It is already a best seller, but the authors of the Trellis and the Vine, Col Marshall and Tony Payne plan to move beyond the title when they address a Sydney seminar in September.The book has been a hit in the United States, selling more than 40 thousand copies and the authors have been busy with a number of American engagements stemming from its popularity.

Trellis and Vine workshops have been run in countries such as China, Mexico and Chile and the book has already been translated into french and spanish. Several Australian dates have also been booked. But in their home town, leaders are looking for the next step.

“People say to me ‘Yes, you’ve told us what we have always believed about ministry and reminded us that maybe we are not focusing on people as we should.’ But they are also asking ‘What do we do about it, how do we change the culture of our congregations?’” says Tony Payne. (see inset video)

It is that question that will be the focus of a workshop at Ryde in Sydney on September 20 and 21st.

Col Marshall says “We have developed a series of diagnostic questions to clarify what needs to change in our ministry culture and where to start - both top down and bottom up. It's the bottom up that we often don't get to and then we wonder why there is no progress.”

"To change the metaphor, we need to work out how to inject the virus of disciples making disciples." he says.