I planted from the Vineyard community of churches. This would be in 2003 or so, and there was an increasing amount of training they were doing then after not being very intentional about how to train planters. But much of what I picked up was in relationship and conversation with coaches, mentors and other planters, some of which was great, some of which I – in hindsight – would do differently.

I'll email you separately about your movement; I see links from your blog to check out also! Thanks for coming by, and the links. Hop into the conversation more often here, eh?

I was told that we needed to build a Faith Community – that's what is important. That speech lasted 15 minutes and then the days that followed were filled with strategies and processes for getting a church plant up and running quickly. I was taught principles that directly violate what Jesus taught.

For me the real turn off with what we are being taught (BootCamp) is that we are setting people up for failure and this is not the strategy of Jesus. There are miles of broken church planters who failed in the process they were taught.Bodies of young emerging leaders who are now disillusioned and hurt. Jesus taught us how to do it by focusing on building faith communities of disciples who make disciples who make disciples themselves.

I keep speaking against the (BootCamp) process and it continues to fall on deaf ears. I was like Jeremiah weeping in my heart when I attended the BootCamp and saw what these young and promising leaders were being taught. I even told the presenter publicly that if we spent 3/4 of our time talking about how to make disciples and build faith communities and 1/4 of our time in process we would be better off. Of course that went over like a lead balloon.

If we will make disciples, God will build His Church. We are not Church Planters we are disciple makers and God is the Planter.

Where did you do your BootCamp and with whom?

I would love to speak with you about beginning a disciple driven church movement in your area. Look me up.

Dave – That's good news – I hope these words are helpful to your crew. i'd love to hear their feedback too – especially where they disagree or if I'm unclear. Blessings BGU bro

I want to encourage you that you're not alone, and that it's always a good sign when a church is seeking God for what's next and trying to find it's own identity and calling. From looking at your church's website, it seems as though you also realize that it's a great time to seek God in prayer, so keep at it!

I think we as church planters would do well from time to time to get outside our perspectives a bit and hear from others whose voices we value. Not necessarily the big conference speakers with the dudes who grew their church from 3 to 42,000 in 9 weeks who wants you to copy his model and buy his book, but from the folks that "get it" the way that you "get it". That's why I blog, really – to find ways to connect with people who speak my language.

If we truly are missionaries to our neighbors (and I think we underestimate how true this really is), then time to re-evaluate how we can be the bearers of God's Kingdom in the local culture is needed.

A link that I hope will encourage you at this point – whether or not you find yourselves using the labels of 'emerging' or 'missional' or 'neo monastic' or whatever, I think that church planting today is really well described by David here: http://www.reclaimingthemission.com/2008/05/emerg…

Also, I dunno how far Stowe is from Feasterville, but I know that my bud Todd Hiestand is a good guy to listen to – http://www.toddhiestand.com/, and his church, http://church.thewellpa.com/, is hosting a one-day conference this fall with the author of the book I just summarized on this blog (Al Hsu, The Suburban Christian) – that type of thing may be helpful. http://church.thewellpa.com/news/missional-in-sub…

Blessings on where you are, and keep listening to God, to your team, to your neighbors, and remember that a tree takes years to develop its roots.

Grace and peace,
Pat

We are almost at our 3 year mark in a plant that is not growing in numbers (well, numbers have gone up and down), but we see growth in people's lives, so we figure it's not for naught… But we're in the middle of the "messiness" of planting, and it is not fun. We're stickin' cuz we know it's what we're called to, but trying to figure out who the heck we are as a congregation and what WE are supposed to look like, and what you 'do' with all that expert church planting advice and strategies that just don't seem to be working…

Anyway, perfect timing for us to hear this…

Blessings on you and your community! May God bless your ongoing work.