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| May 01 |
Young, non-traditional churches grow fastest
The first thing is the age of a church. The newer a church is, the more people come to the Lord. The second is the traditionality of a church. The less extra-biblical rules, based on tradition, a church has, the more people come to the Lord. This underscores the importance of church planting. Church planting is important, because it is the only way that millions who are out of reach of existing churches will be able to hear the Gospel. Church planting is important, because there is nothing that helps Christians grow spiritually as much as helping plant a new church. But it appears there are other reasons as well. New churches put up less barriers for outsiders than old churches. And in new churches it is easier to function without the burden of decades or even centuries of extra-biblical traditions. Now the pressing question is: are we willing to plant new churches? And are we able to distinguish between tradition and biblical commandments? The answers to those questions are very important to the continued growth of the Thai church. But not only the Thai church, I think. One Response to “Young, non-traditional churches grow fastest”Leave a Reply |
In what kind of church do many outsiders come to faith in Christ? My research among Thai churches, had a surprising outcome. There are two things that tell you about everthing you need to know about the growth potential of a church. Only two things. You can forget about the rest. 
Dear Marten Visser
I read an article in a Norwegian newspaper (DagenMagazinet) about your research. I am not a subscriber of Evangelical Missions Quarterly, but I am really want to read your article. Could You please mail me a copy?
I am a university professor in entrepreneurial leadership at Agder University (http://www.uia.no/en) in Kristiansand Norway. I have also been working with church leadership and church planting for many years. These days we are setting up a accredited Master in practical theology at Ansgar Theological Seminary (http://www.ansgarhogskole.no/sider/tekst.asp?side=6&submeny=Info%20in%20English&ant=24)in Kristiansand. It is a evangelical seminary were I am involved.
It would also be of great interest for me to get access to your doctoral thesis.
Sincerely Jan Inge Jenssen