Published by Tom Hackett - USA July 31st, 2007
in Projects and Discussions.
“The rapid and wide expansion of the Church in the early centuries was due in the first place mainly to the spontaneous activity of individuals. This spontaneous activity of the individual, rooted as it is in a universal instinct, and in a Grace of the Holy Spirit given to all Christians, is not peculiar to any one age or race.” The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church by Roland Allen
“From Jesus to the early church to contemporary Church Planting Movements, the gospel continues to flow through the channels of family households and relationships.” “Church Planting Movements” by David Garrison
Recognizing that each person has a number of “influence groups” and by providing web based tools to facilitate that influence…http://vineage.com empowers individuals and communities of people to reach their “tongue, tribe and nation” in ways that are relevant to that particular group.
The Future of the Church is in the hands of individuals, communities of people, and organizations that facilitate the circles of influence of their members. Today more than ever the possibilities of an individual or networked group influencing the whole world are a reality. Get your www.vineage.com site today.
Published by Tom Hackett - USA July 27th, 2007
in Projects and Discussions.
I am spending a lot of my life working on getting VineAge up and running. It will be cool when we get the bugs worked out but until then I am busy creating sites and adding content to see what works and does not work. Please pray that we can get things running smoothly and that VineAge will be a powerful tool to facilitate the spontaneous expansion of the church around the globe.
Current Challenges:
- Funding - please; let me know if you believe in this vision and can help fund it. I need to raise approximately $40,000. DONATE HERE - Designate your donation for the VineAge project.
- Promotion of the VineAge community.
- Adding “tools” and themes or “skins”.
Published by Tom Hackett - USA July 16th, 2007
in Discussions.
The Future of the Church and World Missions / The Post-Church Church…or why www.vineage.com ?
In response to the desire for a relevant and meaningful expression of faith and community the ”church” will undergo major changes in its expression, leadership paradigms and how people participate.
Expressions of faith and community will become more organic, creative, flexible, and responsive than the current hierarchal and lineal church expressions we know today.
“Church” will look more like “meet-ups” than church services.
- “Meet-Ups”: the place, time and format will be relevant to the lifestyle and needs of the group.
- Events like worship, teaching and training seminars along with concerts and service projects involving mutiple communities will become vital resources and part of a shared growth experience.
The church will function (be formed around) interconnected communities (groups) of friends, influence groups and interest groups.
- Access to information and connectivity (technology) will empower individuals and groups to function as interconnected communities sharing ideas, learning from one another and coordinating resources. The dependence on hierarchal and lineal models of ministry will deminish.
In light of these things it is critical that churches and mission organizations begin to retool for the future. The organizations, denominations, churches and businesses that understand these dynamics, commit resources and effort, and use current and emerging technologies will be the “players” that shape this future.
- We need to recognize the various organizational models that exist. In many ways the responsible autonomy organizational model is becoming a bigger player in how all aspects of life function. (hierarchal, heterarchal & responsible autonomy)
- Chaos Theory, Technology, and The Spontaneous Expansion of the Church are key elements that will affect the new “order” and expression of church life.
- Missional Dna (”The Forgotten Ways” by Alan Hirsch) will be empowered through technology in new unprecedented ways.
