The polar bear was too eye-catching. It drew attention away from the painting’s intended focal point. But Rosemarie Adcock, thanks to years of training and experience as a fine artist, knew what to do. With her eye for color, depth, and composition, she deftly added hints of lavender and apricot to soften the polar bear’s…
Church Planting in National Parks
National parks provide a unique and strategic context for church planting. Though their gateway cities tend to have a small permanent population, they host millions of seasonal visitors every year. And many of these seasonal visitors are uniquely open to spiritual experience. For those who come to experience the beautiful creation, there is a missional…
Rise of the Anglican Megachurch: Observations from the ACNA’s Largest Churches
The vast majority of Anglican churches have fewer than 100 attendees on a Sunday. But there have always been a few parishes that welcome many more. These are typically legacy churches with centuries of history, such as Falls Church in Virginia (est. 1732) and St. Philip’s in Charleston, South Carolina (est. 1680). Even newcomers to these ranks, such…
We Come Not Unasked: The Hawaii Anglican Network
The Hawaii Anglican Network is a ministry effort to serve and reach all of Hawai‘i. ʻOhana is a term that we use to describe the Hawaii Anglican Network. It means family, and its root is the word for nest. We reside together under the shelter of God’s wing, and we feed together on Christ.
Heritage Mission: Helping Churches Reach Care Facilities
Lynette had rarely spoken a word in the last 18 months as she sat in her memory care facility in Frisco, Texas. But things changed when volunteers from Redemption Anglican Church in Frisco decided to start a worship service in Lynette’s facility. As those volunteers began leading the prayer book liturgy, Lynette began to open…
30 Years on Mission: The NAMS Story (So Far)
NAMS was born in 1993 as the North American Missionary Society. However, it was conceived in 1973. I was walking the dog and playing with my two young sons in the park in Durham, England. While enjoying a Saturday break from my Ph.D. research, I seemed to “hear” a voice. It impressed these words into…
Powered by Church Planting: Analyzing Growth in the ACNA
From 2018-2022, only four dioceses in the ACNA reported attendance growth. While this is discouraging, there is also a sign of hope. A clear pattern emerges among the four growing dioceses: they are doing so through church planting.
Liturgy Moves Us Toward Mission
We are pleased to share this interview with Winfield Bevins, author of Liturgical Mission and Simply Anglican. The interview was edited for clarity and length. Why were you interested in writing about liturgy and mission? The book comes out of my own experience. I write and teach about liturgy and mission. The book is also a convergence of…
Here’s How to Plant a Church as an Introvert
You can do this. It’s amazing to plant new churches, and Anglicans actively seek more of it. “But”—you might say—“I’m an introvert.” Me too. And I want to think with you about being an introvert and a church planter, with help from a few others who are like us. Whether you’re a pastor or a…
Real Presence: Reclaiming the Legacy of Anglo-Catholic Church Planting
When it comes to Anglican church planting, we often think of modern evangelical or charismatic examples such as Holy Trinity Brompton in London. But what about the Anglo-Catholic movement that has its roots in the “Oxford Movement” of the nineteenth century? Are Anglo-Catholic Church Planters a Thing? Let’s be honest, when you hear think of…
Barista, Priest, and Planter
Last week I posted some thoughts about the cost of church planting. I also included a You Tube video interview with Alex Wilgus, of the Greenhouse Movement. Alex helped us see how the funding of a church plant can be ‘raised’ through deputation; praying for support and asking friends and family to consider giving to…
