What I Love About Church Plants
Even though we just finished a church planting season and even though it was a great adventure, we did not think we would get involved in a church plant again. At least not so soon but what I am about to share will help you see why there are many reasons we were “ruined for the established church” and became members of another church plant in our area. I’m even hoping you would have the courage to get involved with one near you!
I love church plants because:
- They are needed. Church planting is the Number 1 way to reach people who are unchurched says almost every denomination and church planting book. The reality is that the mission field is no longer 6,000 miles away, its right across the street folks.
- They are more fruitful at reaching new unchurched folks. People need to be given a reason to go to church every week and a new church has a better chance of persuading newcomers that they will be offered something fresh. You’ve got a whole generation of people who have never been in the habit of setting the alarm on Sunday morning. You’re competing with every other option they have – including sleeping in. In South Florida and Cali, add the weather and outdoor sports as competition.
- They usually offer a fresh take on faith. There are so many ways new churches express their love for and need for Jesus that I would have to start a “let me count the ways” post which I won’t. From art during the preaching, videos, dance, and interactive stations, you name it some new church out there is trying it.
- They give two types of people (the called and gifted and the not sure yet what I’m called to and not sure what my gift is people) opportunities to get involved in various levels of leadership. Newcomers usually can quickly assume leadership roles to help make the congregation into the kind of church they want to become based on expressed beliefs and values. The Lowe’s motto “Let’s build something together” really comes alive.
- They aren’t institutionalized yet so everything is new including relationships. People know it’s a new congregation and they aren’t walking into a place where people have 20 years of history and don’t want to know anybody else. It’s a wonderful thing to get to know different people from different backgrounds all sharing just one common thing…their desire to know God more.
- They usually are led by courageous people. Come on folks, you have to have GUTS to plant a church. Guts to follow that voice who they thought was God. I’ve learned to give planters props because this work isn’t easy no matter how much backing it has. And being that I was one for three years…It’s either guts or plain crazy out their mind…I prefer to believe its guts.
- My final reason why I love church plants is because you see God move even in the Plan B mode. Planters and their teams have a planned out strategy for how things will go. That’s plan A. Plan A looks awesome, everything is planned to the T. A lot of time is spent planning that dog gone Plan A. Then Murphy’s Law happens (who the heck is Murphy anyway), in Latino circles its Pancho’s Law happens…and quickly Plan B goes into effect and everyone just grins and bears it. But the wonderful thing is that God still shows up, He still moves and no one in the crowd even noticed (well almost no one lol).
I’ll end with this one beef I have. A lot of folks in the Kingdom want to chill. Not chill for the purposes of letting God work in them as my previous post suggests. Chill in the I don’t want to lift a finger, let everyone work for me, give me some entertainment, have a 100 programs kind of way. I got a problem with that and if I am going to really be real, I question your understanding of the great commission and I think you’re wack. On top of that, I think lazy Christians are in the throw up category. (N0, this is not fact just my theological interpretation you don’t have to like it). I’m I getting you upset. Well, better to be offended now and awakened to the truth than to suffer the consequences of being one of many Christians who make Jesus Christ want to vomit (see Rev. 3:16).
Jesus said to the Christians at Laodicea, “You do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind, and naked. These are strong and offensive words from our Lord to those Christians. Jesus said He was about to vomit them out of His mouth. The Christians in Laodicea were lukewarm. They were neither hot nor cold. They were comfortable and liked things the way they were. I’m sure like many people we know, heck it could be YOU, they went to “church” every Sunday and maybe to a mid-week service. Like then, today there are lots of Christians who are lukewarm. In short, they make Jesus want to vomit.
A church plant in your area needs your support. Monetarily. Physically. Prayerfully. So get involved, in your church or better yet, (if God leads you to) join a new church. Don’t be a lazy Christian in word or deed, don’t make Jesus want to vomit.
