'I was privileged to attend the church planting course that John helped lead in 2017, so I am delighted to see that he has set out here the fundamentals for those who are setting out on, reflecting on, or seeking to understand the church-planting journey. Church planting is without a doubt the most exciting and challenging thing I have been involved in, and John brings theological depth and sound biblical knowledge to the task, as well as being a sure and experienced guide. I wholeheartedly commend this book.'
'I am delighted that John has written this full and robust theology of church planting. It will give confidence to both trainers and practitioners to continue this much-needed movement in the church.'
'Anchored in biblical and theological truth, and reflections on John's many years of practical experience, this book underpins the inter- twined nature of mission and church planting while infusing a fuel of encouragement and inspiration to the existing fire. A vital companion for the contemporary church leader and church planter. It is a must-read.'
'Church planting has received a lot of attention in recent years, which has caused some people to think it is a new phenomenon. The result is that many of the books on church planting are shallow and lack a robust biblical theology. John Valentine has written a timely book that offers a biblical and theological foundation for church planting in today's complex and challenging world. If you are looking for a fresh introduction to church planting for today's world that is theologically sound, while at the same time practical, this book is for you!'
'For centuries the church was so wedded to Christendom that church planting was rarely considered - and, if it was, it was often misunderstood or even seen as illegitimate. As John so wonderfully shows, this view has been largely turned over by a wonderful wave of new and varied new church-planting activity. This book gives us exactly what is now needed - a significant contribution to the theological underpinnings of this most biblical and missional expression of the gospel.'
'John Valentine's theological gifts and his personal experience as a church planter make him uniquely qualified to write this book. John knows what he is writing about.'
'Church planting has been perceived as a missional strategy that prioritizes numerical growth over theological rigour. Valentine responds to this criticism with scholarly conviction and the passion of an experienced practitioner. Through careful analysis and thorough research, he locates the impulse of church replication in the very warp and weft of the biblical narrative, not to mention some of the core concerns of Christian ecclesiology. This book will be an indispensable resource for any church planter or student of the discipline.'
'John Valentine's theological gifts and his personal experience as a church planter make him uniquely qualified to write this book. John knows what he is writing about.'
'Church planting has received a lot of attention in recent years, which has caused some people to think that it is a new phenomenon. The result is that many of the books on church planting are shallow and lack a robust biblical theology. John Valentine has written a timely book that offers a biblical and theological foundation for church planting in today's complex and challenging world. If you are looking for a fresh introduction to church planting for today's world that is theologically sound, while at the same time practical, then this book is for you!'
'In this remarkable and wide-ranging book, John Valentine offers us a valuable resource. Rather than focussing on merely institutional questions (which often dominate the debate about church planting), he opens up the theological issues in the relationship between mission and community. He explores both the theology of God's mission in the world across the narrative of Scripture, as well as specific examples of missional practice in the ministry of Jesus and in the apostolic church - and connects both of these with contemporary questions for church planting today. This will be a vital resource, not just for church planters, but for anyone concerned to think biblically and theologically about the church and mission.'
'John Valentine has given us a wonderful gift! Church planting is all the rage these days, but few books anchor the practice within sound biblical theology. Jesus, the Church and the Mission of God offers us precisely that. Written in a highly accessible prose, Valentine situates church planting firmly within God's Mission, with timely reflections for what this means for the church of Jesus Christ in our contemporary day. The book reads as if talking with John Valentine: kind, wise, and filled with poignant insights. It's a must read for anyone involved in church planting.'
'Anchored in biblical and theological truth and reflections on John's many years of practical experience, this book underpins the intertwined nature of mission and church planting while infusing a fuel of encouragement and inspiration to the existing fire. A vital companion for the contemporary church leader and church planter. It is a must-read.'
'Jesus, the Church and the Mission of God is a profoundly biblical, inspiring and passionate book. Valentine patiently explores Scripture and the revelation of the God who goes into the world in order to save the world. Church planting is seen as part of the mission of God, in a context in which both traditional and emerging forms of church work in harmony to reach out beyond their own borders. It's a must-read for those who want to explore why and how church planting not only has a place, but is imperative in the church of today.'
Revd Prebendary Dr Isabelle Hamley
'John Valentine has put us in his debt by this wide-ranging study of biblical and theological foundations and practices of church planting. Covering the Old Testament, the Gospels, Acts, and the Pauline letters, his study combines thoughtful reading of Scripture with persistent attention to the implications of his findings for church planting in the western world today. He draws on good scholarship in his writing, providing depth to his discussions. In addition, his more theologically-focused chapters on church, mission and God as Trinity provide coherence and reflective thinking about church planting in relation to mission and the nature of the Christian God. This is a book which many will want to read: it moves well beyond the rather superficial 'how to' nature of much previous writing on church planting to root this vital topic in the nature of God, mission and the church. Read it - it will do you and your church good!'
'Church planting has become an inescapable and sometimes controversial part of the life of the Church in recent decades. Yet it has often pursued pragmatic approaches rather than reflecting deeply on theological themes than might help strengthen, develop and direct the work of church planters. John Valentine's book is a big step in the right direction, towards a richer biblical and theological grounding for this vital aspect of the Church's mission.'
