nations, & God insists on accomplishing that mission through us'.  

To say I was inspired, challenged & fired up is an understatement! I left noticing again the huge board in the foyer which reads, I quote: 
"To give every Indian an opportunity to hear, understand & respond to the Gospel and be discipled into communities of believers, so that we will see a dynamic transformational church in every village, colony, town and city of India & beyond. 
Building Transformational Leaders to disciple the Nations." 

Now that's one Heaven of a mission statement...and it's happening!! Western Europe...awaits such vision...

Jesus...what did he come to do again??

Luke 19:10 says it so clearly in Jesus own words; "The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost..."
The task is very clear, uncluttered...even simple! 

Matt 28:19-20 "Jesus last words are 'GO... MAKE DISCIPLES of the Nations...BAPTIZE in the name of the Father, Son & Holy Spirit...TEACH new disciples to obey ALL the commands I have given you. Be sure of this I AM with you always...'"

WHERE and HOW does this work best? In communities of faith...CHURCH! The most effective way to fulfill this in our lifetime is to start new Churches. I am really going out on the edge here, but I believe it is consistent with Biblical discipleship - Jesus' last command - the commission he gave His disciples which includes us, is to plant, start new communities of faith...churches of different sizes and styles. God is soooo creative! 

Anyway that's what I believe Jesus told us to do!!!!  What do you think?

www.visionchurches.com       www.booksbynick.com

Jesus Mandate... It must happen in Europe!!

Tim Keller from Redeemer presbyterian Church USA, writes a powerful article on 'Why Plant Churches?' For the full article see below...

http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/Why_Plant_Churches-Keller.pdf

Here are a few highlights for me:
In the article he more than suggests that, 'Jesus essential call was to plant churches'. That's powerful. Virtually all of the great evangelistic challenges of the New Testament are basically calls to plant churches... Matt 28:18-20. Acts 2:41-47. The only way to be truely sure you are increasing the number of Christians in a town is to increase the number of churches. 


I believe the Apostle Paul's "missionary journey's" in the book of Acts, should be more accurately called, "Church planting and church strengthening journey's".


It is a great mistake, Keller goes on to say, to choose between church planting & church renewal. Strange as it my seem, the planting of new churches in a city is one of the VERY best ways to revitalize many older churches in the vicinity and renew the whole body of Christ. WHY? 
1. New churches bring new ideas to the whole body. 
2. New churches are the best ways to surface creative, strong leaders for the whole body.
3. New churches challenge other churches to self examination.
4. The new church may be an evangelistic feeder for a whole community. 


"Church planting is still the most effective long term evangelistic method under God's Heaven!" How are you involved?

'How to start a church for dummies'. FAQ's & Info Day!

This weekend a new book in Dutch is being released at Opwekking, 'How to start a church for dummies'. If you purchase your pack at 'Opwekking' (this weekend) - it will give you free access to the FAQ's and information day.


'FAQ's & Information Day' - 25 August, 2012   Time 9:30-13:30
Register by emailing nick@visionchurches.com 
If you have your pack it's free.  Without a pack, the cost is 10 Euro's. You will receive your 'How to start a church for dummies' pack on the day. 


This will be a very exciting time of answering the questions of how to partner together and put feet to the dream of 'planting churches in Western Europe'.

How to start a Church for dummies.

Yesterday I recieved a box of my newly printed books, "How to start a church for dummies".  By the way it's in Dutch. It deals with the ABC's of church planting. It answers questions such as; what is church? It's quite facinating when the question is asked of Christians, "What is church?" The response is quite subjective. What are the componants of a Biblical Church? What do you think? How does one begin a new church? What do you do? It's all in the book...




I am believing this will be a tool to empower Europe's next generation...so they will be able to be effective in the best way to fulfill Matthew 28: the great Commission that Jesus gave to us! This is Church planting! It's still the best long term evangelistic strategy under God's Heaven. Mission leaders around the world believe this to be true. Dr Ralph Winter, Dr C.P.Wagner, Dr Jim Montgomery, Ed Stetzer, Warren Bird, Tim Keller, Rick Warren and Floyd McClung Jr, to name but a few. In the book of Acts, Paul has three so called missionary journeys, I believe, they are three church planting & church strengthening journeys! 




So if all the above is true...if it really is true, are you somehow involved? I am still absolutely convinced that if we are really serious about reaching Europe for Christ, we MUST employ the most effective means...church planting!! 

Developing Spiritually...in the Church????

I think it requires alot of love, joy, peace, forbearance - patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness & self control to remain committed to a local church. It is much easier to go to a seminar, conference or workshop. These require little commitment and development of the above! In fact in a seminar context, I don't even have to talk to others, let alone get to know them very well. Spiritual development is never developed or tested in a conference context, or in isolation from long term commitment to a community. Spiritual development is the result of commitment long term to a local church. Spiritual development...the fruit of the spirit (as above) are never developed in a micro-wave environment. It is developed over time, as we die to self and commit to a community of faith...the church! That's not easy for me, myself and I have to die! Western Christianity doesn't handle this too well! Yip, the church is still God's plan A! It may be tough but it's the best! It's where true growth takes place. What about the place of Seminars, conferences & workshops? They are there to enhance, support, encourage & come alongside the local church, never to replace it!

