It has been my privilege to serve church planters by helping out with the Roots Reading Initiative which Tim Brister started for the PLNTD Network. Here’s a brief explanation:
The Roots Reading Initiative, focuses on providing church planters targeted self-feeding opportunities through an informal structure and accountability. The goal of this initiative is for church planters to “deepen their roots” in their understanding of God, the church, gospel, mission, and the world. In doing so, we believe the RRI will be an effective way of keeping church planters “grounded” and growing as leaders, missionaries, and churchmen.
Tim says that the “five areas ministry leaders need to continually cultivate are (1) man, (2) message, (3) mission, (4) marriage, and (5) methods. Through RRI, PLNTD tackles one of these areas every two months with books targeted to develop leaders for those purposes“. So far, here’s what we have covered:
Nov/Dec 2011 :: MISSION
- November: What Is the Mission of the Church? by Kevin DeYoung and Greg Gilbert
- December: Everyday Church by Steve Timmis and Tim Chester
Jan/Feb 2012 :: MESSAGE
- January: Gospel by J.D. Greear
- February: Gospel Wakefulness by Jared Wilson
Mar/Apr 2012 :: MARRIAGE
- March: The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller
- April: What Did You Expect? by Paul Tripp
Starting this week, we are now taking up the area of methods, and here are the books we are working through:
May/June 2012: METHODS
- May: The Trellis and the Vine by Colin Marshall and Tony Payne
- June: Sticky Teams by Larry Osborne
Tim writes: “For each book, a reading schedule is provided for those who participate through our network. Additionally, discussion questions are provided each week which, when the book is completed, are compiled in a downloadable format for a book-length study guide that can be used to disciple others or train leaders in your context. To take advantage of learning in community and accessing additional resources through RRI, you need to join PLNTD’s relational communities and jump into the “Training” community online. Now’s a great time join us if you haven’t already! Leaders cannot afford to have shallow roots and no shade for their people.”
I am grateful for Tim’s vision for the PLNTD Network, and for the Roots Reading Initiative and I am thankful to be a part of it!
DR. MATT CAPPS 