Reignite

Ian Parkinson

Description

Ian Parkinson shares his experience of partnering with God to transform two very different local churches. He weaves stories from his own congregations, and draws on his experience of ministering in an inherited traditional but declining church, revealing what he has done to turn them around. The transformation of such churches is critical: there are relational links to build on within communities; there are resources in place; and most importantly, God desires to renew his people in their sense of identity, vision, calling and anointing, even when they lose their way. In order for this to happen, there need to be leaders who are enthused and equipped to share in God's vision to be agents of change in the church for the sake of the world. This is transformational leadership. Such leadership comes about when we are gripped by a compelling vision of how God intends His Church to be, and a passion to see it move it forwards. Ian Parkinson begins with a brief overview of the true calling and identity of the Church, before examining the catalytic role of leaders in establishing practices and habits which enable the congregation to see vision become reality.

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie
• Christianity

Informations

• Publié par: Lion Hudson
• Date de parution: 19 juin 2005
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780857216700
• Langue: English

Extrait

A wonderful manifesto for change that oozes deep thinking, biblical content and practical advice from each page. Every church leader in the UK should read this book now!
- Gavin Calver, Director of Mission, Evangelical Alliance
Ian writes with both passion and understanding. He is passionate about seeing the church of today being like the first church - empowered and fruitful in mission, welcoming and compassionate in its pastoral work, and relevant and transformative in everything. He also writes with the wisdom gained both from his wide reading and from his hands-on local church leadership; he has practised what he preaches. This book is an invaluable toolbox for leaders willing to navigate the turbulent waters of change for the sake of seeing disciples being formed and the church growing.
- John and Anne Coles, New Wine
Ian is someone I have respected and admired for a number of years. His track record as a church leader speaks for itself. He has been a friend, coach and mentor to me and many other young leaders and we have all benefited greatly from his wisdom and experience. Now that wisdom and experience is available to everyone who reads this book. There are insights and strategies here which will interest, inspire and equip you, whatever your leadership role. Ian s humour, wisdom and passion come through on every page. Make sure you read this book if you are in any way involved with leadership in your church - you ll be glad you did!
- Revd Kate Wharton, church leader and author
Ian Parkinson has vast experience of church leadership and growth within the UK and globally. He knows what he is talking about. This book distils a great deal of valuable wisdom on working in tune with the Spirit to bring about the renewal and revitalisation of the church.
- Revd Dr Graham Tomlin, Principal, St Mellitus College
Many church leaders struggle with turning a church round. This book is a great guide for the process. Clear, full of practical wisdom and theological insight, it takes the reader through re-engineering a church stage-by-stage and encourages those on the journey to keep going.
- James Lawrence, Leadership Principal, CPAS
REIGNITE
Seeing God rekindle life and purpose in your church
IAN PARKINSON

Oxford UK, and Grand Rapids, USA
Text copyright 2015 Ian Parkinson This edition copyright 2015 Lion Hudson
The right of Ian Parkinson to be identified as the author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.
Published by Monarch Books an imprint of Lion Hudson plc Wilkinson House, Jordan Hill Road, Oxford OX2 8DR, England Email: [e-mail] www.lionhudson.com/monarch
ISBN 978 0 85721 669 4 e-ISBN 978 0 85721 670 0
Acknowledgments Scripture quotations marked NIV taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version Anglicised. Copyright 1979, 1984, 2011 Biblica, formerly International Bible Society. Used by permission of Hodder & Stoughton Ltd, an Hachette UK company. All rights reserved. NIV is a registered trademark of Biblica. UK trademark number 1448790. Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible , Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. Scripture quotations marked The Message are taken from The Message. Copyright by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. Quotations pp. 48, 72, 135, 144, 219 from Relational Leadership by Walter Wright, copyright 2000 Walter Wright. Reprinted by permission of Paternoster Press. Brief quotations pp. 52, 53, 81, 146 from pp. 25, 88-89, 176, 207 from Leaders: The Strategies for Taking Charge by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus. Copyright 1985 by Warren Bennis and Burt Nanus. Reprinted by permission of HarperCollins Publishers. Quotations pp. 50, 62, 75, 77, 82 from Leading the Congregation by Shawchuck and Heuser. Published by Abingdon Press, 1993. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Quotations pp. 55, 101, 109-110 from The Fifth Discipline by Peter M. Senge. Published by Random House Business Books. Reprinted by permission of The Random House Group Limited. Quotations pp. 64, 87-88, 154, 220 from Hit the Ground Kneeling by Stephen Cottrell, Church House Publishing, 2008. Used by permission. Quotations pp. 96, 101 from Managing Transitions: Making the Most of Change 3rd edition by William Bridges, Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2009. Used with permission. Quotation p. 147 from Uprising by Erwin McManus Copyright 2003 by Erwin McManus. Used by permission of Thomas Nelson. www.thomasnelson.com. All rights reserved. Quotations pp. 160, 162, 164-65, 180 from Natural Church Development by Christian A. Schwarz. Used by permission: ChurchSmart Resources, USA publisher. Quotations pp. 210, 215-216 from An Unstoppable Force . Copyright 2013 by Erwin McManus. An Unstoppable Force is published by David C Cook. Publisher permission required to reproduce. All rights reserved.
A catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library
Cover image: -strizh-/Getty
For Nadine My best friend, constant encourager, and companion in leadership
Contents

