Church in Hard Places
Church in Hard Places is a resource sharing collaborative that trains and supports indigenous church leaders in poor communities
Many poor communities lack gospel preaching churches and many churches in poor communities lack access to affordable and relatable training. The Church in Hard Places Collaborative is a global initiative of Acts 29 to see churches planted in the world’s poorest communities.
We define hard places as areas that are socially and economically disadvantaged. The Church in Hard Places collaborative crosses languages, regions and ethnicities as we seek to engage the global poor with the gospel.
Objectives
- TRAIN indigenous leaders in poor communities.
- RESOURCE the church in hard places by developing culturally relevant and accessible materials to equip those doing ministry to the poor.
- MOBILIZE Acts 29 churches to support the training and development of indigenous leaders in poor communities.
- INTEGRATE indigenous leaders in poor communities into the Acts 29 family.
Events, Resources, and Training
Contact us to find out more about our events and training opportunities:
- Regional Church in Hard Places Workshops, Weekenders and Gatherings
- Bi-monthly Church in Hard Places LEAD Conference Calls
- Church in Hard Places Apprenticeship
Workshops
From time to time our directors lead regional workshops on ‘Building Healthy Churches in Hard Places‘. These one-day events highlight core principles for building healthy gospel churches among the poor. To host a workshop in your church please email [email protected]
See below for upcoming workshops
APPRENTICESHIPS
Church In Hard Places Apprenticeship
We will select 10 ministry leaders who are doing ministry in poor communities across the world to pursue this 2-year training course. Our goal is for each Apprentice to be equipped to build healthy churches in poor communities.
How Does the Apprenticeship Work?
Each apprentice will be trained in the areas of biblical studies, theology, preaching and church planting. The apprentice will receive a monthly reading and writing assignment and will meet with a field mentor. The group will meet together to discuss the assignments via a video conference call. Each year every apprentice will be invited to participate in an annual one week intensive training course either in the UK or the USA. At the completion of the apprenticeship the successful apprentice will be invited to be assessed as a candidate to join the Acts 29 Network in their location.
The application process:
- Stage 1: Request an Application Form
- Stage 2: Phone call to the Operations Manager of Church in Hard Places
- Stage 3: Acceptance into the program and course enrollment
- Stage 4: Begin Acts 29 Church in Hard Places Assessment Track
Contact Us
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Doug Logan
Co-Director of Church in Hard Places
Doug Logan has been involved in urban ministry for nearly 20 years. In 2011 he planted Epiphany Fellowship of Camden with his wife, Angel. They have three adult sons & three grandchildren. He is the founder of the On the Block Collective, and author of 'On The Block: Developing a Biblical Picture for Missional Engagement'.
Mez McConnell
Co-Director of Church in Hard Places
Mez McConnell is the senior pastor of Niddrie Community Church. He spent four years working with street children in Brazil and planted the Good News Church. He is the director of 20Schemes, a church planting and revitalization initiative in Scotland. Mez is married to Miriam and has two daughters, Keziah and Lydia.
Matthew Spandler-Davison
Operation Manager of Church in Hard Places
Matthew is originally from Stonehaven, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and was awarded a doctorate by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Matthew is married to Tracy and has two daughters. He is a church planter and the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship Church, in Bardstown, KY.
Richard Clemens
Development Manager of Church in Hard Places
Rick spent 20+ years in the Athletic shoe industry before moving to Scotland for a 2-year Ministry Internship with 20schemes. He joined Acts 29 as the Development Manager for Church in Hard Places in July 2018. Rick is married to Sarah and has a son called Aaron. He is a member of Redeemer Fellowship Church, Bardstown, KY.
Natalie Robinson
Assistant to Doug Logan
Natalie joined the Acts 29 team after serving as Editor and Blog Contributor of On the Block Collective. She graduated from The Master’s College with a B.A. in Communications and has over 10 years of administrative experience. Natalie lives in Camden, NJ with her husband, Edward, and their two sons, Emmanuel and Ariel.
Timothy Gillum
Administrative Assistant of Church in Hard Places
Timmy was raised in a non-Christian home in the rural town of Lebanon, KY. He came to faith in January 2017 after attending church with his now fiancée Alex. Timmy joined Redeemer Fellowship Church in Bardstown, KY. He joined Acts 29 as Administrative Assistant for Church in Hard Places in February 2018.
Doug Logan
Co-Director of Church in Hard Places
Doug Logan has been involved in urban ministry for nearly 20 years. In 2011 he planted Epiphany Fellowship of Camden with his wife, Angel. They have three adult sons & three grandchildren. He is the founder of the On the Block Collective, and author of 'On The Block: Developing a Biblical Picture for Missional Engagement'.
Mez McConnell
Co-Director of Church in Hard Places
Mez McConnell is the senior pastor of Niddrie Community Church. He spent four years working with street children in Brazil and planted the Good News Church. He is the director of 20Schemes, a church planting and revitalization initiative in Scotland. Mez is married to Miriam and has two daughters, Keziah and Lydia.
Matthew Spandler-Davison
Operation Manager of Church in Hard Places
Matthew is originally from Stonehaven, Scotland. He is a graduate of the University of Aberdeen and was awarded a doctorate by The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. Matthew is married to Tracy and has two daughters. He is a church planter and the pastor of Redeemer Fellowship Church, in Bardstown, KY.
Richard Clemens
Development Manager of Church in Hard Places
Rick spent 20+ years in the Athletic shoe industry before moving to Scotland for a 2-year Ministry Internship with 20schemes. He joined Acts 29 as the Development Manager for Church in Hard Places in July 2018. Rick is married to Sarah and has a son called Aaron. He is a member of Redeemer Fellowship Church, Bardstown, KY.
Natalie Robinson
Assistant to Doug Logan
Natalie joined the Acts 29 team after serving as Editor and Blog Contributor of On the Block Collective. She graduated from The Master’s College with a B.A. in Communications and has over 10 years of administrative experience. Natalie lives in Camden, NJ with her husband, Edward, and their two sons, Emmanuel and Ariel.
Timothy Gillum
Administrative Assistant of Church in Hard Places
Timmy was raised in a non-Christian home in the rural town of Lebanon, KY. He came to faith in January 2017 after attending church with his now fiancée Alex. Timmy joined Redeemer Fellowship Church in Bardstown, KY. He joined Acts 29 as Administrative Assistant for Church in Hard Places in February 2018.