How imortant is the customer? How important is the visitor?

How important is the visitor in your church? 
If you are in business, how important is your customer?


Look at what Mahatma Gandhi says: "A customer is the most important visitor on our premises. He is not dependant on us, we are dependant on him. He is not an interuption in our work, he is the purpose of it. He is not an outsider to our business, He is part of it. We are not doing him a favour by serving him, he is doing us a favour by giving us an opportunity to do".    


Healthy churches have at least 5-8 people for every 100 people in service attendance. 


So some questions are: 
How do you treat and how much value do you place on your visitors? 
How can you increase your visitor flow? 
How can you make your visitors FEEL welcome? 

What has Gibraltor got to do with new church starts?

Last year I had the priviledge to speak in what I have been told, the oldest Methodist Church in Europe, Gibraltor! It was planted by one of John Wesley's converts, a solider from England, some 241 years ago.

It was very sobering to read the names on a wooden board inside the church building of the Pastors, Leaders, ministers and their wives. Some came and lived only a few months before a sickness took them, some were there for many years! What an amazing history.

This fires me up...WHY? Because for 241 years a group of people have been faithfully ministring in that community. We are not talking about a one off crusade, concert or conference, which by the way are all valid, but they NEVER replace a new church beginning. Week in & week out, year after year, decade after decade, come difficulties, problems, deaths, heartaches, celebrations, birthdays, marriages, God's word and God's people have been able to continue to speak into that community, encourage and support oneanother, pray for oneanother and Gibraltor and beyond. This for me is another proof, that Christianity works and His Church will absolutely previal. The Pastor and Church have influence to not only the Christian communty, but also to the governers and leaders of Gibraltor. Today it is still a healthy, vibrant, caring, evangelistic Church.

I wonder if indeed John Wesley, let alone the people who began the church had it in there mind the legacy they have left, well over 2 centuries later!! We are not talking about a large church either, but one that certainly has a large influence! The power of the Church...Wow! I want to say it again, but with a twist, "truely church planting is the BEST long term continuous method of evangelism under God's Heaven..."

This really hits home for me, as I was brought up in the Methodist Church in NZ...and I first realized the call of God in my life there, in fact I can still take you to the building & exact spot where this happened. Also I became a Christian in that church.

It's still true, of course with Jesus as the center, as Bill Hybels so firmly states, "the church is the hope of the world..."

Multiplication: Church Planting:

The multipling of churches needs to happen for Europe to be reached for Christ. In fact I say the multiplication of networks / movements must take place if we are serious about reaching Europe with the Gospel of Jesus! Addition is good, for eg: 3 + 3 + 3 + 3 = 12; BUT what about 3 x 3 x 3 x 3 = 81. Muliplication is great!! Actually Jesus spoke about mulitpication in relation to forgiveness 70 x 7. What about when Jesus mentions 30 60 100 times!! The feeding of the 5000 men is a story of multiplication.

Look at the way Elephants reproduce themselves: The are only fertile 4 times a year. One baby per pregnancy. 22 month gestation period. sexual maturity 18 years. Maximum growth potential in 3 years...2 elephants to 3!

Now lets look at Rabbits: Almost continuously fertile. Average of 7 babies per pregnancy. 1 month gestation period. Sexual maturity = 4 months. Maximum growth potential in 3 years...from 2 rabbits to 476 million!!

We can count the apples on an apple tree, but it would be difficult to count the seeds in each apple from that tree. And it would be difficult to count the trees that could be planted from each apple tree...let alone the apples...I hope you can follow that!!! It's simply called multiplication!

more convinced than ever?

After a number of decades of thinking, writing and now living in Europe, I am more convinced than ever that if we are really serious about reaching Europe...particularly the Western Nations, we not only need new Churches we need NETWORKS or MOVEMENTS of churches!

Many Chinese Christians have a motto: "It is GOOD for a Christian to lead someone to Christ. It is BETTER to plant a church. It is BEST to start a church planting movement".

David Garrison in Church Planting Movements, defines what a church planting movement is: "It is a rapid, multiplicative increase of indigenous churches planting churches within a given people group or population segment".

To plant churches that plant churches we need people who are radical, out of the box, risk takers and faith inspired! There must be some in the 320 million in Western Europe!!! If your one of these and looking at impacting your world for eternity...let us know. www.visionchurches.com

Church Planting: Journalling:

I have blogged about the need for Church planting and the value of Journaling.

I encourage you to read these past posts as they are for me critical for ministry...in fact I have a conviction that all missions dollars needs to leveraged to Church Planting. In fact I believe that this IS Biblical MISSION!

Journaling has really helped me to stop the wanderings in my mind and to pull my thoughts through my fingers to the page. It undoubtedly clears the thinking and unclutters revelation and insights from unhealthy thinking.

Healing. Daily Medicine.

I have been praying for people for healing for the past 30 years. I still have a conviction that God wants to heal today! I have seen people healed instantly AND gradually; as they have continually applied the Word of God and joined with others to pray for them.

