Church Planting By the Book (Slightly Imperfect)

Endorsements:          

“Albert Smith is a seasoned trainer of church planters. In Church Planting by the Book, he traces the New Testament story line in order to provide biblical guidelines and insights for church planting. Recommended for church planters, potential church planters, pastors and students.”

—Bruce Ashford, PhD

Provost and Dean of the Faculty, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Editor, Theology and Practice of Mission: God the Church and the Nations

“In his book, Church Planting by the Book, Elbert Smith gleans out of the Acts narrative a number of timeless guiding principles and examples to guide the church planter in the twenty-first century. It is refreshing to have a book on church planting that unequivocally acknowledges the primary role of the Holy Spirit in church planting.”

—R. Bruce Carlton, DTh

WMU Professor of Missions, Oklahoma Baptist University

Global Church Planting Consultant

“In his book, Church Planting by the Book, Elbert explores the common threads of the work of God in and through the early church in order to understand better the ways of God for church planting today. So grab yourself a cup of coffee, as I’m sure Elbert has his, and allow him to walk you through the nine church plants in the book of Acts!”

—John Charping, PhD

Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary

Associate Cluster Leader in East Indonesia and Beyond

International Mission Board, SBC

“Given our tremendous task to take the gospel to the world, [Elbert Smith] deeply desires that we build our work on the Word. You cannot read this book without longing to see God work in a mighty way around the world.”

—Chuck Lawless, PhD

Vice President for Graduate Studies and Ministry Centers,

Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary

Global Theological Education Consultant, International Mission Board, SBC

“Church Planting by the Book is an excellent treatment of the missionary expe­rience in Acts—very accurate and very helpful. I would certainly commend it as a biblical introduction to practicing mission.”

—John Polhill, PhD

Senior Professor, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary

Author of The New American Commentary, Acts

“The most important audience for Elbert’s work is the local, national church planter, evangelist or pastor. We gave these concepts a “trial run” with cutting edge rural church planters. I saw our village workers grasp, accept and purpose to do what this book teaches on church planting.”

—David Shepherd, PhD

Former Director of Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary-New York

“Elbert Smith’s book is a treasure source for gleaning principles of church planting from the greatest book ever written on church planting, the book of Acts. The truths set out in Church Planting by the Book are universal and apply cross-culturally to the essential process of church planting for the church today.”

—Ken Taylor, JD, PhD

Professor of Urban Missions,

New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary

Church Planting by the Book was a great read. I enjoyed the concise works of the nine churches. I especially enjoyed its commitment to biblical authenticity and not reading in more than is there to make a point.

—Robert Watson

Church Planter

Associate Cluster Leader in South Asia

International Mission Board, SBC

“I very much liked the thesis and teaching of this book. I like what [Smith] does here enough that I would use this as a text.”

—Hershael York, PhD

Professor, Southern Baptist Theological Seminary