Books for Christmas

There are three books I would like to recommend:

• Multiplanting by Colin Baron
• Establish the Work of our Hands: Work, Enterprise and God’s mission by Nick Priggis
• We need to talk about Race by Ben Lindsay

Multiplanting
For decades Colin has carried a prophetic vision to plant churches and now has a track record of success going back over 25 years. So his wisdom is worth reading!

Manchester is the context from which Colin has drawn the experience he shares in this book where he has planted church congregations across the city. Unlike the multi-site model that has become popular in recent years – several geographically separate congregations of one church with common teaching and eldership – the multiplanting model seeks to build church congregations that work closely together, but have greater autonomy than the traditional multisite model. I particularly like the emphasis on helping each member to find his or her own place of active ministry in the church reflecting his or her gifting, something I have emphasised in my own book, Discover and Serve.

I commend this to all church leaders who are seeking to build local churches that are relevant to the diverse populations represented in a town or city.

Establish the Work of our Hands
Nick and I worked together for about five years at the start of the millennium as we developed the Act Together initiative in the Newfrontiers family of churches which sought to help churches engage well with people who were poor or in need in their communities. I know his heart – and it is well represented in this book!

Now leading a church in a deprived area, Nick has sought to help the local community in very practical ways by creating training and employment opportunities for those who are struggling for various reasons. This book combines his experience in creating a successful Social Enterprise with a fascinating look back at those who have gone before us with the same vision, such as the Quakers and the Moravians.

Starting with an examination of the meaning and importance of work he shows how it can be an act of worship, illustrating with personal testimonies from those he has helped. He than shows how business can be a powerful context for mission, helping to advance the kingdom. He concludes by demonstrating that it provides an excellent context for discipling, and challenges the church to think ‘outside the box’ and consider becoming more intentionally involved with business and social enterprise.

You will find this book both provocative and practically helpful. Well done Nick!

We need to talk about Race
I have not yet fully read this but like what I have read and know that several friends whom I respect recommend it highly. Particularly I have a close friend who recommends this who can trace back her ancestry to both slave and slave owner.

It is well known that race has been a ‘hot topic’ over the centuries. Christians have both justified segregation and have sought to remove the injustices eg Wilberforce with the abolition of the slave trade. Yet sadly there is still much racism in the Christian community and Ben Lindsey seeks to address this. It is not comfortable reading, but it is necessary. I challenge you to buy it and grapple with the issues that are raised.