TIm Vink

Shares stories of new church plants.

“Every church is to be a healthy, reproducing church” – Team’s Vision

Kingdom Parable of the Soils

Matthew 13:1-23

Scorched

Squeezed

Snatched

100-fold return

The devil is active in the story. Three stratigies of darkness to prevent the abundant life of the Kingdom from taking root and blossoming. Jesus bets the whole farm on the seed that will reproduce 30,60,100 times the return. It overcomes the enemies that would snatch, scorch or squezze.

The small patch of fertile soil represents the majority of the fruitfullness. Wouldn’t be great if we all became the good soil? What potential is there for us?

Conversion is growing at 7 times the population rate (mostly in the southern hemosphere). It is the largest spiritually reawaking  in history (175,000 new believers today alone!)

94 emerging planters in the pipline

92 NCO’s by the end of 2007

75 parenting churches

10000 new believers and worshippers in RCA

North American Harvest Field

“The harvest is pleantiful but the workers are few”

Over 91 million new Americans – net gain of 51million new people

We are the fastest growing place in the world.

While the population grew rapidly, the number of new churches declined. Every community is in desperate need of new churches planted.

New churches grow at 5% rate, population grows at 13% rate

1980’s on avg, of all the churches started was a positive growth. More true in the 1990’s. Most remarkable is the new millenial plants.

We need at least 3000 more per year.

There are exceptional churches that are growing, but as a whole group, those churches planted prior to 1980 aren’t keeping up with population rate.

Only Hawaii shows an increase in church attendance, the rest of the states show a decline.

less than 18% of the population are worshipping in Christian churches each week.

Only a strong church multiplication  can reverse this trend.

From One Thing event

Reggie McNeil opens up – to a capactiy filled banquet.
“Four Shifts For the Church”

Apastolic Leadership (rather than traditional based clergy leadership)
- most clergy want to change the world, but find out that their job is nothing more than “project manager”
-character of apatolic leadership
—–visionary——
they bring vision to their role. they aren’t working from a “how to” leadership book
they operate on a future that is compelling
first disciples went into the world who did not want them.
If there isn’t a vision that grips you, it won’t grip anyone around them
They work in partnerships
They are preparing for what is coming, not what is happening
We must move from “planting” mentality to a “prepared” mentality
Thoise who prepare will ride the wave that God is directing
You don’t pull of “Exodus” in a strategic planning meeting
What do you need to do to prepare?
Vision of the people you lead: In old days you were told to be the vision castor to the people. In the new world, vision bubbles up (it doesn’t cascade down”
God’s already prepared a generation for Missional Church
Prayer isn’t begging God’s attention, it is getting into his reality
In order to get there, we must be willing to get paid differently
An apostalistic leader will find alternative funding sources
You will not be able to get your church to vote to go Missional, if you put it to a vote, they’ll vote to go back to Egypt.
You reach critical mass before majority vote – once you hit critical mass, you don’t need to vote, you can’t help but do it.

Results – what are you looking to happen?
If we aren’t willing to redo the scorecard (the dillema is that we have a builder scorecard) – if you want to try to do a missional church you have to change the scorecard
“How many better marriages do we have?”
“How man more people are in less bondage to money?”
Get in touch with stuff that real people care about

Strenths -
You as a leader must learn on how to lead from what you bring to the table not what you don’t
Your best shot is to get better at what you are already good at
In church life, the reason we have mediocrity is because we ask people to be playing all the positions

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Here is a link for an mp3 of Alan Roxburgh interviewing Kath Atkins on “Practicing the Radically Ordinary.” They discuss this movement of God in the ordinariness of everyday life. She shares stories about ‘moving back into the neighborhood,’ dwelling among people and being with them in the normal.

Also, as a bonus, there’s a link of Alan interviewing Brian Mclaren on his new book “Everything Must Change.”
part 1 and 2.

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The Leadership Network has just complied a research project stating the status of church-planting in North America. The result can be read here.

State of Church Planting

Tomorrow night, October 18th, at 6pm PST there will be a free Soularize webcast (also see http://theooze.com). This week, join Spencer Burke and author Ori Brafman – of “The Starfish and the Spider” courtesy of Soularize.net.

