On mission with C4ML executive director Mick Noel

"Leaders make the greatest hypocrites because of their ability to persuade and deceive. Rarely is there a pastor whose character exceeds his reputation. If I were to ask those closest to you about your relationship with God, what would they say? If I were to ask God the same question, what would He say? If your family, friends, and congregation have better things to say about you than God, it’s because you give them that impression. We do this because we can. God gifted us with an ability to communicate. Too often we use this ability not to convey who we are, but who we want others to think we are.”

Francis Chan, Catalystspace e-newsletter Jan. 19, 2010

“I personally find the use of the term ‘emerging church’ to be offensive. I believe that the real emerging church is the church in Africa, Asia and Latin America that continues to grow by leaps and bounds. I believe that the real emerging church is the hip-hop church, the English-speaking Latino congregation, the second generation Asian American church, the Haitian immigrant church, the Spanish-speaking store front churches and so forth. For a small group of white Americans to usurp the term ‘emerging’ reflects a significant arrogance.”

Song-Chan Rah The Next Evangelicalism, p124.

“Churches that fail to create 'ministers' of members will never develop their missional calling to share Christ in word and deed with their neighbors. And frankly, the profile findings (research project on Mennonites in the USA) suggest little future for a church that does not become missional-committed above all else to sharing Christ in word and deed with the world around it."

Conrad Kanagy, 2007, p. 73

NOTE: Conrad will be teaching a course in the Biblical DMin program in Feb. 2011.