Marshall, Colin & Payne, Tony. The Trellis and the Vine: The 
Ministry Mind-Shift That Changes Everything. NSW, Australia: Matthias Media, 2009.
196 pages.
This Australian publication has made an impact across the globe, and rightly so. It is simple in its premise: The church involves both trellis and vine; structure and living organism. We must, therefore, do both trellis work and vine work. Failure to give proper attention to either will damage the other.
This simple premise is worked out into practical ministry contexts through simple, direct chapter discussions. As I read the implications of this ministry paradigm and what this has looked like in the ministries of the authors, I was struck by the simplicity of it all. It felt so first century. Reaching people. Building them up for personal ministry. Empowering them to reach others. Empowering them to build up those others for personal ministry. Simple. Organic. Relational. Biblical.
If you are, or ever hope to be, an elder in a church, I urge you to pick up this book and consider how the implications of this simple concept could frame your entire ministry as an elder.
Grace to you.
