A few weeks ago I observed the expanding area of dirt in our back yard. Constant trampling and the drought has taken its toll as the grass slowly withers and dies leaving an expanding area of barrenness.

For weeks, on days when it is permitted, I watered the lifeless brown patch, but nothing seemed to come of it. Then, instead of watering the dirt, I began watering the grass surrounding the barren area. Within a week the watered grass turned greener and began sending runners into the dirt area.

That got me thinking about reaching the gospel-parched areas of Sydney. We are becoming increasingly aware of the reality that we have little gospel presence in areas covering a wide geography. In days gone by we have sent people into these areas, often with little to show for it after years of faithful work.

I wonder if my grass observations can help?

I wonder if rather than pouring resources into the centre of barren areas, which are often cut off from contact with other growing ministries, whether we should put more resources into areas surrounding the barren geographies, with the aim of strengthening these ministries. The resulting strengthened ministries could then begin new ministries in the barren areas near them, just as the grass runners begin to encroach on the areas of dirt.

It is a dangerous thing to develop a ministry plan based on the observation of a lawn, but there is evidence that it works. This very process is having some success in England. Respected church growth and church planting practitioners call it the "strawberry" method. Apparently strawberries send out runners which then implant themselves in new soil and become a new plant, so churches send out small groups to areas nearby and nourish these groups from the main plant until they become viable congregations in their own right. I understand that this is also a productive gospel growth model which is used in South Africa.

This simplistic models suggests many other questions that would also have to be addressed, including:

"¢ The barren ground needs to be tilled and aerated to allow the runners to take hold. How are we going to do this?

"¢ It is possible for new plants to flourish in the middle of barrenness, but they must be strong and hardy

"¢ A whole new turf could be laid over the barren areas, but God has not given us the capacity to do this yet in Sydney.

I guess what I am suggesting is that we work from strength and viability. This will mean that viable churches should take responsibility to engage in sending out runners to parched areas, and that we should rejoice in this, rather than complain when it happens.

Archie Poulos is a lecturer at Moore Theological College and heads the Moore College Missions Committee