Over 40 years ago, my wife Sue and I were involved in planting a new church in our home town of Lowestoft, on the east coast of England.
Before that, in our early years as Christians, we’d been involved in a parachurch evangelistic organisation. We had the joy of seeing many people come to know the Lord, but we also saw something that troubled us. When some of those new believers joined local churches, the churches weren’t always well equipped to help them find their feet and grow in their faith. Sadly, some drifted away.
That experience helped convince us of the central place of the local church in God’s purposes. We came to believe that the local church should be the primary place where people are reached with the gospel, discipled and built up into all that God has called them to be.
Learning to build well
As we began planting a church, we wanted help laying good biblical foundations, both in what we believed and how we lived. Around that time I read Terry Virgo’s book Restoration in the Church. It had a profound impact on me. We reached out to Terry and, over time, became part of the Newfrontiers family of churches.
We were greatly helped by spiritual fathers such as Terry, Keith Hazel and David Devenish. We also formed friendships with others on a similar journey, and together began to plant churches, welcome other churches into the family and learn how to strengthen one another.
In 2011, when Terry released leaders to form distinct families of churches rather than appointing a single successor to lead Newfrontiers, I had the privilege of helping form and shape Relational Mission. That has been an important part of our journey ever since.
So why this Collective?
For a long time I’ve wanted to gather some of the teaching and resources that have helped shape our understanding of church life and ministry. Over the years I’ve been asked many questions about the Christian life, the local church and what we’ve come to understand from Scripture about New Testament patterns of ministry.
This Collective is my way of bringing those things together in one place, where people can explore them and, I hope, find something of real help. Although this isn’t an official publication of Relational Mission, I’ve organised it around the same Vision, Mission and Strategy that have shaped our family of churches. At the heart of it is a desire to be globally fruitful.
My hope is that this collection might reach further than Sue and I could ever travel ourselves. I’d love it to serve people across the world who are seeking to build and strengthen locally led churches on New Testament foundations.
We believe in churches led by local elders, served by deacons, and strengthened by the Ephesians 4 ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. It’s our desire to see these gifts serving churches and helping people grow into maturity in Christ.
An invitation to explore
There are things we’ve learned along the way, often through the help of others, that I hope might now be of service to you. You’ll find talks, conversations and teaching from across the years, along with books I’ve written about the values and aspirations that matter to us.
Through Mike Writes, I’ll also share reflections on things I’m noticing and respond to questions people put to me. I’d be glad to hear the questions you’re wrestling with.
Whether you’ve known us for years or have just come across the Collective for the first time, I hope these resources — including A Way of Life and From the Inside Out — will help you, encourage you and serve the churches you’re part of.
With every blessing,
Mike Betts