I just got back from Phoenix. The Assemblies of God Church Planting Summit was a great experience. The Christian Post has the story here.

On the plane back, I wrote a bit about my friends in the Assemblies of God, returning a favor from Earl Creps blog here.

The Assemblies of God has a bold vision, called MX9, that they will have 1000 church plants planned or underway by 2009. This is a great step forward... and a great increase over where they are now.

I have a long term friendship and an appreciation for the Assemblies of God leadership. Earlier this summer, I spoke at the General Assembly of the Assemblies of God in Indianapolis at the request of Steve Pike, who is their church planting movement leader (and an all around great guy, having planted a strong church in Colorado and now investing his life in planters).

My friend George Klippenes, who directs church planting for the Evangelical Free Church, wrote this email (posted with permission) and provided some helpful information.

Next week, Earl Creps and I are meeting with the E.Free. National Church Leadership in their first ever "Missional Summit" in Minneapolis. Earl and I will lead the conference with these 150 key leaders to encourage them to think biblically, missionally, and discerningly. Before I leave, I will have the chance to talk research with a smaller group of church planting leaders.

Earl Creps

Earl and I had a chance to visit on Friday and Saturday. Earl posts a nice list of 13 things that he likes about my denomination.

Twelve of them are true and I appreciate each of them!