Journal: Journal of Ministry and Theology
Volume: JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014)
Article: Book Reviews
Author: Anonymous

---

JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014) p. 149

Book Reviews

Together: Networks and Church Planting. Marcus Bigelow and Bobby Harrington. Irvine, CA: Stadia/Self-published, 2011. 228 ages. $14.95.

Two leaders with Stadia, a national church planting network associated with the independent Christian Church/Church of Christ, show how their movement has successfully planted hundreds of new North American churches through national (macro), regional and local (micro) networks of partnering churches. This book fills an important need in planting literature by carefully describing how church planting through supportive, decentralized networks place church planters in the best position to succeed. To get a broader view of how networks work, the authors researched ten of the more successful church planting networks in North America and share insights gleaned. They also include an interview with Dr. Ed Stetzer and give three helpful samples in their appendix: a church planting network coach agreement, a memorandum of understanding with partner churches, and a church planter expectations document. The biblical principles and key practices described in this 228–page paperback are readily transferable to denominations and associations of churches that hope to revitalize their church planting efforts. The key, they show, is building close relationships among pastors and churches who can then partner together to initiate, coach, and oversee church planting projects.

Reviewed by Dr. Ken Davis
Director of Church Planting
Baptist Bible Seminary, Clarks Summit, Pennsylvania

JMAT 18:2 (Fall 2014) p. 150

Leading Church Multiplication: Locally, Regionally and Nationally. Tom Nebel and Steve Pike. St. Charles, IL: ChurchSmart. 2014. 262 pages. $20.00.

This is a solid resource that will inform and inspire leaders who recruit, train, and coach others to plant churches. Written by two veteran denominational leaders, this book focuses on three key areas: foundations for building a church planting culture in an organization; essential planter support systems; and leader strategies, landmines, and booby traps to avoid. This is possibly the first resource written specifically for movement and denominational leaders who are tasked with seeing new churches started. Nebel is a seasoned leader with Converge (formerly the Baptist General Conference) and Pike with the Assemblies of God, both groups that have had much success in North American planting. They have much to teach us. Nebel and Pike reveal valuable lessons they have learned as they led fruitful church planting movements within their denominations over the past twenty years.

They address vital questions such as “How do you create a culture through your public communications? Wha...

visitor : : uid: ()