The Evangel Dean Basic Training Resource Handbook

S EMINARS • 25

2. Embraces the freedom of the Holy Spirit as he leads specific church traditions into specific paths in specific contexts for specific times

V. Evangel’s Practical Principles: Creating Kingdom Outposts through Church Planting among the Poor

A. Evangel seeks to provide a balance of the big picture of God’s working in the world (seeing the conflict of the ages), a clear strategy of advancing God’s reign (winning the war), and specific tactics to engage the enemy (winning the next battle). B. Evangel anchors its theology and missiology in the divinely authorized, canonical story of the Triune God , as told in the Scriptures, which Jesus Christ effected by his saving work in the world, and which the early Church summarized in its Rules of Faith, and historic orthodoxy defended in its teaching and practice. C. Evangel believes that no entity is as powerful as proclaiming and demonstrating the power of the Already/Not yet Kingdom in this world among the poorest of the poor as a healthy, functioning local(e) church of believers fleshing out their faith in the context of their neighbors and families. D. Evangel is more dialogical (engagement with the Story and its implications) than material presented (dry theological and missiological data woodenly applied, without reference to audience or context). F. Evangel assumes the Holy Spirit is raising up gifted and called leaders among the poor who can benefit from training, coaching and wise practices. G. Evangel assumes that all planning and ministry occurs in a changing, turbulent context , which demands that all participants learn to be open to new data and shifting situations, to discern God’s will, and adapt plans and directions to be effective, under God’s leadership. E. Evangel is team focused not individual focused.