I can't say it was always my goal to be in Christianity Today, but I was hoping for a different introduction in the magazine!
My friend, Mark Driscoll, was featured in the print issue today. It is not yet online, but I will link when it is. I think it is a fair article. Mark is controversial and has made some mistakes. (Duh.) He is also doing a great job reaching a lot of people far from Christ in Seattle.
Mark is also not the person he once was. God is working in his life and Mark is transparent about such. I am glad that we are all allowed to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18, HCSB) and I am glad to call Mark my friend (even after today's article!).
Mark recounted our conversation a few years ago when I shared my heart with him. His willingness to hear and respond to such concern is a model for us all.
Now, on to what CT wrote:
Driscoll told me that he has learned much from Ed Stetzer, a missiologist who works for the Southern Baptist Convention’s North American Mission Board (NAMB). Stetzer directs the Center for Missional Research, which studies culture and evaluates church effectiveness. However, NAMB declined to make Stetzer, a member of the Acts 29 board, available for this profile. Spokesman Mike Ebert told me that the denomination has "controversial differences" with some of Driscoll's "views and practices."
There it is.
A couple of corrections:
1. I am no longer at NAMB. I now work at Lifeway Research.
2. I am no longer on the Board of Acts 29. My term expired in May.
Mark and I are both going to be speaking at the Raleigh Acts 29 bootcamp and the Southeastern Seminary Convergent Conference. Mark blogged about the conference here where he promised some things that made the organizers very happy.
By the way, you can hear my interview with Mark here. It is worth your time if you want to understand the pastor who leads what one publication called the 8th most influential church in America.