Sent to Flourish - by Len Tang & Charles E Cotherman (Hardcover)

About the Book

How can church planters and their congregations flourish for the long haul? Written by a diverse team of scholar-practitioners and filled with real-world insights, stories, and questions for reflection and discussion, this guide gives church planters and their teams the tools to be theologically reflective, spiritually grounded, and missionally agile.

Book Synopsis

Church planting is hard work. Planters face a thousand pressures related to leadership, finances, identity, and more. Quick fixes don't produce sustainability. How can church planters and their congregations flourish for the long haul?

Sent to Flourish is a unique guide to accompany current and prospective church planters as they respond to this essential but sometimes daunting call. Theologically grounded while remaining practically oriented, it combines biblical patterns and practice to equip men and women planters to develop their own holistic planting plans.

Written by a diverse team of scholar-practitioners who have planted churches in a variety of contexts, cultures, and church traditions, this book provides a tested roadmap based on Fuller Theological Seminary's renowned church-planting program. In addition to coeditors Len Tang and Charlie Cotherman, contributors include:

• Carrie Boren Headington
• John Lo
• Tim Morey
• Johnny Ramírez-Johnson
• Scott W. Sunquist
• Nick Warnes
• JR Woodward

Every church planter needs a healthy "root system" of three interwoven components: a biblical theology of church planting, personal spiritual formation, and robust intercultural competencies to navigate diverse ministry contexts. Each section of this book delves into these areas in turn, covering topics such as

• biblical, cultural, historical, and contemporary dimensions of church planting
• the missiology of Jesus' ministry and teaching on the kingdom of God
• resources to sustain the spiritual formation of church planters, leadership teams, and church members
• how to contextualize the gospel message and planting methods in different cultures and communities

Filled with real-world insights, stories, and questions for reflection and discussion, Sent to Flourish gives church planters and their teams the tools to be theologically reflective, spiritually grounded, and missionally agile.

Review Quotes

"The honest, experienced, and insightful collection of Sent to Flourish authors clearly demonstrates the value of collaboration in church planting. Together they have blessed the church with this beneficial resource. Clearly and compellingly written not only from but for the trenches of church planting, this book reflects and will serve the work of many. Rooted deeply in biblical, historical, and narrative soil, Sent to Flourish is refreshingly descriptive versus prescriptive, cultivating contextualized church planting with spiritual nourishment displayed by diverse examples of fruitful ministry. Church planting is frequently biased toward action, and this book provides a healthy contrast, beginning with a foundational understanding of the missio Dei, followed by reflection on critical formation of church planters. The authors continue by providing examples of healthy embodiment of the gospel in and as community. They then recognize the critical importance of communities of faith moving beyond sustainment to propagation. Both scholarly and accessible, Sent to Flourish encourages us to prioritize the kingdom of God over our respective castles with both inspiration and evidence."

"What I wanted most as a young church planter was the advice of those who had gone ahead of me. Sent to Flourish is just that--a compilation of experienced voices answering questions that are on the hearts and minds of church planters. When many voices on several topics all begin with fostering personal growth in relationship with God and responding to the Holy Spirit, you know the wisdom that follows can be trusted. Well done!"

About the Author

Charles E. Cotherman is pastor and planter of Oil City Vineyard Church in Oil City, Pennsylvania. He is the administrative director of the Project on Rural Ministry at Grove City College and has taught church history at Fuller Seminary and Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.

Len Tang is the director of Fuller Theological Seminary's church-planting program. He is a Fuller alum and an ordained Presbyterian pastor, and currently is planting his second church, Missio Community Church in Pasadena, California.