**Let me start off by saying that I am part of 3 year old church plant. I was also a part of another church plant that was put on hold after being open for a few months. I am NOT leaving my church. Church planting is a weird phenomenon and I just had some questions and thoughts about it.***
Here’s something that I’ve been stewing on a bit lately: Church Planting.
Why do people plant churches? Having been a part of a church plant, I know why we planted – we were asked if we would like to and we did. But having talked to various church planters and having read their “manifestos” or their ideas for a new beginning, I wonder why people plant. Here are a couple reasons that I’ve heard of or seen that disappoint, make me question, or make me think about church planting.
Reason #1 They are doing it all wrong or We are going to do things differently. First off, this language has a very splitting tone to it. People tend to talk like this and it can come across as divisive (Suffice to say, this is probably the worst reason to plant a church). Some church plants (not all) seem to have go about it with the idea that they are doing what is right, and the other churches have it wrong. This is an idea that I’ve seen come out of my own heart and mouth, and I admit it. But the thing is, one day I came to the realization that God speaks to everybody in different ways. I’ve met people who met Jesus through TBN programming or what some may consider shady televangelists. Even myself, a man who came to know Christ on a Greyhound bus while reading a book called WWJD. God speaks to people in ways that only He could, so this idea of I can do it better is not only offensive, but it is wrong. Nobody does it better than God.
Another part of it is the idea of we do it differently because this is how the early church did it. Alot of churches seem to plant under the premises of Acts 2. They share meals, do service projects together, meet at home churches – the live, learn and love together. I admire this idea. We do a bit of these at our church. But I wonder if sometimes people focus more on trying to be different and have different approaches to church rather than sharing the gospel at times.
Reason #2The church needs a jumpstart. This is an interesting idea. It may go the route of Reason #1, but hear me out. I believe that the church does need a jumpstart at times. Sometimes the church may seem stale and in need of some refreshing. The fault though, is that these jumpstarts sometimes come out as simply a smaller version of where they came from. We hear the term of “cookie cutter” churches and I think this might be the fault in these jumpstarts. Sometimes what they are doing is being done in a bigger, better, more attractive way around the corner, and they are simply reinventing the wheel.
Reason #3 This is the direction that the church is headed. Unfortunately, I’ve seen and heard a bunch of stories of churches who plant for this reason. When I was at Trinity Western University, I met a few people who were planting based on the book, “The Shaping of Things to Come” and the ideas that it produced. After this book, (and well before it) there were a slew of books that began to be published centered around this idea. Right before the missional movement in the church, there was the emergent movement which was preceded by the postmodern movement, which was preceded by the mega church movement, etc, etc. So to plant based on the movement of the church could prove to be a little strange.
Reason #4 We need to reach the unchurched that aren’t being reached! I have people telling me all the time that Whatcom County is the least churched county in the Nation! I haven’t seen or read this statistic anywhere for my own eyes, so I don’t know the validity of this charge (if you have a link please send it to me). I don’t really know if this is a valid reason to start a church. Sometimes when we plant like this, we may give off the impression that we are there but we want them to come to us. If this was the reason, then why didn’t we stay at the other church in the first place. Another thing that happens is that when we try to reach the “unchurched” we may be trying to fit a square peg in a circle. In other words, we plant without knowing the culture. All we know is that unchurched people live there and God calls us to go and make disciples. But sometimes we take this great commission over the greatest commandment and we forget to love God and our neighbor. Simply making them disciples without even knowing them.
Again, I am not bagging on Church Plants. I have seen many church plants do amazing things! I have just been thinking of them a little more. Your Thoughts?
isn’t it funny that we Christians condemn Christian artists for not talking about Jesus enough, but when an artist who wasn’t thought to be christian talks about the Divine we claim them as our own…
This past sunday we had “the talk” at church. “The talk” was the money talk, and how we don’t have it. We didn’t meet budget, in fact we were several thousand dollars off. It was hard because of course it’s an awkward conversation, but in the end I think that the people walked away encouraged rather than guilt riden. We showed our budget and where the money is going (i.e. staff, insurance, RCC/NCC, bulletins, etc) and explained what we have cut and/or are cutting. The miracle is that last year we were able to give 20% of our budget away to non profs, benevilance funds, and other various people/organizations in need.
