Planted by the Providence of God

I have spent the last few days reading Keith Underhill's new autobiography cum handbook for church planting and mission. It is a well produced hardback with large print and sturdy pages. The book is enhamced by many colour photographs, two indices and some maps. Too many typos but there we are. I am familiar with the story to some extent in that when I came to Aberystwyth as a student I attended Keith's sending church. He was just getting started then. In 2011 I travelled to Kenya to speak at a conference (enjoyed seeing my name on page 452!) and so saw the work close up. I also spoke on my return to GBM on Keith's behalf convinced he had been treated harshly by them and others. I know many of the men who have walk on parts in the book.

Keith has divided the book into four phases (preparation up to 1977, church planting 1977-1989, consolidation 1989-2006, church maturing 2006-2015). Interspersed with these chapters are 22 biblical foundations for mission that go from the great commission to the centrality of preaching. As Tom Richwine has written 

This book is a compellingly detailed account of some of God's work in Kenya over the last 40 years skillfully interwoven with biblical principles of missions and church planting. A must read for those considering serving Christ by planting churches in a cross-cultural environment. These pages highlight the challenges, opposition and many rewards of dedicating your life to taking the gospel to a foreign nation.

Some may find the book (at 510 pages) long and no doubt some editing could have been done. As a prolific prayer letter writer Keith is not short of material. The book is well written, however, and the large amount of material serves to leave you with a very full picture of what has been going on down the years. It is stunning to see what God can do with one (in some ways) ordinary man.

Having recently re-read Michael Toogood's much briefer but similarly compelling story of what God can do with one man I am beginning to see that there have been giants among us. If anyone has any influence in these matters I am eager to see something from Brian Ellis and Andrew Swanson soon.

PS On the 14th of August, at 11am, Keith Underhill will be speaking at a special-meeting at Alfred Place in Aberystwyth, to launch his book Planted By The Providence Of God (Broken Wharfe, 2023). All welcome.