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... 

‘A House for His Glory' is rich in stories from Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. Many of us will have seen the Transformation videos and Colin is now able to add many more local signs of God at work in this way among us. He outlines, through biblical examples and the experience he has garnered, practical steps and principles that need to be put into place if we are to see a unified church emerge in our cities. Worship, holiness, prayer, repentance and relationships are some of his major rally cries. But chapters are also given to the ‘serving the city' and ‘care for the poor and needy'. His eschatology (end times theology) is positive in the post millennial tradition of Jonathan Edwards, and so challenges the more gloomy dispensationalist teaching that has characterized some Evangelical-Pentecostal churches in the second half of the last century.

The book can be read in a couple of hours and is to the point. Its tone is inclusive and has links to useful websites and a bibliography of recent publications on the city church theme.

Colin Shaw, A House for His Glory  (Toowoomba: TC Books, 2007) pp176.
Copies can be purchase from Paul Prestidge ( This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for $14.95.