We, the church, make this money converstaion such a dirty talk. Have you ever noticed that when we talk about money, usually it is solomon who is quoted and not jesus. I think this is because Jesus’ words are a little harder (sell everything you have…). I’m not going to get into this right now though, because that is a whole other can of worms.
Anyways, after the talk I felt like we walked out encouraged rather than discouraged. We know exactly where money is going and what we do with it. Unfortunately we live in a time of economic crisis and our human nature tells us to keep it. I saw this cartoon at ASBO Jesus a while ago that showed a pastor asking a person, “Do the birds worry?” t o which the person replied, “Do the birds have a mortgage?” This is are human nature taking over our faith.
So I wonder this:
1. Who else has had this talk with your church? How did you handle it/HOw did they take it?
2. If you are a church worker (Pastor, director, etc), what changes have you seen in the church staffing and budget?
My friend Sam’s, also in my links, friend Wade Hodges wrote this:
“A friend of mine celebrated one year of sobriety today. We got to talking about Alcoholics Anonymous and how helpful it has been to him. He said that from a marketing standpoint AA is hopelessly antiquated. The material was written in 40’s. It uses sexist language, outdated illustrations, and awkward syntax. Yet countless people from all walks of life come to AA and are given the tools they need to make a change in their life. Nobody gripes about the way AA does things. As far as my friend knows, there is no feminist agenda within AA to update the masculine pronouns of the Big Book. There are no young people campaigning to make AA more relevant to their generation. At AA those things are not issues. AA is made up of a bunch of alcoholics who have hit rock bottom and have no other place to go. This reality allows them to see past the irrelevance and grab onto what really matters: a plan that works and a group of people who understand and are there for you no matter what. I guess when you’ve got those things, relevance isn’t that big of a deal.
I wonder how much of our effort in churches to stay relevant, to be hip, and act cool is actually a sign of how little we really understand the gospel. If our churches were full of people who have been grabbed by the gospel—what it means to be lost, what it means to be saved from sin, what it means to die someday and give account to our creator for the mess we’ve made of our lives, what it means to join God someday around his banquet table in the new creation—then would they really care how relevant we are? If they could come to our churches and have their lives changed, really changed, would they gripe about the length of our services? If they found in our assemblies people who really cared and welcomed them into the family and loved them into a relationship with Jesus, would they hop from church to church looking for better music? I don’t think so.
Rock bottom alcoholics aren’t looking for a cool program. They’re looking for one that works. Sinners in search of salvation aren’t looking for a cool church. They’re looking for one that can show them the way to salvation.
Until we understand this, everything else is irrelevant.”
Interesting thought…How much is a pastor worth? I’ve heard of some here in bellingham making upwards of $80,000+. I tell you what, I barely cut a quarter of that. What makes a pastor worth $80,000? What, in a church occupation, makes anybody worth this much money? What are the determining factors? Let’s start a discussion on this.
I found this footage while going through old footage the other day. This is a word from Baron regarding Pastors looking into the idea of pastoring in the Missional Church.
Every tuesday at 3:00 I meet with Baron and Cameron for a time of accountability, pastoral mentoring, hospital/home visits, and/or various theological discussion. It was a very interesting time this week as we began discussing the idea of homosexuality and what it looks like – what actually determines a person to be homosexual? Here is a subject that the three of us determined, as pastors/leaders, we are going to have to delve a little deeper into. Usually when describing homosexuality, one begins to think about dude on dude or lady on lady sex acts. But is this what determines them homosexual? Really, is the sin of homosexuality the sex act itself?
We have taken an alternative lifestyle and deemed them sinners simply because of sex practices. What we have done essentially is we have placed people on a sliding scale of sins in the far far reaches away from holiness. Why and how is this any different than my friend who had a baby out of wedlock? When he was having sex he was sinning, but now it seems that he has been redeemed by the goodness of life that came out of the sin. If he eventually gets married, this seems to seal the deal and now he is no longer sinning – totally redeemed.
I wonder then, how was he any different than the homosexual? If a homosexual is not having sex with anybody, then is he/she a homosexual? Is the term “homosexual” simply a sin in itself, and how then are we to react? We as pastors/ministers/followers of christ are going to have to go a little further than simply saying that it is in the Bible and therefore it is a sin. This is not a rallying cry against homosexuality, but instead it is a cry for us to begin to think and look a little closer at what we are for and against. People are asking for answers and as responsible followers of Christ, we need to be ready with them.
