CR spoke with Phil Barber from the Potter's House



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Phil: P163 (from chapter 24 on the theme of developing the Timothy generation) - This quote encapsulates my passion to equip, empower and release the younger generation - "I have since come to call this age group the 'Timothy' generation, after the letters that St Paul wrote to his young protégé Timothy who quite clearly was being prepared to take over the leadership of the church in Ephesus that Paul had originally planted. In the years since my statement of intent, we have been very deliberately mentoring, training and releasing the people of their generation into leadership roles. It is a fundamentally important part of leadership to grow others as leaders so that the work can continue to prosper long after they have moved on. I actually believe leadership is best expressed through resourcing, empowering and releasing others. It is about empowering, not controlling people. I am always grieved to see very able leaders who fail to do this, and, when they depart, everything they have built collapses.

In fact I have come to believe that a leader's best work should take place after they have retired from leadership. This may seem to be an extreme view, but I believe that truly effective leadership is about what you have built in the people around you, how you have strengthened, trained, equipped, resourced and released them so they go on to do even greater exploits for the Lord than you. It is about legacy.

Heather: Has church changed over the period of time you've been a Pastor?

Phil: In this country much of the traditional church has continued its catastrophic decline sadly; but a new church is emerging that is presently hidden from the sight of the atheistic elite in the land. In every town and city you will now find churches that have a similar DNA to The Potter's House and they are growing and flourishing.

Heather: What are the main strengths and weaknesses you see in church today in the UK?

Phil: The weaknesses are aging congregations, absent younger generations, worship and activities that are not relevant and poor leadership i.e. maintenance. The strengths are growing unity across denominations and new style churches emerging.

P114 in the book says - "The old ways of doing church are no longer reaching the people of the UK and I passionately believe that a new model of Christianity must arise (and thankfully is arising) in this land. It will be characterised by relevant ways of communicating the Gospel, using every modern technological means. It will be strongly connected to the community, sharing the love of Jesus in many practical ways. It will minister to people from cradle to grave. The people will be committed to friendship evangelism especially in the workplace. There will be new style leadership, which releases people's gifts and talents and is committed to a team approach. There will be a return to spiritual values like prayer, sin and salvation, the indwelling Holy Spirit and holiness. A spirit of excellence will pervade all. This new church will be dynamic, lively and fun to be in. It will grow by making many new disciples of Jesus Christ. It will dress the timeless truths of the Gospel in new clothes.

P146 is more controversial! It's from chapter 21 about leadership. "I think there is sometimes a fault with the way Christian leaders are formed and trained. They often appear to be chosen for their management ability, usually their pastoral skills, and so by instinct they try to shepherd the flock, to maintain. This can lead to the unintentional creation of a maintenance mode of ministry which inevitably ages and declines. I believe this is the most significant reason for the disaster which has befallen the church in the UK in the latter half of the 20th Century."

Heather: What are your hopes for the future for yourself and for church in the UK?

Phil: I have a new call on my life and will be busy trying to extend God's Kingdom for as long as I have breath and strength. I believe that a new church is going to rise up out of the ashes and this will appear to be with astonishing rapidity to those who cannot see what God has been doing.

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The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.