Recently Dr. Paul Borden, GHC’s Executive Minister asked me, “What’s going on with church planting?” With all of the new churches, expansion around the country and great excitement Paul was asking for clarification--what is happening? Here’s my simple answer: I don’t know.
It seems to me that God is moving in a big way, but honestly, I can’t tell you exactly what is going on. Often when a God-thing emerges, we can’t always explain it or even understand it. Jay Leno recently joked: “Northwest Airlines announced a new slogan this week – 'Where the heck are we going?'" I feel a little bit like Northwest Airlines--I’m not sure of everything that is happening. I don’t know exactly what is going on. Our philosophy of church planting comes from Acts 13 and helps clarify what’s happening with church planting:
“In the church at Antioch there were prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen (who had been brought up with Herod the tetrarch) and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, ‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
—Acts 13:1-3
So, here’s what I do know:
1. THERE ARE HIGH LEVEL LEADERS OUT THERE
Just as there were high level leaders in the early church, there are high level leaders in existence today. We are finding men and women created, called and equipped by God for significant ministries. We’re finding them in Florida, North Carolina, Georgia, Ohio, Indiana, Wisconsin, Texas, Nevada, Montana, Oregon, Iowa, Southern California and even in Northern California!
I realize that Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.”--Matthew 9:37 but, Jesus didn’t say that the workers are extinct, he didn’t say they don’t exist, he said they are few--but they are out there and were spotting them at GHC.
2. HIGH LEVEL LEADERS ARE LOOKING TO CONNECT
I do know that high level leaders are looking for a connection with other like-minded people. The notion that church planters are rugged individualists who don’t want anything to do with anyone else or any organization is a myth. The idea that church planters don’t want friends is silly. Speaking of silly:
10. You’ve got the new i-phone with all its bells and whistles, but nobody has called you in a month.
9. You’re no longer the left-fielder on the Giants.
8. All your phone calls start with 900.
7. You are one of the 5 best solitaire players in the world.
6. Your initials are G.S. and you own a baseball team in the Bronx.
5. At your funeral the entire eulogy is, “Yep, he’s dead.”
4. You’re the starting shooting guard for the Los Angeles Lakers.
3. James Taylor sings the first few bars of “You’ve Got A Friend,” notices you in the audience and stops.
2. You’re still drinking from the same keg you bought on New Year’s Eve 1997.
1. You’re a Church Planter.
3. THERE IS VERY LITTLE SUPPORT FOR HIGH LEVEL LEADERS
I do know that there really are not a lot of great connecting places for high level leaders. One lesson I’ve learned in my short tenure as Director of Church Planting is how little support there is for church planters. There’s a lot of hype out there, there’s a lot of talk, but embarrassingly little support.
The GHC Network has been asked to work with other top church planting agencies in the United States. In our meetings I admit that actually supporting leaders seems to be a missing ingredient in even the top agencies.
We’ve missed this element in church planting in the US. I was part of a group that was connecting leaders, but then the group made a decision to make saving a denomination the top priority, and supporting leaders fell by the wayside. That scenario is all too common.
Honestly, when God says, “Set apart top leaders for the work I have for them,” our response in America has not just been, “No.” It’s been, “Heck No!” We’ve got programs to run and budgets to meet and our own kingdoms to perpetuate, we can’t afford to set apart the Barnabus and Saul leaders in our churches. So, we’ve said, “no” to God.
4. THE GHC NETWORK IS IN A STRATEGIC POSITION TO SUPPORT HIGH LEVEL LEADERS
I do know that we have a unique opportunity within the Growing Healthy Churches group. We’ve put together ten systems of support, and they are starting to work.
-
Spiritual Vitality
-
Funding
-
Connecting
-
Assessing
-
Vision Alignment
-
Training
-
Coaching
-
Caring
-
Creativity
-
Partnering
All of our systems are simply designed to set apart high level leaders, so they can do what God has called them to do.
One last thing I do know:
5. WE’RE SAYING “YES” TO GOD’S CALL TO SUPPORT HIGH LEVEL LEADERS
What’s going on with church planting is we’re simply saying, “Yes, Lord.” God is still getting incredible leaders ready for major ministries. He’s asking us to support them. And we’re saying “Yes.” Here are some practical ways we can all say, “Yes”.
A. Continue Praying
I believe we’re in the midst of an actual movement of God--a real God-thing. Let’s keep praying!
B. Continue Giving
We are able to support planters because you have been generous. Keep up the good work!
C. Spot Church Planters
Maybe there are some Saul and Barnabus-like leaders in your midst. Let us know, perhaps we can help them.
D. Do something to serve a Church Planter
I’d encourage you to simply do one little thing--a phone call, a note, or even a check to let a high level leader know you care.
Take the next step toward becoming a church like the one in Antioch. The church in Antioch made a huge impact because they said, "Yes.” Let’s do likewise.