My new book "Daily Medicine - Thoughts from His Word" will nuture, encourage and empower you to continue to reach out for your miracle. (it's available at AMAZON and Barnes & Noble - hard copy or e-book).

I also seek to answer some very difficult questions regarding healing. It is an easy read for people who are unwell.

I trust this book will inspire and encourage you to believe for yourself, family & friends.

Living in Western Europe we need to experience God's miracle working power. So people will see that God is alive & well today. Arguements and intellectualism abounds regarding God. We live in a dry & weary land, where God was wonderful once, but irrelevant to life today. I am convinced THE Good News message with signs & wonders following is needed to light a fire in peoples hearts!

What are we up to? - Journalling - Sanity restored. The BEST way to fulfill Matt 28!

What are we up to?

• We are off to Karlsruhe, Germany this weekend, (23rd - 26th October), to meet with Bryce & Kate Gilmor, and their family & speak in their church! What a blast from the past this will be. Bryce & Kate are serving with Stieger International. They were in our church in Hamilton many years ago, as singles & then as a young married couple. It will be alot of fun & laughs I'm sure!!
• On the 27th Oct. we are in Ede meeting with a few contacts which I'm sure will be fruitful.
• For three weeks we have been taking the devotions in a Bible School (His Masters Commission) in Amsterdam North. We are really enjoying being with young people again...fun!
• Finding and nurturing the connections in Europe is our main work here. We aim to begin a Saturday & Sunday meeting (2 different places in Amsterdam) before Christmas...we are looking forward to this. We have 2 buildings to use.
• I will put some Church planting quotes at the END of this BLOG.

Journalling - Sanity restored! I have been journalling now for almost 20 years. I think it has been a critical ingredient in my christian life. As I talk to people in leadership, I am surprised at how many DON'T journal.

Journalling is powerful for several reasons...

1. It is like talking to another person. I find that sometimes talking to someone else helps to clarify issues & situations. If the issue is private & personal then it is great to journal it. Also journalling it over a few days or weeks can really help come to some clarification, answers & action points.

2. Journalling captures the issues, concerns, fears, attitudes & bad thinking patterns on the page! This is huge. Our minds can go round & round & round over a hurt, issue or wrong thinking that can be destructive. Remember that from our thinking, comes our emotions, which in turn causes actions. That's good if our thinking is good, but if it is negative or destructive in some way our emotions will be effected and this can lead to wrong actions. So to interrupt stinking thinking journalling is a key. There are times I write out whole prayers.

3. I often receive preaching messages, ideas & revelation while journalling. If we let the theater of our imagination run; where will it take you? I go to all sorts of wonderful places in God, dreaming, imagining & planning. I also capture those thoughts on a page. This enables me to process them - pray about them and see what God says in it all.

People often say as I did when I began, "What do you write". Sometimes you need to prime the pump to get it started. I began by asking the question, "What did I do yesterday?...How did I feel yesterday went?...What am I enjoying today?...What can I give thanks for today?...What are my major concerns at this time?...What is God saying to me about these?..."

I wrote this when I changed Journals at the beginning of 2010...

Why Journal?

-Disappointments are able to be de-cluttered.
-Untruths are brought out into the light.
-Truths are uncovered.
-Sadness is captured & held long enough to ask the appropriate questions.
-Gladness is celebrated.
-Difficulties are able to be spoken about freely & easily.
-It gives counsel.
-Dreams are nurtured.
-Questions are answered.
-Revelation is recorded.
-It brings self awareness.

-My thinking is checked.

-Prayers are recorded & re-prayed.
-It uncovers heartache & brings healing.
-Perspectives are clarified.
-Messages from God are saved.

-Insights are gained & captured.

-The future is discovered & imagined.

-Clarity comes.

-God ideas come to the surface.
So why wouldn't you begin Journalling! Believe me if I can do it, anyone can...

NOW for the quotes...on the BEST way to evangelize!!

(from the book "Viral Churches" - By Ed Stetzer & Warren Bird. Jossey-Bass).

• "The best way to fulfill the great commission that Jesus gave to us in Matt 28, is to plant new Churches". Rick Warren.
• "The single most effective evangelistic method under Heaven is planting new churches" ...who in turn reproduce themselves. Peter Wagner.
• Pauls missionary journeys were church planting journeys.
• Paul planted new churches, that in turn planted new churches.
• The early church implemented the Great Commission mandate primarily by planting churches.
• The healthiest churches are those who reproduce...
• ...Disciples multiplying churches - not the other way around...
• "It's time to stop counting converts and begin counting congregations." Ralph Moore.
• What a great goal for every church plant...for every new church that is planted, to be born pregnant!!!
• To really change things, we need to learn how to multiply churches.
• "The only way to increase the number & percentage of Christians in a city is to plant thousands of new churches". Tim Keller
• "New church planting is the only way that we can be sure we are going to increase the number of believers in a city & one of the best ways to renew the Body of Christ." Tim Keller.

The conclusion:

Let's not waste hard earned mission's dollars...use them to plant new churches!

Thank you for taking the time to read this...

...Until next time... think about how you can multiply yourself...