About
I am a writer, Bible teacher and church planter. I am married to Helen and have two daughters, Katie and Hannah.
Church
I am a leader in The Crowded House – an international family of church planting networks – and within TCH I lead The Edge Network in Sheffield, UK. Most of our congregations meet in homes. We emphasise sharing our lives together rather than programmes and structures. ‘Ordinary life with gospel intentionality’ is one of our catchphrases. The Crowded House is often described by other people as part of the emerging church movement. It is true that we have a different approach to church to that of most traditional churches. But we are also different from many in the emerging church movement – we are Reformed and evangelical with a strong emphasis the centrality and sufficiency of the gospel word. See also the blog entry on Total Church.
Training
I am director of the Northern Training Institute which provides an affordable, Bible college-level programme of study that enables students to integrate theological training with involvement in ministry through residential weeks, seminar days and guided reading. I’m also a co-director of The Porterbrook Network which trains people for church planting and missional church.
Writing
I am the author of a number of books. For more on my writing see the ‘Books’ page or go to my UK Store or my US Store.
Background
My PhD was on the relationship between eschatology and mission which a particular focus on the German theologian Jurgen Moltmann. I’m a member of the Tyndale Fellowship of evangelical theologians. I was previously Research and Policy Director for Tearfund UK and a part-time lecturer in missiology at Cliff College and Redcliffe College. Here’s some other stuff I’ve done.
– lecturer in biblical exegesis and systematic theology at Northern Training
– co-author of the ‘Pastoral Care’ and ‘Mission and Ministry’ modules of the Open Bible Institute
– member of the council of Global Connections (formerly the Evangelical Missionary Alliance)
– co-author of the ‘Christian Faith and World Poverty’ unit of the Distance Learning Degree in Theology (Level 3 BA Hons) for the Open Theological College, School of Humanities, University of Gloucestershire
– chair of the initial ad hoc organising committee of the Jubilee 2000 Campaign and member of the interim steering committee
– member of the board of Third Way magazine
– co-leader of Staines Baptist Fellowship – a church plant in west London
