Go Read This Article!

Back in January an article of mine was re:published over at the Next Wave. Bob Hyatt had also submitted an article that dovetailed with mine. They were a good synthesis. Recently I discovered another article by Bob over at open source Theology. He is singing my song here.

In the early days of our church planting adventure I spent some time seeking out other church planters, hoping for some wisdom and encouragement. Man, did I get a wake up call.

There seem to be two distinct schools of thought in the church planting community. The first is “This is hard. Are you sure you want to do this? You don’t look like you’ve got what it takes… I’m not so sure you should do this! Have you prayed about it?”

Gee… thanks.

The second school of thought starts off sounding much like the first, but then takes a dramatic turn: “This is hard. What do you need? How can I help you? Man, what an adventure! Let me pray for you.”

Do you hear the difference?

As someone who is currently in the process of working with my denomination while trying to cultivate a community, i found Bob's article very refreshing. i think Bob  has been reading my e-mail or shares a common journey. I can't agree more when he says,

It’s not rocket science.

Through my experience in church planting I have learned that there’s a hard way to do this and an easy way. The hard way involves plans and proposals, hundreds of thousands in seed money, denominational strings and a host of headaches. “Start with a bang!” they will tell you. “Mailers to every home in three zip codes!” they will advise you. A full band! Complete children’s ministry! Advertising!!!!

Don’t listen.

Start small. Raise some support, trust God for the rest and get a job at Starbucks if need be. Let your community be what it will be. Refuse to do for the people who come the ministry that they should do for themselves. Concentrate on laying a foundation of community and common core values and let your church grow organically without superimposing a grand “vision” on it.

From the Article: Why YOU Should Plant a Church. If your path is leading you to consider why you shouldn't plant a church, do yourself a favor and read this excellent article. I feel encouraged by his words.

 

Comments

[Arlen Hanson]

Man I can relate Darren. This sounds exactly like my life and path over the last few years. I had to get free in heart and head from all the "start with a bang" thinking that I had been indoctrinated with, and that I had seen kill some of my church planting friends and burn them out. I just couldn't do it. So we've started small here, and bi-vocational and we are indeed laying a foundation of community and common values and letting this thing grow organically. This is good stuff, if small and unglamorous, but I wouldn't go back to before. Thanks for sharing this man.
Peace

PS May I be so bold as to ask what denomination you are working with? Just curious. You can reply by e-mail if you like.

[Darren]

Arlen, Check your e-mail.

[George]

I appreciate the perspective of the journey. I have started two church plants with varying levels of success. Each each closed, for different reasons and after different periods of time. Each touched lives, ministered to people who needed God's grace, and each served as growth in my own walk and spiritual formation.

I don't know if I will ever start a church from scratch again, I don't think I will. God has me on a different path of restoring and rebuilding that takes as much faith and confidence in God's grace and power as does planting a new work. sometimes I know it would be easier to start fresh and build without the preconceived ideas and traditions, and values of an existing culture, but God is in the business of redeeming, and restoring what's written off; of rebuilding what's broken down and slated to be demolished.

Wherever God leads, and whatever our calling...if we're walking with God, it will lead to a walk of faith into the impossible.

[bob]

hey man!

thanks for the shout-out :) I appreciate the commonality of thought we share... I had thought about contacting you to see if you'd be at the emergent conv. and then it completely slipped my mind.
Anyway- thanks for the props! :)