Welcome to TheForgottenWays.org

The Forgotten Ways - the books as well as this site - is dedicated to rediscovering and reactivating the most potent form of missional church - the exponential Jesus movement. The Forgotten Ways is in effect a typology, or more technically a phenomenology, of movement. The model proposed (called Apostolic Genius) describes the factors that must come together to both catalyze as well as maintain exponential multiplication movements. Apostolic Genius is a "latent potential" that lies dormant in the church and can be reactivated by both internal as well as external circumstances. The factors, or elements, that make up Apostolic Genius are; Jesus is Lord, Disciple-making, Missional-Incarnational Impulse, Apostolic Environment, Organic Systems, and Communitas.

Apostolic Genius is described in depth in the primary text--The Forgotten Ways. The book is dense but very readable and brings together insights from theology, missiology, sociology, leadership, and science to lay a thorough conceptual basis for rediscovering and reactivating Apostolic Genius in any church of missional organization.

The Forgotten Ways Handbook on the other hand, provides a the user with a de-jargonized, really accessible, summary of each chapter, a plethora of suggested practical ideas for implementation, and sets of learning tools to apply for group study.

mPULSE provides any church (both micro and macro systems) with a unique missional diagnostic tool based on the Apostolic Genius model that allows users to identify strengths and weaknesses in the system, and to develop strategic approaches based on the analysis. It is a thorough 360 degree analytical tool giving valuable feedback from various stakeholders in the church or organization. The idea is to take the 'pulse' of the organization at regular intervals and to adjust strategy accordingly. It is best used in conjunction with the two text books described above, but can be used as a standalone missional test. In fact it is the only one of its kind at present.

The APEST test is either an individual or 360 degree assessment tool based on the fivefold ministry matrix described by Paul in Ephesians 4. It is not one-dimensional, but rather provides the user with a sophisticated and nuanced reflection of the nature of their vocation/ministry, how to maximize their strengths, be aware of weaknesses, and to be able to work with the rest of God's people who have different ministry profiles.

The Shaping of Things to Come (written with Michael Frost) is a book that provides a consistent reconception of the church based on a distinctly incarnational mission approach. It is both practical and theoretical at the same time and covers issues about mission, worldview, innovation, and leadership. It is recognized as a foundational and definitive book in the area of missional church.

ReJesus (written with Michael Frost) is in in many ways an elaboration of the 'Jesus is Lord' element in The Forgotten Ways. Or if we had to describe it more technically, it is a missional interpretation of Christology. The basic premise is that the church has to recalibrate back to Jesus to authenticate ourselves and to negotiate its way through the challenges of the 21st Century. At stake is our identity and legitimacy as a church. It too draws insights from many disciplines but puts these together in an engaging and inspirational format.

If ReJesus is about the focal element of Apostolic Genius (Jesus's Lordship), then Untamed (co-authored with Debra Hirsch) is an elaboration of the discipleship and disciple-making element. Untamed takes an unusual approach to viewing and activating discipleship - that of identifying an removing impediments and obstacles to becoming a fully-fledged and effective missional agent of the King.