tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post5853445784885756424..comments2023-06-01T10:52:44.280-04:00Comments on The Gospel-Driven Church: You Go Where the Customers AreJaredhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-41684549042215760582010-06-12T16:55:25.790-04:002010-06-12T16:55:25.790-04:00I found this through an Internet Monk repost. It i...I found this through an Internet Monk repost. It is troubling to see this happening. I recently reviewed Nick Spencer's "Parochial Vision" on the need for a minster church model. Sadly, existing churches that could benefit from becoming part of such a model are often too resistant to change... 1) Change of sharing a pastor and 2) change of having to move from survival mode to missional mode. But financially when a pastor's salary and benefits take up most of the budget, spreading the budget over a larger area and activating local leaders is essential to move into mission from decline.<br /><br />Thanks for this post.<br /><br />ChuckWanted: Radical Christianshttp://missionlawrence.org/wanted-radical-christians/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-28158675407687198562009-02-19T21:08:00.000-05:002009-02-19T21:08:00.000-05:00no problem! :)no problem! :)Randi Jo :)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10455815193915058855noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-75132349152881293372009-02-19T19:59:00.001-05:002009-02-19T19:59:00.001-05:00Randi too; sorry, didn't mean to leave you out! :-...Randi too; sorry, didn't mean to leave you out! :-)Jaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-13271196004377514202009-02-19T19:59:00.000-05:002009-02-19T19:59:00.000-05:00they believe that they are Christians tooThat's wh...<I>they believe that they are Christians too</I><BR/><BR/>That's why Utah needs gospel-centered churches, I suppose.<BR/><BR/>It sounds like the Bible Belt, honestly. Down here it's like trying to sell something to people who think they've already got it. Ed Stetzer says it's like trying to treat people who are inoculated against the real thing with a synthetic version.<BR/><BR/>And the pastors/churches are no help, because they're just as oblivious to their gospel deficiencies.<BR/>---<BR/><BR/>Jen and Jim: Thanks for the links, tips, info.Jaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-40718536292391922882009-02-19T19:49:00.000-05:002009-02-19T19:49:00.000-05:00The Mormon's are pretty nice, but it is really har...The Mormon's are pretty nice, but it is really hard to have conversations with them because they believe that they are Christians too. The inner city churches in my local area (Ogden, Utah) are leaving at an amazing rate, and to my knowledge there are only 3 churches in the entire state that are "reformed". Thank God for podcasts like John Piper, Mark Dever, Mark Driscoll, etc.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-50432842338895903262009-02-19T19:41:00.000-05:002009-02-19T19:41:00.000-05:00Anon, that's a great question.You'd think some ent...Anon, that's a great question.<BR/><BR/>You'd think some enterprising souls would make it out that way. It can't be b/c they're scared of Mormons. I imagine the culture there is a lot like the Bible Belt, only probably nicer!Jaredhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07454966527986478217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-47325522336912309742009-02-19T19:39:00.000-05:002009-02-19T19:39:00.000-05:00How come nobody wants to plant churches in Utah? ...How come nobody wants to plant churches in Utah? This state is in dire need of gospel centered teaching.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-4640787586952302292009-02-19T17:32:00.000-05:002009-02-19T17:32:00.000-05:00You should check out orchardgroup.org - they are d...You should check out orchardgroup.org - they are doing some good stuff in the Northeast.<BR/><BR/>JimAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-7665946139832943482009-02-19T15:54:00.000-05:002009-02-19T15:54:00.000-05:00About the northeast, I know a bit. Went up there t...About the northeast, I know a bit. Went up there to parachurch plant, so to speak (with Young Life). The history of YL in New England is spotty - it was sort of booming in the 70s, then died out for the most part in the 80s. Then in the 90s, there was a resurgence (when I was up there) and decline in the early 00s (when I had to leave) and I think it has stabilized some at this point.<BR/><BR/>There are some good pockets of solid Christians in the northeast that will support new ministry. Fund raising is a huge challenge - it's the one region that is the stingiest in giving in the US. Ultimately, funding (or the lack of it) was the reason I had to leave.<BR/><BR/>What was the most interesting was the response from adults (parents of the kids to whom we ministered) - the folks who were not believers often became believers. They were starving for the Gospel. I can think of at least 2 sets of parents who came to Christ and are now on staff with YL as a result - they are ministering to their communities.<BR/><BR/>Why churches don't plant up there is a good question. The harvest is ready, imho.Jenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03653405304069881340noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-70314027150700671792009-02-19T14:02:00.000-05:002009-02-19T14:02:00.000-05:00There's a new church plant going in my city, maybe...There's a new church plant going in my city, maybe not the inner city part, but close to it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-538825134834187144.post-74974821077492760982009-02-18T22:18:00.000-05:002009-02-18T22:18:00.000-05:00Very interesting! Seems true... maybe God is buil...Very interesting! Seems true... maybe God is building His army from the bottom up :) in so many more ways than one..... <BR/><BR/>another interesting trend to think about though is that their is a HUGE demand/need for churches in areas like where we live in North Carolina --- because though we are Bible Belt... our once 'country' farm town all of a sudden has turned into Yankee paradise :) With the cost of living going up so much up there - they are migrating south... the baby boomers headed down.... and also so many are migrating out of cities --- therefore moving into northern rural/suburban areas - and those people don't like it - so they are moving south to get some land and space! I know that situation is true for where I grew up in New Jersey. all the NYC people moving west and getting out of the city... so all the west NJ are moving south! :) <BR/><BR/>We have so many northerners moving into our town here in NC every day and for the first time ever neighborhoods are going up in NC where you won't see another church (or 10) in the stretch of 10 or even 20 miles on our road. <BR/><BR/>normally here you can stand in a church building parking lot and spit and hit 5 other churches. <BR/><BR/>but things they are a changing! :) <BR/><BR/>have an awesome day! :)Randi Jo :)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10455815193915058855noreply@blogger.com