Craig Ott is Associate Professor of Mission and Intercultural Studies at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School in Deerfield, Illinois. Gene Wilson is Church Planting Director for ReachGlobal, the International Mission of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Ott and Wilson provided one of the most extensive, detailed studies of the science and art of church planting. The book’s strength was displayed in the representations of church planting across the world. Their approach flowed from their biblical understanding of ecclesiology from the New Testament—particularly accounts in Acts. This ecclesiological viewpoint served as foundation for their definition of church planting: “Church planting is that ministry which through evangelism and discipleship establishes reproducing kingdom communities of believers in Jesus Christ who are committed to fulfilling biblical purposes under local spiritual leaders” (p. 8).
The authors demonstrated the creative differences in church planting in divergent cultures around the world. The nature of the book places it in the niche market of academicians of church planting. At just under 500 pages, core groups and laymen are unlikely to embrace the book as practical. On the other hand, the book was far from overly technical or dry. This “scientific” book has little to say about the often unpredictable and even chaotic nature of church planting.
The book was organized strategically. The prologue’s “Parable of the Apple Trees” was a creative beginning to the book. Ott and Wilson divided the book into four key sections: biblical foundations, strategic considerations, developmental phases, and critical factors. In section one, the theological/biblical material on church planting and missions was clear and well presented. The discussion of the church planting movements in section two brought important names and methods to light (e.g. house churches, church contextualization, indirect church plants, etc.). In section three, the authors outlined the progression of church plants. They addressed subjects such as identifying target audiences, setting apart leadership, launching the church, and organizing the ministry. Section three is the “meat” of the book. Section four dealt with the church planter in the context of developing a church planting team. Likewise, they pointed to important matters such as developing leaders and establishing partnerships. The appendix contains numerous serious and practical resources for the church planter.
The authors were helpful be presenting a comprehensive look at church planting. The book had many “take away” principles for any church planting context and few shortcomings which could be rectified by group discussions and experienced church planting coaches. Church planters cannot import and unpack a prefabricated method into a context which is divorced from the target audience. Likewise, Ott and Wilson indicated that church planting was a difficult spiritual, emotional, and relational endeavor which may not be accessible to some. The church planter’s spouse and family is a primary concern that could have been addressed with some case studies or data. In chapter two, the authors encouraged the church planter to look beyond areas where churches already exist when determining where to plant churches. Thus, the book maintained a natural bent toward pioneer church planting. This book balanced well with the other assigned book for this course, The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting, written by Malphurs.
