I often get asked questions about whether or not it’s possible for a more traditional legacy church to become involved in organic/simple/house church life. Thankfully, I now have a resource to point them to.
I just finished reading Church Transfusion: Changing Your Church Organically–From the Inside Out by Neil Cole and Phil Helfer. Neil is a good friend, and I appreciate just about everything he has written. He’s had a huge impact on church planting both in this country and internationally. I don’t know Phil as well, but he works closely with Neil and I understand he has a legacy church that embodies organic principles.
I was a little concerned that in tackling this question Neil might be tempted to compromise on some of the principles he and we hold dear. I needn’t have worried. The book enumerates organic principles of multiplication and then applies them to the legacy church context:
- The way to get big is to go small
- The way to go fast is to start slow
- The way to be strong is to become weak
- The way to becoming rich is to give everything away.
- The way to be first is to be last
- The way to live is to die
I highly recommend this book to anyone in a legacy church who is wondering whether they can somehow move in more organic ways within a traditional context. Neil and Phil lay out the principles involved, giving practical suggestions as to how to grandparent organic movements by training and releasing church members into the harvest. A must read.
2 replies on “Church Transfusion: Can a legacy church involve in organic church life?”
Thanks for this Felicity. Is this book aimed at pastors, elders or leaders who wish to make the transition, or does it also give ideas for how normal members who are not in positions if influence (apart from the fact that we can all pray!) may promote or assist the change?
I would say it’s primarily aimed at those who have positions of influence within the church. But many of the principles are applicable to anyone