![]() ![]() Then I also wrote to the 100 largest churches in the United States. At that time it was about 80-something books. I've read every book in print that I could find on the church, or church growth, or church structure. So, I read through the New Testament over, and over, and over. ![]() ![]() American principles only work in America, but if it is biblical I believe it is trans-cultural. If it is biblical, I believe it will work anywhere. I began several things: First, I read through the New Testament over and over looking for principles of what is a trans-cultural principle. So the focus is often on the wrong thing - on growth. If they are healthy, they grow automatically. So I began - while I was in Japan - a lifelong study of what is it that makes a healthy church - not necessarily a growing church, but a healthy church. While I was there, I began to say, “What is it in our churches that is cultural, and what is really biblical?” As I looked at the Japanese churches, I saw they were adopting a lot of the things that were not working here, so it just got my mind thinking. Warren: It actually started when I was a short-term missionary in Japan being sent out by the Baptist Student Union years ago in college. ![]() In an interview with Preaching Magazine, Rick Warren answers: How did the concept of the purpose-driven church come to be a part of your ministry? ![]()
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