STRANDED: THE DIARY OF A CHURCH PLANTER

Church Planting is a serious business- it’s like mountain climbing where some rocks are firm while others crumble beneath you. It’s challenging like nothing else yet the views are like no other. You can actually see heaven invading earth, as well as humanity in all of its humanness. 

This is our diary of attempting to church plant in England, in the north of England- 10,000 miles from our hometown in Australia.

It starts at the end where storms erupt and floors give way- eventually uprooting us back to the land that sent us. 

It then shoots back to day one year one – the day we arrived at Heathrow Airport and caught a train to the northern heartland of Britain to start a church in a place where we knew no one. 

The first 10 years is records the successes and failures, the gatherings and the dispersing, the mountains and valleys, all made worth it by the the breakthroughs both little and large. 

The second 10 years is a whirlwind tour as we plant new congregations here there and everywhere, seeing by year 14- a thousand people in our weekend services. 

The final 9 years saw the church peaking with over 2000 in our services with over 3000 people in membership, across over 10 locations. It then heads into the terrain that finally triggered a war for our future- battle lines were drawn and darkness descended. 

But none of this is just our story- everyone who dares to step out in faith to go to places they’ve never been, to see dreams come true that many have never dreamt - it’s the guts and the glory, the power and the providence working hand in hand for an eternal future. 

It’s a holy journey but not for the faint hearted. 

Glyn Barrett, Senior Pastor Audacious Church Manchester and National Leader of the AOG in Great Britain

“There are moments in your life that go a long way in defining you. Meeting Dave and Jen was certainly that. They were a key used by God that unlocked a whole new dimension of Christian living, not only for Sophia and I, but for tens of thousands of people since. 

Over our long journey together (and 12 years on staff) I have seen Dave take risks with people when others would not have seen the potential. He has taken the raw goods within a person and created hit after hit (with the occasional miss!). 

Even after being sent out to Manchester to build !Audacious Church, I still find myself thinking WWDD – what would Dave do? Dave And Jen have always carried themselves with the utmost integrity. They are the real deal.”