Andy brought us a great message from John 12 on Lazarus last Sunday night to kick off our monthly 'Summer Hill at 6' meetings. Here is a young man (25y) who has left his job as a web designer and signed up for launching a church. He hasn't had to do 10 years of training but is just doing what guys and girls have been doing on MTS for the last generation as they take up full-time gospel ministry as trainees.
It's also changed my life as I have someone to work with on a day-by-day basis. Looking back, the last two years were pretty lonely without an offsider. If you want to join us full-time let me know, it would be great to have you part of the team! Chris.
Saturday, April 18, 2009
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4 comments:
Chris, do you think the MTS scheme and current training practices require any change at all, or do you think we've got it pretty much right as it is?
I think we forget that we have 'inherited' a church-based, hands on, entrepreneurial , extended (2 years) training model that often leaves people from OS blown away. Much of the current debate has to do with theological training and how it relates to the 'real world'.
My only criticism would be the fact that during our training we get to 'observe' around four different churches (2 or three years) but later ministry is often at one place over a much longer period of time. It is important to be portable but real church happens when you know you won't be clocking out. It changes how you think about things. I suppose it is hard to get the right balance.
I think that Driscoll's criticisms didn't take MTS into account at all - young men taking up challenges, training the called etc...
It really depends on your experience of MTS, doesn't it? I think it's great that you are letting your worker effectively plant a church. Others seem to get far less responsibility than that (and maybe that is appropriate in some cases).
True. MTS needs to be risky enough that things can fail and safe enough that when things do fail people don't get hurt. Another balancing act.
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