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Porterbrook Cardiff Taster Session

Porterbrook Cardiff is officially set to launch in September 2011. I can’t speak highly enough of Porterbrook, both in terms of content and accessibility. In a nut-shell, Porterbrook is all about equipping everyday Christians to embrace every day life with gospel purpose.

Here’s what our friend Steve Timmis has to say about it:

We’ve had so much interest in Porterbrook here in South Wales that we have asked a team to come down from Sheffield to come and present/explain/commend the course to us. Therefore, if the prospect of credible, affordable, internationally respected missional training on your doorstep appeals to you, make sure you get to the Porterbrook Cardiff Taster Session.

The Taster Session will take place bewteen 3-5pm on Saturday 28th May at Highfields Church’s Dalton Street venue in Cathays, Cardiff. The session will include conversation with the Sheffield director of Porterbrook, feedback from a student who has done Porterbrook, information about how the course will run and what it will look like here in South Wales, and a Q&A time to address any areas that we may have otherwise missed. It’s free. There will be coffee. And you may well be meeting your future ‘course mates’.

So please do come along and find out more about how Porterbrook can serve you, your church and your world.

See you there.

PS – despite the name Porterbrook Cardiff – the vision is for the whole of Wales (and the South West), so if you’re interested in Porterbrook but think it’s not possible for you to do it because you don’t live in Cardiff – think again! We have a strategy that will make Porterbrook work for you, wherever you’re based.

Boot Camp – Get Booking!

OK New Breeders, with less than a month to go until the greatly anticipated Acts29 Boot  Camp (May 5th-6th) it’s time to pull yer fingers out and get booked in.

With speakers including Steve Timmis, Neil Powell and some loud American guy called Mark Driscoll – this is definitely not one to be missed. Couple that with the fact that I’ve managed to secure quality overnight accommodation for us at the OM centre, coupled with local inside info on the best palace to go for a curry on the Thursday night – there’s really no excuse not to be there! Oh yeah, church planter’s wives are warmly encouraged to come too and there is even a wive’s only session on the Thursday – so come along ladies!

So there we have it!

If you really need more info you can click here.

However, because you’re obviously going to come, you’re better off just clicking here to book your place!

New Breed Road Trip – let’s do this!!

Bubble Gum Funding

Another of Jonesy’s vids from New Breed USA. This one addresses the issue of church-planting as a full-time vocation vs tent-making.

Enjoy..

Radical

So if you’ve been wondering what Peyton Jones has been getting up to since heading back to the States, check this out…

Yep, New Breed is alive and kicking in the USA and Jonesy’s becoming a bit of a video genius!

You gotta love this…

COFFEERENCE POSTPONED!

Guys we’ve taken the tough decision to postpone the Coffeerence that was scheduled for March 12th. The reason for this is very simple – Porterbrook!!

Let me explain. There has been a ridiculous amount of interest in Porterbrook Wales (set to launch in September) and as such I’m getting asked a lot of questions about Porterbrook – how it functions, what’s expected of students etc. I’ve sought to answer people as best as I can but to be honest I think that the most appropriate way to answer everyone’s questions as comprehensively as possible is to get some of the Porterbrook team down from Sheffield – so that’s what we’ve organised!

So on Saturday 28th May New Breed will be hosting a daytime event in Cardiff to officially introduce Porterbrook to Wales (more details to follow!) We will have a Porterbrook team on hand to answer ALL your questions and help you to better understand why Porterbrook Wales is something to really get excited about!

So why postpone the Coffeerence? In short it’s because a March Coffeerence, followed by both the BootCamp Road Trip anf the Porterbrook intro in May is just too much stuff jammed into a short space of time. Therefore we’ll reschedule the Coffeerence for sometime in the summer. In the meantime, let’s get excited about all the good stuff happening in May!

Hope to see you at both!

Blessinz!

Dai

Garn Plant Support Video

Meet Andrew & Sophie Toovey – a fantastic young couple who are about to take the extraordinary step of moving up to Garndiffaith in order to pioneer the church that Hill City is planting up there. This will be the next church to emerge from the New Breed network.

Please watch this video prayerfully and consider whether you could support them on their adventure by partnering with them.

Blessinz…

 

Acts 29 W.Europe Boot Camp – For all Seasons

GET THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARY – MAY 5th – MAY 6th.

That’s when Acts 29 Western Europe will be hosting their UK Church Planting Boot Camp in Birmingham. Speakers for the 2 day event will include none other than Mark Driscoll, Neil Powell and the granddaddy of Western European church planting – Emcee Stevey T. It’s gonna be a fantastic couple of days and naturally we want to get as many New Breeders there as possible.

We’re hoping to borrow a couple of minibuses and find a friendly church in Brum that will let us kip on their floor overnight. Factor in a late-night curry and you’ve got all the makings of a memorable New Breed road-trip, so whatever else you might have booked in – CANCEL IT – cos this is gonna top it!

You can get more info by contacting admin@2020birmingham.org.

However, if you’re interested in coming as part of the New Breed Road Trip could you post a comment below just so we can sort minibuses and accommodation out!

Buzzin!!

Next Coffeerence – 12th March

Just a quick heads-up to give you the date, time and venue for the next New Breed Coffeerence.

