So You Want to Plant a Church, eh?
I have a bone to pick…
Church-Planter has replaced Worship-Leader as the sexiest ministry job. Come on, you know it’s true.
Why has this happened? Well, I have a few ideas, but I’ll not go into those. Suffice it to say that I doubt that its because recent interest the missionary journeys of the Apostle Paul has taken a large leap.
Please allow me to cut through your glossy-eyed ideas of the dreamworld that some of you wanna-be church-planters might be living in. You know, the dream where you have the cool communication skills of Rob Bell, the rants of Mark Driscoll, the theological prowess of John Piper, and a church bigger than Joel Osteen’s in half the time it took him. You know. That dream.
Allow me to share with you from my brief experience in church-planting.
- Church-Planting is freaking hard. You are living in some sort of la-la-land if you think its not. If you sit out in your current church on Sunday mornings listening to you pastor and thinking, “I could do that better,” you’re probably not ready. Understand that man’s journey and some of the pain he’s walked through first, please.
- Church-Planting is freaking expensive. You not only will have the joy of paying for your own living costs (which will be pretty high, probably) but you’ll have the added excitement of raising the $150-$250k that guys like Ed Stetzer say you need to show up with, just to play the game.
- Church-Planting is freaking painful. When you plant, you will find yourself in a relationally challenging place. Your relationship with your wife, your kids, and your friends will all change because all of a sudden, you’re bearing the weight of a vision. Not to mention that you’ll probably be moving away from your family and friends, which is also very easy, let me tell you. People are sinful, and working with them will be very, very painful.
- Church-Planting brings out your junk for all to see. Guess what, when you lead, all your issues get magnified. Your sin starts to affect not just you, but your church. Yay.
- Additionally, you’re going to have to find new friends, meet new people, lead people to Jesus, hunt for venues, raise insane amounts of cash, argue with neat-nicks and the occasional weirdo, pray, fast, pack, move, unpack, etc, etc, etc.
So why do it?
The only, only reason you should church plant… because Jesus told you to.
Please, if you’re a minister who’s having wanderlust, if you’re a pastor who wants to be more, if you’re a seminary student who has listened to too many podcasts, if you just want the church that you’ve always wanted, don’t plant.
Not unless Jesus has told you to. Every other reason? Idolatry. Damnable. Horrible. Unworthy. Unchristian. Prideful. Idolatry.
There’s one more thing to add to my list. Church-Planting is, if you’re called to it, freaking awesome, because its what Jesus wants you to do, and when you do it, you’re obeying the one who’s dreams for you actually matter. And trust me, they’re better than yours.
Yes and amen… great post Adam.
Thanks Myssi! Keeping it real.
I’m glad you are, people need to know. I’ve been thinking lately how church planting is a little like teenagers who want the baby, but then have to go to the class where they take care of the doll… hmmm..:) But kids in the right time are awesome. keep up the great writing!
Thanks!
Ha! This post is right on! Having been part of a church plant for a year and a half now, I totally agree with all that you’re saying. It’s so worth it though. We have experienced the love of Christ in new ways that we never could have imagined. It’s been messy, discouraging, frustrating, and beautiful. You know exactly what I mean!
Now I know why I don’t want to church plant. Only if Jesus physically manifests himself and commands me to!
You guys are great and my prayers are with you.
Gretchen Fagans last blog post..Thoughts on the Red and Pink Day
It is indeed a tough job. Advancing God’s kingdom is also the greatest work and adventure to be a part of no matter what your role is or where you serve.
Yes, awesome!
Mike Watkinss last blog post..A Sin Tax: Economic Boost?
Adam, good stuff.
I laughed so hard at your thoughts, and the way you stated them. So true!
I guess many good christian folk sort of go thru the intitial phase of glamorizing church-planting. I am curious how God may have used people in their pride and ego to go do something just for the sake of changing them, and eventually planting something. I think God can use pride. He does USE people, right?
I definitely agree with the needing to know what God wants for you to do. There is no other way to have confidence and endure something hard, although I speak theoretically and from my imagination mostly.
The challenges of church planting also increase dramatically when one goes to a place where their language is different. I guess English can be spoken, but yet be so different too.
I heard some interviews with a lay movement in Gr. Britain who use vocational ministers minimally, thus minimizing costs. They constantly train lay leaders in the works of ministry and empower them. I am imagining the cost of that financially would be significantly less.
I know that much church-planting taught these days talks about certain ways and means, but unfortunately they seem very “American” or capitalistic, which can be darn right offensive in certain cultures. I am challenged when I know the cultural and philosophical shifts taking place in America, which have already taken place in Europe a generation or 2 ago.
There are many ways to skin a cat, and I am trusting God to reveal what’s best for Marseille, France in His timing.
Thanks for the challenging post. I hope to be up your way in the next couple years. By the way, we move to France this summer to start a one year intensive language school. Should be quite the challenge.
May the Lord continue to give you insight and revelation!
Matt