Challenged to plant on the East side

"Partnerships bringing together people whose great desire is to embrace the poor, plant churches and love this fantastic city"

I can remember vividly one of my early conversations with a church leader as we moved in to Manchester with a dream to plant many churches.

He at the time was leading one of the larger congregations in the city and challenged me to plant on the East side of the city where there were few churches and the greatest needs. At the time I was very dismissive thinking (none too kindly), why are you not planting there with all your resources?
Over time and as we began to build our first church in South Manchester, I began to get stirred about taking up this challenge of planting a thriving, well-resourced church on the East side of the city.

Fifteen years later we are beginning to see the first fruits of that conversation: Christ Church Manchester, Eden and Oasis the start of many partnerships bringing together people whose great desire is to embrace the poor, plant churches and love this fantastic city.

This week I read again the fantastic promise that God gave through Isaiah:

‘Now it will come about that In the last days, The mountain of the house of the LORD Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it.’ 

What a great promise of a glorious church. I am so motivated to see the outworking of this on the East side of the city.

Challenged to plant on the East side

I can remember vividly one of my early conversations with a church leader as we moved in to Manchester with a dream to plant many churches.