Mars Hill iPhone App shout out.

Here is what you’ll be able to do with the iPhone app:
Listen to any Mars Hill sermon available on marshillchurch.org
Watch any Mars Hill sermon video
Stream any Mars Hill music
Email sermon links to your friends
Give to the mission of Mars Hill
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Church Planter Advice - Pastor Phil Campbell

Today I had the privilege of sitting and learning from Phil Campbell Aussie Planter and Minister at Mitchelton Presbyterian Church.

Here are his top three pieces of advice :
1. Work really, really hard at clear bible teaching. This is the foundation. As a planter you will be tempted to take shortcuts in this area, my advice is to do the opposite. Spend up to three days a week focusing on your teaching and do it really well.
2. Do everything else as well as you can. Doing this affirms your commitment to number one.
3. Love people, but be firm and appologise freely.

Thanks Phil.

Austin Sisk has touched down

It's great to have our mate Austin Sisk with us!
Austin is a singer/musician who hails from Athens Georgia, U.S.A. and he is over to checkout our beautiful city and to help us as we start to plant a new church in city. He certainly brought the HOT weather with him as today was a top of 85F / 29C - now that is Summer temperature not winter. Gotta love living in Queensland, Australia.
BTW let's not mention the Cricket...

A video for Mountain Lake Church

Last week I put together a short clip for our sending church, Mountain Lake Church, Georgia USA.
Here's the finished product. It is amazing that I get to partner with such a church to see the people of Brisbane City engaged with Jesus!

Recurring thoughts

"I'm so excited that I actually get to do this with Jesus."

"Thank you God, you have loved me and my family well."

"I can't get over how much God has affirmed our move to Norman Park."

We've moved in!

Well we've moved into our new house, boxes everywhere that need unpacking, but that is okay.
We're so excited that we get to do this thing!
Meeting with people this week, it will be great to pray together and share the vision God has given us to see a new church started that exists to see people far from God engaged with Jesus and growing as followers of Him.
Sitting in McDonalds Car Park using their free WiFi... one of the simple joys of being a planter :)

The Big Move

Today we shut the doors on the two trucks shifting our 'stuff'.
Tomorrow we drive down to Brisbane to sign up for the lease on our new house and move in.
Exciting stuff to be just a little bit closer to our living and start a new church in the city.
Nerida is "hopefully positive" about tomorrow and all the unpacking and sorting that has to be done :)

Movements that change the world

Steve Addison, church planter and coach recently released his long anticipated book, “Movements that change the world.” As a pastor who is currently in the midst of planting a new church I highly recommend this book simply because Steve is the real deal. He has the insight having planted two churches himself and countless hours interacting, nurturing and developing pastors, leaders and church planters. Steve Addison has continually encouraged, challenged and mentored me as I have prepared to start a new church in the inner city area of Brisbane, Australia.

Most importantly I love Steve's heart for Jesus. A passion that is clearly expressed in his definition of a 'movement'. He describes movements as birthed from relationships that are energetic, committed and focused. A focus that includes those outside. This is good news. This is the Christian gospel. This is what Jesus Chris is doing today in and through His church. Jesus continues to move throughout the world as His followers love, care and serve people everywhere in His name.

Pick up Pastor Steve Addison's new book today at movements.net, I guarantee it will tip your world upside down. Good stuff, and while you're at it check out his blog steveaddison.net, it is chock full of insight for planters, pastors and leaders.

The Team is Forming

Well my feet have not seemed to touch the ground this past week. We're busy looking for a new house to live and plant from and in between times we're busy preparing all our 'stuff' to be moved from storage. I'm so thankful for those who are praying for us and this new church, Nerida and I certainly know that God has been with us as we've been navigating the transition from our life in Cumming Georgia back to the inner city of Brisbane.

We've also begun meeting with interested people to share the vision for this new church and we're praying that Jesus will indeed build His church and gather those whom He wants as we prepare to start a new church together. Excitement is growing as we see Jesus bringing His Team together!

A couple of key Launch Team members that I'd like to introduce are Gerry and Shannon who are currently leading the preparation of American Mission Teams and are praying about moving over to help with new church next year. Check out Gerry's Blog here:- The Brisbane Project. Pray for God to show them what He wants for them and the faith for them to follow Jesus.

Tomorrow I'll introduce another key Launch Team member.