Jesus, the Church and the Mission of God

'Church planting has received a lot of attention in recent years, which has caused some people to think it is a new phenomenon. The result is that many of the books on church planting are shallow and lack a robust biblical theology. John Valentine has written a timely book that offers a biblical and theological foundation for church planting in today's complex and challenging world. If you are looking for a fresh introduction to church planting for today's world that is theologically sound, while at the same time practical, this book is for you!' -- Revd Dr Winfield Bevins, author of Liturgical Mission
'Anchored in biblical and theological truth, and reflections on John's many years of practical experience, this book underpins the inter- twined nature of mission and church planting while infusing a fuel of encouragement and inspiration to the existing fire. A vital companion for the contemporary church leader and church planter. It is a must-read.' -- Revd Dr Girma Bishaw, Director and founder at Gratitude initiative, City Catalyst for the London Project and part of the pastoral team at Reality Church London
'I was privileged to attend the church planting course that John helped lead in 2017, so I am delighted to see that he has set out here the fundamentals for those who are setting out on, reflecting on, or seeking to understand the church-planting journey. Church planting is without a doubt the most exciting and challenging thing I have been involved in, and John brings theological depth and sound biblical knowledge to the task, as well as being a sure and experienced guide. I wholeheartedly commend this book.' -- Fran Carabott, pioneer minister and leader of St Margaret's Community Church plant in Southsea, Portsmouth
'I am delighted that John has written this full and robust theology of church planting. It will give confidence to both trainers and practitioners to continue this much-needed movement in the church.' -- Archie Coates, vicar, Holy Trinity Brompton
'Church planting has been perceived as a missional strategy that prioritizes numerical growth over theological rigour. Valentine responds to this criticism with scholarly conviction and the passion of an experienced practitioner. Through careful analysis and thorough research, he locates the impulse of church replication in the very warp and weft of the biblical narrative, not to mention some of the core concerns of Christian ecclesiology. This book will be an indispensable resource for any church planter or student of the discipline.' -- Fr Justin Dodd, church planter and vicar of St Barnabas Ealing
'John Valentine's theological gifts and his personal experience as a church planter make him uniquely qualified to write this book. John knows what he is writing about.' -- Nicky Gumbel, former vicar of Holy Trinity Brompton
'For centuries the church was so wedded to Christendom that church planting was rarely considered - and, if it was, it was often misunderstood or even seen as illegitimate. As John so wonderfully shows, this view has been largely turned over by a wonderful wave of new and varied new church-planting activity. This book gives us exactly what is now needed - a significant contribution to the theological underpinnings of this most biblical and missional expression of the gospel.' -- Paul Harcourt, National Leader, New Wine England
'John Valentine has given us a wonderful gift! Church planting is all the rage these days, but few books anchor the practice within sound biblical theology. Jesus, the Church and the Mission of God offers us precisely that. Written in a highly accessible prose, Valentine situates church planting firmly within God's mission, with timely reflections for what this means for the church of Jesus Christ in our contemporary day. The book reads as if talking with John Valentine: kind, wise and filled with poignant insights. It's a must-read for anyone involved in church planting.' -- Gregg Okesson, Provost, Asbury Theological Seminary, and author of A Public Missiology: How Local Churches Witness to a Complex World (2020)