Ori Brafman is a peace and economic development consultant and activist. He is co-author of indie business cult favoriate “The Starfish and the Spider,” about leaderless groups and what makes them so powerful.

Spencer Burke is a “pastor alumnus,” author, speaker, heratic (see his book “A Heretics Guide To Eternity”) founder of TheOOZE.com and our friend. In Thursday’s interview, Spencer will talk to Ori about the Church that is primarily running as a Spider organization in a Starfish world; together, we’ll investigate Starfish front-runners and Hybrids – can organic and institutional models live in harmony?

You can ask Ori and Spencer questions, take live polls and more!

www.Soularize.net/feedlive click on “preview” and you are in!!

The Holy Spirit prompting of OUR CALL is yielding fruit….110 new churches…65 parent churches…..80 planters in the pipeline being nurtured….39% of new starts ethnic….adult baptisms up and fruit evident.     God is up to good things in our time.   We have the privilage of being part.  More to come!

Perhaps by now you are aware of ONE THING in San Antonio January 24-26, 2008.   It’s a gathering of planters for inspiration and insight into the experience of new church start.   What you may not know is that ONE THING is inviting pastors of “pregnant congregations” to learn and experience this catalytic movement.   Featuring Reggie McNeal, we expect a unique blend of innovation, inquiry and learning that will leave a significant mark on your ministry.   What’s more, we want to pay for your hotel room, meals and conference expense!   The conditions for that generous offer are:

1.  Commit to be part of a coached multiplying network for the following year.   2.  Commit to birth a new church within 2 years submitting a New Church Plan  3. Affirm the openness of your consistory to parent.

If that sounds like you…and you minister in the Great Lakes Region…we would love to know!   The checkbook is out with your name on it!   Questions? call Ben Ingebretson at 616-541-0843 or your regional synod executive.

Root
noun • the part of a thing attaching it to a greater or more fundamental whole; the end or base • the essential substance or nature of something
2 Kings 19:30-31
The Schedule
Friday, September 28, 2007
2pm – 2:45pm:  Registration at Central Wesleyan Church, Holland
>>See map
3pm – 4pm:  Conversation with Avalon’s Greg Long
“Up Close and Personal Worship”
See Greg’s bio		See Avalon’s bio
4pm – 5pm:  Steve Smallegan, Zeeland Classis Minister
“The Pendulum of Worship Trends: A Personal Perspective”
7pm:  Avalon in Concert, Central Wesleyan Church, Holland
Saturday, September 29, 2007
8am – 8:45am:  Registration at Dimnent Memorial Chapel on the Hope College Campus
>> See map
9am – 4pm:  Take Root Conference featuring Tim Brown, Dwight Beal and friends. (lunch is available for purchase).
See Dwight’s bio		See Tim’s bio
>>See Detailed Schedule here
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Jam & Bread Worship Brunch – Holland Rescue Mission Youth Building
>>See map
“A post-church brunch set to the live music of ”Annagail.” Seating is limited.  Reservation required.
Seatings at 10:30am & Noon
See Annagail’s bio
Pricing
Full event: $39 (not including meals) Friday sessions: $10 Avalon concert: $10 Saturday sessions: $20 Saturday lunch: $10 Sunday brunch: $10

website

Greenhouse Weekend Intensive First and Second Story Conference in Grand Rapids, MI. November 16th-18th 2007

First Reformed Grand Haven has a new pastor and Muskegon Classis has a new multiplication point person.    Yesterday I met with John Kenny and was delighted to hear of his heart for church planting.    John comes after having served in the gulf war as chaplain where he saw many come to Christ and adult baptisms nearly every Sunday.   With that passion for evangelism and Kingdom growth he comes to us to serve.   You can send him a note of encouragement at jkenny_frc@charter.net    There is more…..

Muskegon classis has been blessed with a couple new starts in recent years…Jeffery Hough at Angel and Todd Bush at New Life.   Todd reports that ministry is seeking to break the 200 barrier this fall.   Seems there is good reason to believe that John Kenny comes to a classis with a good track record and readiness to take new steps in planting.    So pray for him…..and for planters.     This is a good time to seek God and explore with others the possibilities for future Kingdom expansion in Muskegon!