Rekindling a Lost Passion

Recreating a Church Planting Movement

About the Author 

Russell Burrill was professor of Evangelism and Church Growth at Andrews University, Michigan in the United States. His B.A., M.A., and D.Min. degrees were bagged from Atlantic Union College, Andrews University, and Fuller Theological Seminary respectively. He served as director of the North American Division Evangelism Institute for more than twenty years. He has been a pastor, evangelist, and church planter. 

About the Book 

This is a 246 page masterpiece of research published by Hart Research Center in Fallbook, CA. in 1999. The thesis of the book is on the urgent need to revive the church planting movement. Burrill observes that there is a rekindled interest in growing the church but little emphasis is expressed in planting new congregations. If the work of the gospel will be finished efficiently, economically, and quickly, then the church must move from simply adding to the church to multiplying the church. By multiplication the frontiers of the gospel are extended to many unreached persons. This pattern employed by the New Testament church, is the sure way to grow the church. 

It is hard to argue for a better book on church planting in the context of Seventh-day Adventism. In 17 chapters Burrill makes very clear arguments in support of the need for more church planting movements. The reasons for church planting, the ones who should plant, ways to plant, kinds of church plant, dynamics of church planting, sustaining new churches, issues of discipleship, church finance and how to create healthy churches are all discussed. 

The overall argument of this book is that every healthy church is a reproductive church, birthing a new congregation for new members. If every existing church would intentionally embark on church planting, church growth will not just be a theory but a reality. What Burrill has done in this book is to demonstrate how church planting can be done in very cost effective and practical ways. It is almost imperative that any serious pastor and church member have to read this well studied manual. A church planting church is a growing church. 

This book is highly recommended without reservation. 

Reviewed by John Okpechi