The Trellis and the Vine

What Col and Tony describe here is precisely what I have tried to do for years in my own life and in our congregation. According to this book, Christians should be disciples who make disciples, and the mission of pastors is to prepare them to achieve this. Magnificent! Among the books I have read, this is the one that most directs us toward the true nature of pastoral ministry. Mark Dever, Senior Pastor of Capitol Hill Baptist Church, Washington D.C., United States

This book has the ability to understand the confusions that every pastor goes through when forgetting the central objective that Jesus had for ministry, in short: making disciples who make disciples. But it does not leave the pastor in a cloud of despair; the book gives him the courage to start trusting his master's strategy again. And how could it not encourage him if his strategy allowed him to reach countries as distant as mine! Cristobal Cerón, General Coordinator of the "Gimnasio" Ministerial Training System in Chile.

"The Trellis and the Vine is a dangerous book to read. It destroys cherished and beloved idols, such as: "If we have the right vision and mission, people will come... if we have good vibes, they will approach us... by having a good musical group... with a good meeting place...". The Trellis and the Vine reminds the church that Jesus says the exact opposite. Jesus tells us that we are to be good commission-aries and that we must go and "make disciples of all nations." The Trellis and the Vine is the best book I have read regarding mobilizing all Christians to be good commission-aries. It will make those who seek the ideal church become servants; consumers, into producers; and disciples, into disciple-makers" Ben Pfahlert, Director of Ministry Training Strategy, in Sydney, Australia.