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Preparing for an Adventure
Base Camp aims to build relationships between current and potential church planters, as each attendee or couple are given a personal coach who will encourage and equip them for the task ahead. For those leaders who feel called to church plant, Base Camp is an excellent opportunity to receive training and insight specifically aiming towards that goal. Delegates have the opportunity to learn from experienced church planters, receive specific training and discover how to approach the adventure that is church planting!
Likewise Together on a Mission Leadership Conference is a great opportunity for leaders of all ages, from all over the world, to get together to seek God and enjoy each other’s wisdom and fellowship.
It’s at these conferences that God often speaks to individuals to confirm a calling. For Stuart and Melanie Crane, Base Camp and Together on a Mission played a big part in their decision to church plant into Birmingham later this year. Stuart is currently an elder and part of the staff at the Community Church, Bishop's Stortford. Melanie is the church Evangelist currently on maternity leave!
Stuart explains the story so far…
In July 2008 we made our annual trip to Brighton for the Newfrontiers Leadership Conference where we were both impacted by the preaching of Mark Driscoll. During the course of one of his afternoon sessions I felt God speak so clearly to me the words ‘the time is now’. I knew the time had come to pick up the calling to lead a church but the question was ‘where?&  rsquo;
Over the following year we had discussions with leaders from our own church and outside and we were asked to look at the possibility of planting a church in the North of Birmingham. Over the following months we made several visits to the city to have a look a round – waiting for God to speak.
At the 2009 Leadership Conference we were still unsure as to whether God was leading us to plant a church in Birmingham. We arrived with a simple prayer ‘Is it there Lord?’ We did not have to wait long as the talk in the first session was titled ‘God's Global Heart’ which particularly focused on the cities of the world. The talk ended with a call for all those who felt they wanted to move to a city and plant a church in the next three years to come to the front. We were undone and found ourselves streaming forward to commit ourselves to God's plan for the city of Birmingham.
Since then we have been increasingly turning our focus to leaving Bishop's Stortford and moving on. We are going to be living and the church will be based in Sutton Coldfield with the hope of impacting not only Sutton Coldfield but also the surrounding areas. Our plan is to move during the summer and to start meeting together in September 2010. Our passion is to see a large vibrant church built that exists for good of the city. If you are interested in getting involved in a church planting adventure in the city of Birmingham we would love to hear from you. Contact Stuart at stuart@thecommunitychurch.org.uk
The last October we attended Base Camp, the Newfrontiers church planting training weekend, where we had the opportunity to hear from experienced church planters and meet up with many others in the same situation as us. David Stroud, who led the weekend, was brilliant giving lots of helpful insights and stories most of which were his experiences in Birmingham!
You can read more about Base Camp in a previous eConnect article and begin the application process here. |
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