Paradigm shifts in ministry
We've talked about paradigm shifts in ministry for quite a while now. John asked Tara very nicely if she wouldn't summarise a book (whose title I do not remember) and her summary is very in-depth. Here are the main points:
The church today finds itself in one of the following ‘states’:
- Think old, do old
- Think old, do old
- Think new, do new
Out of the last state flow some principles:
From Living in the Past to Engaging with the Present
- Who will be the change agents in this day and age?
From Market-Driven to Mission-Oriented
- Attitudes churches display to the world around them
- The questionable nature of a marketing approach
- Interpreting ministry in the New Testament from a marketing perspective
- What is a ‘missional church’?
- How can the missional nature of the church be rediscovered?
From bureaucratic hierarchies to apostolic networks
- The changing shape of western Protestantism
- The age of networks
From training specialists to mentoring leaders
- Leadership in the Christian community
- Who are the new-paradigm leaders?
From following celebrities to encountering saints
- Confusion in the search for authentic spirituality
From dead orthodoxy to living faith
- How the church responds to cultural shifts
- Assessing the significance of the seeker-sensitive approach
From attracting a crowd to seeking the lost
- Seeking the seeker
From Belonging to Believing
- Communicating through the Christian community
- From belonging to believing
- Full of grace and truth
From Generic Congregations to Incarnational Communities
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Paradigm Shifts in Ministry Summary.doc | 133.5 KB |
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Thanks for setting this up
Thanks for setting this up Rog. Should be a great way to facilitate the discussion.
Hooray! Only Edgar and
Hooray! Only Edgar and Martin have logged in so far so the sooner we get everyone else in the better :)
This is fantastic, thank you
This is fantastic, thank you Rog. I really believe that this will form communities that will help us understand the new way we do ministry. Very cool. Aloysias
Hey Roger: Thanks for all
Hey Roger: Thanks for all the work you have done - you are amazing in getting things done. Tara did the summary not Charlene. What did you think of the material? Interested to know you views
Much of this article is
Much of this article is inspired by the book ChurchNext, written by Eddie Gibbs, a professor of church growth at Fuller Theological Seminary. Gibbs is also the director of the Institute for Study on Emerging Churches. His academic interests include evangelizing nominal Christians, assisting local churches in becoming evangelizing churches, and developing the Church’s response to modernity and post-modernity in becoming a missionary presence. Gibbs came to Fuller from England with an extensive interest in mission that included practical experience in Santiago and Quilpue, Chile, with his wife Renee. In the last few years, his teaching has taken him around the U.S. and to such countries as Singapore, Korea, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Norway and South Africa. Some of Gibbs’ other publications include LeadershipNext: Changing Leaders in a Changing Culture (2005), Emerging Churches: Creating Christian Community in Postmodern Cultures (2005) with co-author Ryan Bolger, Way to Serve (2003), Way to Go (2003).
Dear Roger, I have been
Dear Roger, I have been following you all over the net, not in a freaky way but in a curious way. I like your spirit. And am really fascinated by your topics of discussion and the movement you have begun. I am full-time ministry down in Umhlanga Rocks, S.A...I relate to alot of what you say because it's been edging the same way in my mind.
I have been flying the past year 3 times a month up to JHB for ministry and evangelism, I usually speak to schools, youth groups, churches and so on. But I seriously started sensing a paradigm shift in ministry, and coming soon. Moving from one man behind pulpit to doing it Jesus style. Jesus concentrated on social infiltration, and these days half of the church can't even go into a night club and relate to the lost and broken. God is raising up a generation of revolutionists, which we call the "millennial generation". The abilities, treasures and spiritual gifts these young people contain has the ability to change not only cities and nations but the world.
My desire is to connect and build relationships with those who share the same passion and desire. To bring a revolution and bring it soon.
I would like it if we could stay in contact. I am on your facebook group "Change Agents".
In His Love
Leon Du Preez