What would you say to a church planter?

January 1st, 2008

I had the opportunity to exchange a brief email today with a new friend who’s church planter, and realized that what I wrote to him would be fun to post for any church planters out there:

Stay focused on your vision of mission and relationship with Christ in community, and don’t make decisions that would dilute that vision for the sake of fast growth.  It’s not worth it.  Be who you are called to be, as a man, a husband and dad, a planter; trust God to do his part.  Take 1 Cor 3:5-7 seriously, even when you don’t see it happening.  (Ditto that for all the other promises and prophecies that come your way :-)).  Take an eternal perspective, especially when the day to day sucks.  Find trustworthy people who speak your language and who get and support what you’re trying to do – these friends and mentors are worth far more than gold – they’re worth your sanity and your soul.

If you were given the opportunity to to write advice and encouragement to people who in the process of starting new churches, what would you say?

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  1. Wayne Park January 2nd, 2008

    probably, slow down… (it’s what I’ve been told), discern carefully before starting.. and do your homework before starting….

  2. Pat Loughery January 2nd, 2008

    Good stuff.

    What kind of homework are you thinking or, in particular?

  3. Wayne Park January 2nd, 2008

    I would think demographic, i.e ethnic, financial, churched, etc – also trends – what kind of growth (or lack of – I’ve learned that Detroit is a city that has been in sharp decline in terms of business, economy, etc) population percentages, (Austin TX is like 75% of its pop between ages 20 – 40) … I’ve found stuff like this to help know what we’re trying to do…

  4. eugene January 3rd, 2008

    i’d add…

    relax.
    laugh at yourself.

    god doesn’t need you.
    you don’t have to.
    you get to.
    enjoy.

  5. Colleen EH January 3rd, 2008

    I was recently asked this same sort of question. What came to mind at the time was attitude and perspective. Constantly maintaining a positive attitude has been crucial for our three years as church planters. If you are a glass half empty kind of a person it could prove difficult to recover from the rough times that will surely come your way.

  6. Wayne Park January 3rd, 2008

    Colleen + Matt – I’d personally love to hear more about your journey the past 3 yrs – the ups and downs…

  7. Pat January 3rd, 2008

    Well, I know *for certain* that a major up for Colleen and Matt happened when we walked through their doors ;-)

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