I don't often write about my experiences as a Vineyard church planter. I sort of think most people in regular civvy life, Christian or non-Christian are not that interested, so if you aren't a leader and want to pop off and see how we are doing in the Cricket, I'll forgive you.
Still there?
I have put some thoughts from a church planting coach below, which I pass on to any other would-be church planter mad enough to answer the call.
But I have to first add that I recognise some reading this might think it is a weird thing to do. Surely I could find myself a nice quiet hobby. For others, in a more traditional setting, they, perhaps, don't understand why I am not now ordained in the Church of England and making life easier for myself.
But the truth is I love the Vineyard's values and it has been instrumental in keeping me in the Church at a time when I was on the point of giving up. So it is not just a channel of service or an option, but my family. That is not to say the Vineyard is perfect. Far from it. But it one wonderful expression of the beautiful thing we call the Church.
So I find myself church planting because I love the Church and feel it is the best way to reach people with the good news I received myself - that being the gospel of Jesus Christ. To Him I am eternally grateful.
However, many church plants fail and that bothers me. I am told that for every three new churches started in the UK three are closed. If that statistic is true it is deeply depressing. So what can cause a church plant to stumble?
Via Rick Warren. David Putnam, a pastor at Mountain Lake Church, Stateside, makes some worthwhile quick-fire observations regarding:
1. Underestimating the cost
2. Violating the Sabbath
3. Hanging on too long
4. Not having a coach
Although you may need to read this through the lens of your own church situation, one thing that particular stood out at me was the fact that church planters want to rush ahead. David says:
"Most of us quick-start church-planter types are driven by the urgency of the calendar. We tend to focus on a launch date, and regardless if we are ready or not, we launch. Instead of being driven by the calendar, it would serve us well to be driven by milestones. Milestones focus on the accomplishment of strategic actions."
We can also look around and secretly harbour thoughts to be like such-and-such church down the road. It can become our model and benchmark for what we want our church to look like. The result? it can make us disappointed, ungrateful people.
When Jesus describes Peter as 'the rock' the Church would be built upon in Matthew 16:18 I have to smile. In Matthew's gospel Peter doesn't seem to fit the bill at all. Not someone who you would naturally think is solid, reliable and go the distance.
You might also think, as Peter might himself, that Jesus was a lousy judge of character. But God in his infinite wisdom knows better.
Peter made some mistakes, but was used amazingly by God. Any church planter should take encouragement from this example.
I have found a piece of old advice given by Vineyard's founder John Wimber to pastor Lance Pitluck (Anaheim Vineyard) useful and I pass it on as a last thought before the weekend:
"If you have oak, build with oak. If you have bamboo, build with bamboo."
In other words, be content with what you've got.
Whatever you have, the church still gets built. If He is in the centre of the plan and the plan is His, relax. it might not look as you first might imagined or dreamed, but, hey, we go with it and enjoy the ride!
ASD
david putnam is a great guy - met him many years ago. thanks for following my tweets. hope the conference goes well next week.
Posted by: andrew jones (tsk) | January 21, 2010 at 05:13 PM
Thanks, Andrew. Appreciate the comment. Hope life is good with you.
Posted by: AndrewSD | January 21, 2010 at 07:19 PM
Great post. Thank you.
Posted by: David Cooke | January 26, 2010 at 05:12 PM