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Why we should plant churches

Ray Klassen

Church Planting: Laying Foundations Stuart Murray. Waterloo, Ont./Scottdale, Pa.: Herald Press, 2001. 288 pp. $29.79.

This is a thorough treatment of church planting examining its biblical basis. It is less of a “how-to” book and more of a “this-is-why” examination. It is a heavy read and most suited to church leaders and church planters and the boards to which they are responsible. It is written from a British perspective; therefore, it is distinct from the majority of material available in Canada. Murray argues that church planting is not an unusual development, but a normal stage in the maturation of a Christian community.

Murray has a Ph.D. in Anabaptist hermeneutics. He participated in forming and developing the UK Anabaptist Network and is editor of the journal Anabaptism Today. He has been involved in church planting in various ways for most of the past two decades, such as establishing a church in East London that now has three congregations, participating in a failed attempt to plant a church in another area of London and acting as a consultant to numerous church planting initiatives. He is a strong proponent of church planting but has concerns about the way we are planting them.

Murray points out that much of the New Testament was written as instruction to new churches, and as such, has particular relevance to new church situations as they grapple with teaching God’s truth to people with little biblical knowledge. He distinguishes between the kingdom of God and churches but argues for planting churches to help extend that kingdom. This perspective is seldom spoken of in other church planting literature. This is a very worthwhile read.

Ray Klassen is director of mission and church extension for the Manitoba MB Conference.

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Last modified November 21, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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