I found this test while lurking on Tyler’s site who found it on Stuff Christians Like. It’s a test to see How Metro your Worship Leader is. I didn’t score too well on this test (30 pts). In fact, I think that our pastor Baron Miller scored better than me (according to my calculations he scored a 41). He really is pretty Metro as it is…
Here’s where I scored on the test.
1. Has a faux hawk hair style = +1 (When it is long enough)
2. Has more product in his hair than your wife = +1 (I use a lot of product and compare notes with other guys)
7. Owns Puma, Vans or Diesel sneakers = +2 per each pair (2 pair)
8. Wears jeans on stage = +1 (and shorts.)
12. Wears one of those Castro revolution looking hats = +2 (Yes)
14. Drinks some kind of coffee you did not know existed = +2 ( I work at the ‘bucks.)
17. Good at Frisbee but hates getting all “sweaty” = +1 (That’s why I play ultimate frisbee)
25. Uses the words, “postmodern, relevant” or “emergent” nonstop = +2 (not non stop)
27. Has ever said some form of the phrase, “That song is so 1990s” = +1
30. References Norwegian punk bands you’ve never heard of = +2 (I just love music)
33. Looks as if he might exfoliate = +2 (I once worked for Lancome)
34. Has a man bag or European Carry All = +2 (My Murse is my everything)
35. Brings said bag on stage with him = +2 (Where am I going to store my music?)
44. Owns every Nooma video = +2 (By default. Our church owns them)
45. Has a soul patch = +3 (opting for the shaved look these days. The Soul Patch is for people who can’t grow handlebars or connectors for the goatee)
52. He wears graphic t-shirts over button down, long sleeve shirts = +2 (why wouldn’t you?)
Click on the link and share how you or your Worship Leader or your pastor scored!
We had some people from the Christian Reformed Church (CRC) come and interview us today for a video to show their leaders of their denomination about Roosevelt Community Church and how God is moving through local missions here in our neighborhood. It was a pleasant experience because I was able to hear stories from different people in our congregation of why they come to RCC and why they love it.
For me, it wasn’t about a guy shooting a video and documenting God’s achievments at RCC. As a worship director, my part was easy as all I had to talk about was the worship life at RCC and different ways we worship (ie: organic devotional journals, Assets for Change board, Film for Thought, etc.). The most amazing thing for me though, was to hear stories of actual liturgy – a work done by the people. Hearing stories of people doing church in new and different ways and their willingness to have God use them only to feel blessed by Him was pretty incredible.
God is moving RCC and soon Northwest Community Church to help us bring neighbor back to the hood. That is what we are about, we are chasing the darkness. I am proud to be a part of it.
Well, my wife was sick and then I got sick. You can tell where I am going with this. I didn’t get to the gym as much as I wanted to (only 3 times), but I did keep a semi healthy eating regimine. So here is how it went down:
So I lost 2 lbs and a half an inch on my chest and waist. It was really hard this week because I really wanted to eat bad because I was sick. My wife pesters me by telling me, “now you have all of those people on your blog who are going to keep you accountable.” Thanks honey. Anyways, what I did different this week was I really tried to keep an eye on what I ate and drank. Basically I looked at what I was putting into my mouth before I put it in there. I need to start an eating journal. That’s what I want to do. That would probably get it going.
How are you doing this week?
***Here are more people who are involved in the NMFAPIMWLC. Check out their progress!
**Let me start off by saying that I am part of 3 year old church plant. I was also a part of another church plant that was put on hold after being open for a few months. I am NOT leaving my church. Church planting is a weird phenomenon and I just had some questions and thoughts about it.***
This past sunday we had “the talk” at church. “The talk” was the money talk, and how we don’t have it. We didn’t meet budget, in fact we were several thousand dollars off. It was hard because of course it’s an awkward conversation, but in the end I think that the people walked away encouraged rather than guilt riden. We showed our budget and where the money is going (i.e. staff, insurance, RCC/NCC, bulletins, etc) and explained what we have cut and/or are cutting. The miracle is that last year we were able to give 20% of our budget away to non profs, benevilance funds, and other various people/organizations in need.
