The International Intensive is a four-week training program designed to prepare urban church planters by exposing them to urban church planting concepts, theological resources to grow churches, leadership modules and other church planting principles. On top of the training, and just as crucial, strong relationships are built during the intensive. The relationships formed over these four weeks become strong sources of support and accountability for these families, and deep friendships are made that last for years.
As part of the global City to City network, City to City Australia sent church planters, Shebu John, Adrian and Jessica Tam to the International Intensive in New York, which commenced on 15 October last year. Twenty international cities were represented by 23 participants who came from Accra, Al Ain, Athens, Barcelona, Christchurch, Dublin, Istanbul, Krakow, Madrid, Melbourne, Nairobi, Paris, Pretoria, San Jose, Santiago, Stockholm, Svitlovodsk, Sydney, Tel Aviv and Warsaw.
Three new sessions were added this year: a session on Public Faith, a Church Planting Experience Panel given by New York City pastors, and a three-day Parakaleo training conference. Parakaleo provides specific support and training to church planter wives. Jessica Tam from Sydney said, “Parakaleo--Oh my, where do I start? The sessions were so insightful, full of depth, and really helped to expound what it means to [seek to] live gospel-centered lives—in thought, action, and in our hearts.”
Shebu John, from Melbourne, said, “The intensive was a deep, rich time to reorient my heart to the gospel, stir my affections for the Kingdom, and give me a glimpse into Christ’s heart for the nations.”
Please pray that God will multiply the fruit of this intensive and see more churches planted in each of the cities represented and many, many more coming to faith in Christ.