Converse

It is a real pleasure to be able to introduce my next Converse Interviewee. Tony Thompson is a church planter to the core! On a personal note, he was very helpful to me in the early days of planting Christ Community Church.

Adam Bradley: Please can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

Tony Thompson: I’ve been married to Anne for over 30 years. We have 2 grown up sons, one working in Hong Kong, the other in Mumbai., India. Dispite my advanced years (I’m over 50) I enjoy running and regularly compete in the London Marathon and other local races.

Adam Bradley: Please can you tell me some of the highlights of your testimony?

Tony Thompson: I do not come from a church going background. At University I started arguing with Christians to prove them wrong. To my shock and horror I eventually came to the conclusion that they were right and I was wrong. All the arguments that I put up to show that Christianity was not true were demolished. I then recognised that the only likely explanation for the empty tomb was that Jesus really had risen from the dead. If that had happened at the very least I had to take seriously the other things he had talked about. In short I needed to follow him.

Adam Bradley: What church do you lead/involved in? (background, movement/denomination, philosophy of ministry, etc)

Tony Thompson: I currently lead Hope Church in Luton, part of the Newfrontiers family of churches. It is a charismatic, evangelical church.

Adam Bradley: What books are your currently reading?

Tony Thompson: I’ve just read Bill Hybels new book “Axiom”, I’m also reading again John Maxwell’s books “Developing the leader within you” and Developing the leaders around you.”

Adam Bradley: What’s sermons/preachers are you listening to at the moment (the i-pod question)?

Tony Thompson: I rarely listen to sermons on my Ipod. I tend to use my ipod to listen to things like “Great lives” and “In our time.” I like to keep abreast of wider issues and find podcasts a great way of doing that.

Adam Bradley: Why is church planting such a passion for you?

Tony Thompson: After I became a Christian I was told that part of the package was attending church. I played rugby on a Sunday morning – but if Jesus had died for me…….. What I discovered in church was not exciting. As someone not brought up in church culture I found it very hard to fit in. When the opportunity came to plant my first church I wanted to plant a church that would reach out to those who never dreamt that the answer to their questions was found within the church.

I am still passionate about planting churches, not for the sake of it or even any church plant. But passionate about churches that will reach out to the majority of the population unreached by existing churches.

Adam Bradley: What would you say are the three most important principles for any young want-to-be church planter?

Tony Thompson: To know that Jesus has called you to do it. If you are doing it because it is a good idea or because it is the trendy thing to do then don’t do it!

Be clear what sort of church you are called to plant. Not just the location but what flavour or character the new church will have. In short what is your vision.

Be able to concisely articulate the vision. To have an attention grabbing 2 minute vision talk, a 10 minute follow up and then a 30 minute deal clincher.

Adam Bradley: Here’s your opportunity to say anything else you like…

Tony Thompson: I think it is important for people to view life as a marathon not a sprint. We should have a long view of ministry. What is God really calling you to do? How do you prepare for that?

At key times in my life I have been tremendously frustrated that things haven’t happened as quickly as I would have liked. However with hindsight I can see that God was preparing me for what was in store – I just wanted to get on with it. I wanted to be used, he wanted to make me usable.