:: Questions about Missions with Virginia Marion
:: Redeemer, A Mover of Movements
:: Get the RCPC Church Planter Manual
:: Got Church Planting in You? Find Out!

ADVANCING THE GOSPEL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
Part I: Church Multiplying
by Tim Keller, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church

This is the first strategic principle for ministry in the first century-and it is crucial for effectiveness in the 21st century. In the ministry in Acts-church planting is not a traumatic or unnatural event. It is not something odd or once-in-a lifetime. It is not forced on people by circumstances. Church planting is woven into the warp and woof of things, it happens constantly, it happens normally. > MORE

ADVANCING THE GOSPEL INTO THE 21ST CENTURY
Part II: Gospel-Centered
by Tim Keller, Senior Pastor, Redeemer Presbyterian Church

I do not simply mean by 'gospel-centered' that ministry is to be doctrinally orthodox. Paul knew that 'getting the gospel straight'-not falling off into either legalism on the one hand or license on the other-is absolutely critical to the mission of the church. The secret of ministry power is getting the gospel clear. To be even slightly off to one side or another, loses tons of spiritual power. > MORE

INFINITY CHURCH :: THE GOSPEL IN THE HOOD
Part I: Making the Gospel Relevant

It's easy to think about stereotypes of the inner-city on this block. It's all here - complete with the drug deals, crime scenes, sex, broken families, poverty and even dueling gangs, the Bloods and the Crips, in opposition over a few feet of space. It is these people that church planter Dimas Salaberrios is seeking to reach. "I have a heart to see change in this generation," he says. "They're looking for family, acceptance and love. And they get excited, happy when they see us, because of the activities and involvement we have in the kids lives. Then we can teach the Gospel in a language that they'll understand." > MORE

INTEGRITY AND PRAYER IN CHURCH PLANTING
by John Smed, Church Planter, Grace Vancouver Church

When it comes to our church plant, we head down the road with sincere intent to be a New Testament community. However, a thousand temptations lead us off this path. The clock is ticking. Time is running out. Money is running out. The denomination has expectations. So do peers. Before long, we parcel out our vision to lesser objectives. We squeeze prayer to the suburbs of our calling. We count attendees and we count offerings. The result is pedestrian and tame. We want the Lion of Judah to roar. Instead, number crunchers bicker. The difference can be traced to prayer. > MORE

QUESTIONS WITH VIRGINIA MARION
Can Short-Term Missions Support Church Plants?

Church-planting is a key priority. But short-term projects are important too, and they don't replace the need for church planting. Instead, they can help by building up infrastructure or training leaders within the community so they can develop their own resources. Practically speaking, since each member raises own support, it's not a financial drain on the church > MORE

REDEEMER, A MOVER OF MOVEMENTS
About the Redeemer Church Planting Center

A church planting movement is a Spirit-directed activity which naturally builds, renews and expands the body of Christ in a given city/region through the recovery and application of the Gospel. The movement produces hundreds of new believers, scores of leaders and dozens of new churches that bring spiritual, social, and cultural change to the city and surrounding region. > MORE