WestCoast Challenge: Kingdom First – Book Review

Jeff Christopherson and Mac Lake have written a must-read, not only for church planters, but also those who seek to follow the Lord in making kingdom impact in North America.

Church planters should own the advancement of the kingdom of God "instead of the number of precious lives he has gathered and organized into a perfect geometric pattern at the high school gymnasium." - Jeff Christopherson

Through his experience as a church planter and denominational catalyst, Christopherson understands that “context changes everything,” therefore, “there are very few universally reproducible methodologies.” Christopherson also understands that context change gauges kingdom impact. For example, rather than asking, “how many are you running,” Christopherson suggests church planters should own the advancement of the kingdom of God “instead of the number of precious lives he has gathered and organized into a perfect geometric pattern at the high school gymnasium.”

As a completely bivocational church planter, with a day job outside of Christian ministry, I particularly appreciate Christopherson’s approach in Kingdom First. Everything in the book is accessible to bivocational planters. Furthermore, Christopherson’s Canadian background not only resonated with this Canadian church planter, but arguably helps our American friends better express kingdom love in a nation moving rapidly toward a post-Christian culture.

Any servant, anywhere in North America, will benefit from Christopherson’s experience poured out in Kingdom First.

Originally published in the Fall 2015 edition of On Mission Magazine, available at www.sendnetwork.com, at the Apple App Store, or the Google Play Store.