Ephesians 3 – Of this gospel I was made a minister… to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places.
My church planting meetings this month include:
April 14th – ANiC House of Bishops and Archdeacons in Vancouver to present the ANiC church planting policy. It is a 20 page high-level document that gathers all of the work we have done over the past 2 years in building a framework around God’s church planting movement here in Canada.
April 19th-22nd – The Exponential Church Planting Conference in Orlando. I am going representing Canada as a leader in the North American Anglican 1000 movement. Yes, I will be suffering for the Lord in Orlando, but I will neither bring my golf clubs nor will I have a chance to say ‘hi’ to Mickey.
April 20th – Teleconference into the ANiC Board of Directors meeting back in Toronto to present the ANiC CP policy and to move it’s adoption as THE policy.
April 26th-27th – Greenhouse Church Planting Session in Ambridge Pennsylvania. I have been invited to Trinity Episcopal Seminary to address the students on church planting. Don’t tell anyone, but this is also a recruiting trip for me. Pray that the Lord will send laborers to the Canadian harvest field from Pennsylvania. I am also meeting with the Dean to work on a model for the training of Canadian Anglican postulants.
Why do I do this stuff? First of all because Jesus has called me to do it and I have a very supportive family, as well as church, who see the big picture and kingdom value. Secondly, because church planting is not about planting churches. It is about God’s glory. Ephesians 3 tells us that the manifold wisdom of God is made known through the church. So the launching of gospel preaching local churches is all about giving expression to the manifold wisdom of God.
The manifold wisdom of God is the gospel (see Eph 3 again). New gospel preaching churches ought to cause the world around them to ask, ‘What kind of God demonstrates His wisdom by saving sinners?’
Indeed, church planting is not about planting churches. It is about God’s glory through the gospel at work in and through His people in local churches.
That’s why I am ok with spending so much of my time this month on church planting.
Pray for our nation.
Pray for your city.
Pray for the harvest.
Pray for the ANiC.
Pray for your local church.
And please pray for me.
I think sometimes we can get so caught up in what we’re doing that we forget why we were doing it in the first place. As ambassadors for Christ we better be vigilant to never forget for whom and unto whom we live our lives. Otherwise all our works and deeds and “accomplishments” are pointless.
Good stuff, man.