Where are the innovators and dreamers in the church?
Mike Frost, posed a question on his blog: mikefrost.net/can-seminary-produce-visionary-leaders/. He also questions the necessity of potential relics like preaching (I asked the same question in this blog post). After he posted a thought about the post on Facebook,...
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Local Church Planter and Pioneers Conference in Calgary September 29-30
There are two conferences upcoming in my city that I want to bring to your attention. Both of them local mini conferences featuring local voices. All to often, conferences are a grand production that leverages bringing in a big name to attract attendees. These two are...
read moreOn the Decisive Derision of the Nashville Statement
I wish I didn't have to spend the time to respond to something so odious as the Nashville Statement (link at the bottom). I wish instead evangelicals spent their time embodying the character of Jesus. A character that would produce statements cherishing the brown...
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Review: Bees of Rainbow Falls by Preston Pouteaux
I'm finishing an extended series on racism, but before that launches in a couple weeks, here's something a bit lighter. My friend Preston Pouteaux, recently released his first book, "The Bees of Rainbow Falls: Finding Faith, Imagination, and Delight in Your...
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Spoken Word on Charlottesville and Racism – Guest Post
The recent events in Charlottesville, that acts merely as a revealing catalyst to racists not only in the American South, but in Canada as well, coupled with the collapse of celebrity evangelical leadership, have together spearheaded an upcoming series blog series on...
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Charlottesville
I can't add to the churning plight emerging in Charlottesville. It's there where the pent up racist rage building in America is tangibly emptying itself unto the streets for the country to watch. I, like many of you, am stunned with these pictures over the past day....
read moreSummer Update
You haven't heard a lot from me over the past Summer months. I realized recently, (I'm slow) that I tend to take entire Summer's off away from major projects. Blogging is one of the victim's to the necessary season of rest. You can still catch me in various places...
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This is why 80% of congregations are passive observers during service
Take a look at any church service, even the most contemporary ones belting the latest Bethel or Hillsong--most people watch a few who do. The 80/20 principal plays out when 80% of a congregation watches the other 20% finish their fun sing-a-long. The preaching part...
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Canada150
I didn't post anything for the Canada 150 celebrations. Here's my old prof on 100 Huntley, discussing some of the tension with the...
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Adventures to Save a Dying Church – Manuscript Done
Although I can't confirm the title, (publishers usually have final say), I can confirm my manuscript is DONE! Writing my first book (if you don't count my adult coloring book) was a huge process. What started at 90,000 words two years ago, re-written from top to...
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Why Events Are No Longer Attractional Forces for Churches
The vast majority of churches in the West rely on their central Sunday morning service as the foundation of the community. If the service stopped, most of the community would disperse for another service somewhere else. How many people would remain together would be...
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SpiderFish Organization – How Churches Can Collaborate to Survive and Thrive
This is an idea out of my upcoming non-fiction book release. Many are familiar with the Starfish and Spider concept on organizational development by Ori Brafman. Alan Hirsch and Mike Frost took the concept and placed it within the organic/missional church context in...
read moreOn the NewLeaf Podcast
I'm over at New Leaf this week on their podcast talking about my latest church plant, Cypher Church. New Leaf is a new initiative coming out of Canada. The unique Canadian perspective geared towards pioneers and planters is a needed resource not only for local...
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Renewing Vision for the Neighborhood
Here's a post I have at New Leaf. My grandma used to spend the odd Sunday strolling to service two blocks from her home. She lived during a time when everyone went to church, or in the very least knew the stories. Church was part of her routine, part of her...
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Two Kinds of Church Planters, One Will Succeed, One Will Fail
Building off a previous post on church planting comparing old and new paradigms of church planting, here is an anecdote about two types of church planters. One will fail and one will succeed. The context? My city of Calgary. Housing is really expensive here, most of...
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