Foreword

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Recovering Our Identity: The Church That God Has In Mind

Suggested Itinerary For Church Leaders Awayday

2. Moving Things Forward: Leadership As A Catalyst For Change

3. Imagining The Future: Articulating Vision That Stirs The Heart

Useful Vision-Casting Exercises

Values Brainstorm

4. Holding On Tight: Leading Through Transitions

5. Hosting God s Presence: Allowing The Spirit Freedom To Move

6. Increasing Capacity: Growing And Developing Leaders

7. Organizing For Growth: Developing Functional Structures

Sample Worship Questionnaire

8. Staying The Course: Leadership For The Long Haul

Questions For Group Study

Notes
Foreword

These days you probably find yourself with less time than ever. Your to-do lists get continually longer, and your inbox fills up more quickly than you can empty it. Everything seems to move at a faster pace, except our ability to keep up. In this fast-paced and complex world, where there are so many voices vying for our attention, many of us have unread or half-read books on our desks or coffee tables.
However, if you have a heart for the church, if you serve in any form of leadership capacity and are concerned about the future of the church, then this book is for you. Stop what you re doing, and take time to capture the wisdom and encouragement in Reignite . This is the book that I would love to have written, and the book that I wished I d had at my disposal many years ago when I began the journey of church leadership. I m already a better person for having read it. I ve been moved to tears, encouraged with the stories of hope and changed lives, and re-energised in my own passion to serve more effectively as a church leader.
I ve known Ian, and his wife Nadine, for many years now, as both a friend and a colleague within the New Wine movement. They are a wonderful couple, and Ian is a leader whom I greatly admire, respect and love. In times of great challenge, he is someone who has had a very significant contribution in the life of New Wine and particularly in the north of England. He has encouraged and inspired many, and mentored and raised up lots of younger church leaders.
In times of great challenge and wrestling for the wider church, we need the help of guides . Ian, in this contribution, is such a guide, helping make sense of the seismic changes happening all around us in our culture, and helping make sense of the call of Jesus to be the church in the 21st century.
Reignite is a clear and passionate call to rediscover the purpose of the church. It s a book of great clarity, authenticity, hope and pragmatism. Ian writes to us as one who is uniquely qualified to encourage us all, with insights into leadership, what it means to imagine the future, how to host the presence of God; as well as what it means to lead through transition and to create structures that facilitate and encourage mission and evangelism. You will be opened up to someone whose heart not only beats in tune with Jesus, but to someone who passionately believes that the church is the hope of the world. In investing in this book, you ll be encouraged, envisioned and opened up to the beautiful possibility of what could be. This I believe is a book for the whole church. It will ground new churches as they emerge, and renew older churches, connecting us in a fresh way to Jesus, His call to the church, and the call of the church to the world that Jesus loves and comes to redeem.

Mark Bailey
National Leader, New Wine
Acknowledgments

Many people have contributed, directly or indirectly, to the writing of this book, and I am grateful to all of them for the way in which they have shaped me and thus the pages which follow.
It was from the late Ian Reid, under whose leadership I served on the staff of St Barnabas Church Linthorpe, Middlesbrough, for six wonderfully happy years, that I really learned how to lead an effective local church. The principles I absorbed during those years became the basis for further improvisation when I became senior leader of a church. I am grateful to the members of Emmanuel Saltburn and All Saints Marple, the two churches I have been privileged to