View Post

Church Planting: Cake or Frosting?

Most of us have heard the phrase “that’s just icing on the cake,” referring to something that would be nice to have, but in the final analysis is not really necessary at all.   That’s probably true of cake, since you don’t really need icing to have cake. In fact my son Stephen will only eat cake if there is …

“Go into all the World”

Christ’s command to his followers is simple and profound, calling them into something great and global.  It immediately conjures up images of passports and airports.  It is a monumental task that reflects the true vision of the Kingdom – every tribe, nation, and tongue.  But what if every word in that command had equal weight? Certainly we would have that …

View Post

The Global Key for Local Church Health

“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:8 These final words of Jesus before his Ascension serve as a timeless strategic template for the work and witness of the church throughout the ages. …

View Post

A Bold Ten-Year Goal!

“Gooooooaaaaaallllllll!”  Anyone who is a soccer fan loves to hear the announcer scream this as one team stuns another with a sharp kick of the ball into the net!  Announcing a bold vision for a ten-year goal can ignite a movement or inspire a nation.  When JFK announced his bold national vision, that “before this decade is out …to put …

View Post

Church Planting: Capacity Vs. Reach

Starting today, Luminex will begin launching Whiteboard Wednesdays, which is a short video series capturing the knowledge and experiences from our current leaders. These videos will discuss various topics that will educate, train, and inspire developing leaders and others who are looking for a weekly dose of motivation and learning. We hope that you will find these videos as enlightening …

View Post

New AND Established Churches Together

“How do we avoid a “manifest destiny” attitude when planting in an area that already has churches in it?  In other words, how do we show that we want to work WITH other local churches as opposed to doing things BETTER than those local churches? I want to suggest a two pronged approach: 1. Approach the existing churches in your …

View Post

Is your life a quest or a quilt?

“Living a connected life leads one to take a different view. Life is less a quest than a quilt. We find meaning, love, and prosperity through the process of stitching together our bold attempts to help others find their own way in their lives. The relationships we weave become an exquisite and endless pattern.”  ― Keith Ferrazzi, Never Eat Alone: And Other …

View Post

Who is a Church Planter?

Question: By way of definition: Who is a church planter? Answer 1: Everyone is called to plant the gospel and help to create new communities of believers.  (btw – this is the work of making disciples that Jesus talks about in the Great Commission – Matthew 28:19-20).  In a very real sense church planting is the ministry of everyone who …