| Greenhouses come in all sizes and shapes. So do churches. We want to build a church planting greenhouse in the St. Louis area. GreenhouseSTL.org exists to bring together people in eastern Missouri and downstate Illinois who are interested in disciple making and church planting using the concepts of organic church planting, simple churches and church multiplication movements. We hope to gather the people needed to offer a Greenhouse Weekend Intensive in the St. Louis area in the near future. Interested? Questions? Email greenhouse (at) disciplewalk (dot) com. |
| Organic Church Planting Greenhouse - St. Louis |
The fourth wave of cell church innovation is a Church Planting Movement strategy rather than a church growth strategy. In the fourth wave, as in the New Testament, all energy is invested in disciple-making and no energy is wasted on creating an institutional church or rebuilding the Temple. More aptly named a “disciple multiplication movement,” fourth wave churches begin small, remain small, and continually spin off new small churches rather than grow one larger church. I believe that these evangelistic methods can be highly effective in small churches where individuals are ready to make a serious commitment to making disciples. - David Kueker, www.disciplewalk.com |
To learn more: On Church Multiplication Movements as taught by David Garrison: http://www.churchplantingmovements.com/ On Organic Church Planting Greenhouses with Neil Cole: http://www.cmaresources.org/greenhouse/ Resources available through CMAresources.org: Cultivating A Life for God by Neil Cole Leadership Farm Systems in Raising Leaders for the Harvest by Bob Logan and Neil Cole Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens by Neil Cole Search and Rescue: An Urgent Call to Make and Multiply Disciples by Neil Cole |
". . . the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. Matthew 4:16-20 |
| Left column photos from top to bottom by Jaydot, Ian-S', house_n_baby, next three by Stefan Jannson, last by Jim Moran. Greenhouse construction photo by Stefan Jannson. All photos via Creative Commons license courtesy of their makers through Flickr.com. |
| Ad Majorem Gloria Dei |
Research from George Barna's book Revolution indicates a developing trend of people participating in traditional churches while deepening their spirituality in small groups outside their churches. This pattern was common in the early 1970s and in John Wesley's original Methodist Societies. People in your church will soon be looking for opportunities to grow in their faith outside their church. Perhaps this is already happening in your church. In my experience, these groups bless their participants, but they drain energy from a local church and are not evangelistic; they add no new disciples to any church. Organic Church Greenhouse spiritual disciplines can be practiced within traditional churches. A network of Greenhouse trained disciple makers within a local church has the potential to make disciples in the community, nurture them in small groups within the church, involve them in missional service through the church, and support them in the making of their own disciples. If the disciple making cycle repeats each year, taking 3 leaders through the initial Greenhouse training could result in 96 converts by the fifth year, with that number doubling each year thereafter. Pastor, would you be interested in planting a three person network of Greenhouse trained disciple makers in your church? If so, you are #1; who are the two you will bring with you to the training? (It's OK to bring more than two - but the pastor must set an example and lead the network.) |
| Online Courses are available on these topics at www.beadisciple.com |
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