It’s going to take place 10am-1pm on Saturday 12th March at McArthur Glen Starbucks (M4 J36). We haven’t got any speakers lined up, this is simply an opportunity for all those who are part of the NewBreed network to hook-up, catch-up and encourage one another over coffee. We’ve got new churches that have started and others in the pipe-line and I’m personally well excited to get a better handle on all that’s going on. I’m also looking forward to introducing Porterbrook Wales (launching in September) and explaining more about Gospel coaching that we are now able to offer to any young planters/potential planters who would benefit from it.

Buzzin!

The Coffeerence will also be a chance for anyone who’s thinking about planting with New Breed, or just curious about who we are and what we do, to link up with us and find out more.

As you’d expect this event is totally free (just gotta buy your own drinks!) I’m hoping to get there as early as poss to nab a good seating area. Feel free to join me.

Look forward to seeing you there.

We ain’t playing no more!!

There was an article in last week’s Telegraph that shocked me. Actually it shook me to the core. I don’t know how any follower of Jesus could read this and remain unmoved or apathetic. Take a read for yourself:

Life expectancy on British estate is lower than Haiti or Iraq.

This article, coupled with a report by the BBC last year that revealed the Welsh Valleys as the most depressed place in the UK, has left me more passionate than ever to see the gospel preached and churches planted across the Valleys – starting NOW!!

I’m not talking predictable churches in easy areas, I’m talking radical churches in the most difficult, dangerous, dark and depressed estates. I’ve heard that there are churches who are considering planting on the Gurnos in Merthyr. If so – praise God!! I’m with you all the way. However, if by 2012 there’s still a load of talk and no action – then watch what happens. Serious!!! It’s a tragedy that there is no gospel witness at the heart of the Gurnos – so that IS going to change – it HAS to!!

And it’s not just the Gurnos, like the report said:

“I would imagine you would find similar statistics in almost all the estates in the South Wales Valleys”

The Valleys are officially the most deprived place in Western Europe!!

The fields are SO RIPE!!!

Saints, New Breed doesn’t exist to plant sexy, comfy, trendy churches. We are here to scream “NO MORE!!!” into the face of poverty, suicide and the forces of darkness that are trashing the Valleys right now and then do whatever it takes to see the gospel take root in this beautiful, broken region again!! Behind the scenes God is raising up a generation of young believers who are up for saying “Stuff comfort. Stuff the status quo. Wherever it leads. Whatever it costs. Christ is worth it. Let’s go!” It’s refreshing, exciting and inspiring to spend time with such young people!

Trust, I ain’t playing no more, and neither is New Breed. It’s time to take it to the next level!!

Pray with me to the Lord of the harvest to send out labourers into the fields…

…but ask yourself if you’d be willing to be the answer to your own prayers!!

Introducing Porterbrook Wales

Last week’s trip to Sheffield was class, but it wasn’t all Gospel Coaching and curry. I’ve come back with even more exciting news…

Over the last few years we have regularly been asked about missional theological training for church planters as it appears that there’s not a great deal available in Wales. But here’s the thing, New Breed is growing. We are no longer just talking about church planting, we’re actually seeing churches planted. We’re now seeing young men and women take huge faith steps – selling houses and moving into estates, launching meetings and generally demonstrating a now or never attitude for the sake of the gospel. There’s also a whole bunch of people who are emerging from the shadows who don’t necessarily feel called to plant but would be love to be equipped and encouraged to live more missionally where they are. On top of all that there’s an increasing number of young people and church leaders who are asking New Breed to speak into church planting plans/dreams/visions etc. It’s so flippin’ exciting. However, despite the excitement we are sensing, more than ever, the need to stand with these guys and offer them more than just a pat on the back and a coffee every 3 months.

We’re going to give them what they need.

Therefore, it’s our pleasure to introduce Porterbrook Wales!

Porterbrook is a fantastic missional training initiative that hails from our friends at the Crowded House in Sheffield, but that is now being used all around the world. So what the dickens is this Porterbrook thing all about? Here’s how they describe it:

“Porterbrook Learning helps ordinary Christians learn how to serve Jesus and his people better — whether they are church leaders, church planters, or simply Christians wanting to become more mission-focused. The course is flexible and has been designed to be integrated with your whole Christian life in whatever context you’re serving. It’s not theology for theology’s sake: the course is written by practitioners for practitioners.”

To find out more about Porterbrook check out their website here.

Furthermore, to take a look at the syllabus of what we’ll be studying, click here.

The beauty of Porterbrook is its flexibility. Essentially, the course can be customised to suit the requirements and availability of those who wish to do it. While nothing is set in stone yet, myself and Laura (Porterbrook Administrator) have looked at how it might work in Wales. We’re aware that many who are interested in missional training are already involved in ministry/employment and so a full time course wouldn’t work. Therefore what we’ve provisionally come up with is a timetable that starts in September and involves a day of teaching on just one Saturday per month, together with a chunky amount of stuff to get your teeth stuck into at home and a monthly midweek evening get together to chew over the material further. There will also be a residential weekend away each term (sounds like a Road Trip to me!!) However, like I said nothing’s nailed down yet, so if you’re interested but what I’ve just outlined doesn’t work for you – let’s still talk!

As far as venue, costs etc. are concerned, watch this space (though it’ll almost certainly be based in Cardiff.)

We’re already blown away by the interest that people have shown in being part of Porterbrook Wales – it really seems to have struck a chord.

So if your chord has also been struck drop us a line and we’ll chat further.

For His glory.

Dai

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