Church Planting in 2007...

When we started our church 6 1/2 years ago, there was nothing like NNCC or ChurchPlanters.com for church planters (or at least if there was, I didn't know about it). This led me to plant CF without having a clue as to what I was doing or having any guidance as to a strategy about launching a church. I had never read a book on church planting because I was told that all this stuff was carnal and all that I needed was the Bible and the Holy Spirit. I know that sounds really spiritual, but that's like a couple saying that all they need is love. How can you argue with that? The truth is, God's Spirit works in a variety ways: through strategic means as well as through the spontaneous.

It wasn't until about year or two into our church plant that I started reading books that were really helpful in so many ways. I look at the guys going out to plant churches now and I'm so thankful that there are groups that are working really hard to help church planters to be as prepared as possible to plant churches.

I planted at the tail end of an era that wanted things to be hard for church planters. The mentality was: it as hard for me, so it should be for you as well.

Now the thinking has changed to: let me tell you every mistake I made so you don't have to repeat it.

I'm thankful that there's a new generation of church planters starting churches that are way more equipped than I was. It makes for healthier churches from the start.

So here's what I'm saying:

Church Planters - learn all you can. Get wisdom. Talk to people. Read books. Listen to mp3's. Go to conferences. If someone tells you that all that stuff isn't Spiritual because it's planned, you have my permission to smack them ;) By the way, don't be cocky! There's nothing that make me want to give the right fist of fellowship to a person than a church planter who hasn't had a service yet, but thinks he knows it all. Be humble. God opposes proud people. There's a generation who did it with much less than you have. Show some respect. You'll be surprised how much you can learn if you'll stop talking about how great your vision is and listen to the wisdom that older church planters have learned over the years.

Church leaders - help these guys out! Remember wishing someone was there to help you? Now is your opportunity to break the cycle. Give these guys the assistance that you never got. Get over the mentality that says, "I didn't have any help and I did OK, so let them learn the way I did." That's not kingdom thinking. That's selfish and bitter talk. It's like the guy who walks away from his family and says, "I didn't have a dad and I turned out OK." No you didn't. You have issues that you don't even know about. Why make things for that church planter more difficult than it needs to be? Ministry is hard enough without church leaders making it more difficult. Be part of the blessing in helping a new ministry get started. I have found that this is true joy.

These are great times we're living in...

Comments

[chuckmusselwhite]

I think we need to show people it can be done differently and better. I know I have blown my Pastor's mind with what we are doing. Sometime they need to see a different perspective. You have been huge in helping us get over that mindset. Thanks

[presfwrd]

Hey Bob,
(I am the guy you said not to "throw the baby out with the bath water") Any how, I appreciate what you had to say here. Being in CC for 28 plus years has been rewarding but also very difficult. I planted one church that went well, but being alone in a big state with very few other CC's, caused me to step out with this big idea to duplicate the work God was doing with us,in another state, against my pastors wishes. It did not work out, and I was humbled and very sorry I had failed to listen to him. Five years later & I am still having difficulty being restored to him even after eating loads of humble pie. I basically burned that bridge forever I guess. It has been tough moving forward because I practically am going it alone. Instead of attending the pastors conference, I just get to entertain some of my pastor friends as they travel to Murrieta. It stinks, but the Lord is working all things out for His glory.
In any case,church planting is very difficult, and there does not seem to be enough good information in this specific area.
Perhaps I can write about my "parachute drop" flop and have you forward it,huh? Keep up the good work man.
Oh yeah, the baby and the bath water are gone for now! Jerry

[presfwrd]

Hey Bob,
(I am the guy you said not to "throw the baby out with the bath water") Any how, I appreciate what you had to say here. Being in CC for 28 plus years has been rewarding but also very difficult. I planted one church that went well, but being alone in a big state with very few other CC's, caused me to step out with this big idea to duplicate the work God was doing with us,in another state, against my pastors wishes. It did not work out, and I was humbled and very sorry I had failed to listen to him. Five years later & I am still having difficulty being restored to him even after eating loads of humble pie. I basically burned that bridge forever I guess. It has been tough moving forward because I practically am going it alone. Instead of attending the pastors conference, I just get to entertain some of my pastor friends as they travel to Murrieta. It stinks, but the Lord is working all things out for His glory.
In any case,church planting is very difficult, and there does not seem to be enough good information in this specific area.
Perhaps I can write about my "parachute drop" flop and have you forward it,huh? Keep up the good work man.
Oh yeah, the baby and the bath water are gone for now! Jerry

[Steve Lavey]

Bob --

Thank you for the words about helping out others who are thinking about planting so that the Kingdom is advanced. At Park, we are starting to think about planting other churches in Chicago and are just trying to soak in all the experience and lessons learned from folks like you. We may try to buy you coffee one day and get your counsel on the do's and the don'ts (especially as we think about what type of person does well as a CP).

Steve Lavey
www.20millionminutes.com
Park Community Church
Chicago Illinois
www.parkcommunitychurch.org