Books on my nightstand, desk, in my car (ie. mobile office) or wherever else I recently sat down to read...

Consider going to my friends at www.anchorroom.org for your purchases

Launch: Starting a New Church from Scratch by Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas, Regal
We just attended their Launch Conference in NYC. Very practical how-to...wish I had it when we launched.

Just Walk Across The Room by Bill Hybels, Zondervan
Considers the effectiveness of Engle Scale evangelism effort that sees conversion as a long term process for many, not an event. I like this book because I see God using me to reach people in very similar ways. I just celebrated a spiritual victory when my 5 years of praying and relating led that man to finally start living for Christ! One of many "long-term" efforts since we launched our church.

The Nomadic Church: Growing Your Congregation Without Owning the Building by Bill Easum and Pete Theodore, Abingdon
Wow, where were they when we started organizing? Practical strategies, task and leader descriptions, etc.

Pastorpreneur by Dr. John Jackson, Baxter Press, purchase at www.vqresources.com
Helps me communicate my vision and passion for the local church and church planting to business people. If I wasn't called to be a pastor, I'd probably be working to start a new company or business...

High Impact Church Planting by Dr. John Jackson, www.vqresources.com
Helps me evalutate future church plants and my current vision for our church


Development Barriers to Church Growth: Specific Leadership Challenges at Each Level by Dr. John Jackson, www.vqresources.com
Small booklet that packs a punch! He says in paragraphs what some have had to say in several books combined. Worth the price.

The Creative Leader by Ed Young, Broadman and Holman
I don't understand exactly how he organizes for preaching, but I sure appreciate his challenge to me as a leader to step it up and pull out all the stops.

Perimeters of Light by Elmer Towns and Ed Stetzer, Moody Publishers
Postmodernity explained so that even a novice can start to grasp it.

New Perspectives on Breaking the 200 Barrier by Bill M. Sullivan
go to www.200barrier.org for free pdf download of his previous manuscript and ppt slides
We're in the middle of applying his "10 steps" within our church

Community of Kindness: A Refreshing New Approach to Planting and Growing a Church by Steve Sjogren and Rob Lewin
Pick it up, put it down, pick it up again. Easy read and practical advice for planters.

Organic Church: Growing Faith Where Life Happens by Neil Cole, Jossey-Bass
Just started this, so can't say what I think about it yet

The Pressure's Off by Larry Crabb, Waterbrook Press
Only part way into it. Good reminder that the general principles of Proverbs is sometimes overruled by a Job experience. It's all about knowing and relating to God intimately, not about knowing what God can do for us. Thanks goes out to the worship attender who gave this to me.

Church Planting Resources

Here are some key sites for resources, training, and more. Please remember that I may/may not agree with all the views and ideas these sites present. However, I've learned that there are many good resources, websites, books and seminars, so long as you are willing to keep what fits your ministry and discard what you can't use. As a former professor once said to our seminary class, "You don't swallow a hog whole; you always spit the bones out."

Ok, here they are...churches, networks, training ministries, and more for the church planter...

Our church site: www.stjoecommunitychurch.org Go to our resources page and look for the church planter's link. I try to keep an updated list of active church planting sites.

Church Leader Insights with Nelson Searcy Purpose Driven church planted post 9/11 in NYC, free podcast training and more.

Here are a few I browse from time to time...
Church Planting - Real Hope for the World

Growing Healthy Churches

Leading Edge Ministries - Church Planting and New Church Support lots of links to church planting resources.

National Community Church » Washington, DC

Off The Map Home Page

Steve Addison’s blog » World Changers

Steve Sjogren the early champion of servant evangelism

T O P F I V E . O R G another Steve Sjogren site

The Malphurs Group Envision Tomorrow Today church planting author referred to frequently by the North American Mission Board

Vision Quest We actually got to meet Dr. John Jackson this fall. Great encourager. Look for the link to his blog. I found him when looking for Breaking Growth Barriers on Google.

Welcome to KNCSB Downloads & other resources Great resources for mentoring, leadership training and more, developed to multiply house churches.

www.churchplantingvillage tons of resources, maintained by North American Mission Board

http://www.newchurches.com/

Sitting in Basic Training for Church Planters

I always come away challenged and changed when teaching at Basic Training. These new planters ask tough questions that force me to process what we are doing at St Joe Church.

Mat (our Life Development Pastor) is taking this training right now. We are wordsmithing our vision and mission statements, and learning how to create a communication piece to give potential partners for our church and for our future church plants.