CHURCH PLANTING IN THE SECULAR WEST PB

An expert study of church planting in the most secular part of contemporary Europe In this book Stefan Paas offers thoughtful analysis of reasons and motives for missionary church planting in Europe, and he explores successful and unsuccessful strategies in that post-Christian secularized context.

Drawing in part on his own involvement with planting two churches in the Netherlands, Paas explores confessional motives, growth motives, and innovation motives for church planting in Europe, tracing them back to different traditions and reflecting on them from theological and empirical perspectives. He presents examples from the European context and offers sound advice for improving existing missional practices. Paas also draws out lessons for North America in a chapter coauthored with Darrell Guder and John Franke. Finally, Paas weaves together the various threads in the book with a theological defense of church planting.

Presenting new research as it does, this critical missiological perspective will add significantly to a fuller understanding of church planting in our contemporary context.

Book review by GLO General Director, Dr. Stephen McQuoid 09/03/2017
Stefan Paas is a Professor of Missiology at the Free University of Amsterdam. Despite first appearance, this book is not a how-to guide to church planting in a secular context. Moreover, if what you are looking for is a practical guide to the issue, it will be a bit disappointing, not least because Stefan writes with an eye on the academic community which makes this book fairly long, detailed and theoretical. That said, it has its value.

Paas begins by looking at the history of church planting and the many reasons why it took place. He offers a useful perspective, though typical of some historians, he suggests that church planting in Europe today is different from that which took place in the early church because back then the world was pagan whereas Europe today, while secular, is also historically Christian. This distinction is, of course, real, though anyone who has done evangelism with liberal protestants or cultural Catholics will know that despite their heritage they are every bit as lost as any pagan. Paas thus argues that a lot of church planting has more to do with renewal than genuinely taking new territory for Christ. He states, ‘Confessional church planting is an ever-returning story in Europe. 'When one cycle of renewal and revival has been institutionalised and becomes indolent, another movement appears and starts all over again’ (p.88). Clearly definition depends on perspective and I give institutional Christianity much less spiritual credit than does Pass.

Where this book comes into its own is the insight Paas offers as he claims that church planting has not been well researched. As a consequence, many of the statements made about the growth that occurs as a result of church planting cannot be substantiated. Church planting does indeed produce growth, but only if done well and in a strategic way. He notes, for example, that the DAWN project in England intended to plant 20,000 churches before the year 2000, but by the end of the decade there was a net loss of 890 churches rather than an overall growth (p.164). For me the most valuable part of the book was p.153-180 where he goes through the data of various European countries pointing out the actual success that have taken place in church planting. He also finishes the book on a positive note giving a defence of church planting in Europe. If you are looking for a practical book on church planting, go elsewhere. But if the subject interests you and you want a useful big picture analysis of church planting in the West with some important questions being asked, then this book repays reading.

ISBN: 9780802873484
Page Count: 316
Publication Date: 11/3/2016
Trim Size: 6 x 9