By Rev. Paul Prestidge

Colin Shaw, whom many NPCLN members will know through the Prayer Summits he facilitated, has written a book about what is sometimes called the ‘city church' movement. Colin argues that in these days God is calling local congregations within cities (and towns) to recognize their call to be "the church in the city". Following Watchman Nee and others, he argues that the NT only envisages one church per city - a city defined flexibly enough so that Auckland might have a dozen or more city churches whereas New Plymouth would only have one. The scandal of, especially, Protestant churches, has been the fragmentation, disunity and competition between multiple churches in the same city. Quoting Max Lucado he says "The sin of disunity probably has caused more souls to be lost that all other sins combined". The solution, says Colin, isn't about creating one enormous congregation in the city, but about a change of mind and heart...