Three Christian leaders at the forefront of church planting in Australia have announced the formation of the country's first national church planting network.
The Geneva Push is the culmination of years of effort by the Sydney Diocese' Bishop Al Stewart, Andrew Heard from Central Coast Evangelical Church and Australian Fellowship of Evangelical Students' Mikey Lynch.
Al Stewart says the new body takes its name from the explosion of church planting that emerged from Geneva during the Protestant Reformation, and its logo reflects the "can-do, grass roots passion' that has brought about its creation.
"We are praying that God will use The Geneva Push to see hundreds of Reformed and missional churches planted across Australia"
Al Stewart says the new network is not aiming to replace the efforts of other Christian denominations or organisations but to offer crucial preparation and support.
"Our aim is to work together to help Christian bodies recruit, assess, train and place church planters back into their various networks and denominations."
Assess, coach, unleash
Andrew Heard says The Geneva Push will link successful applicants with proven Australian and international church planters, and offer pratical resources, personal mentoring and ongoing online support.
"The passion of Geneva is to establish not just culturally relevant, growing church plants but ones that are grounded deeply in Reformed theology and so able to be kept safe from simple pragmatism and fads," he says.
Those interested in taking part in The Geneva Push can apply for assessment at the In the Chute conference to be held in Sydney from December 7-9.
"Already the church planters of the Fellowship of Independent Evangelical Churches network have given The Geneva Push their ringing endorsement and are now intending to use it as their assessment and coaching structure," Mr Heard says.
"This ensures others connecting with The Geneva Push will have a wealth of Australian expertise to draw on."
Registration forms for the In the Chute conference can be obtained by writing to inthechute@gmail.com.
