Over time those holes will get filled, and if you’re showing love throughout the process, you can maintain those relationships. One practical way that I did this was to ask other staff and volunteers if there was anything I could do to help them through the transition. That simple offer of help went a long way in showing that I cared.
Communicate . . . a LOT
As a church planter, the temptation can be to only communicate with those who have decided to go with you. When you are planting in the same community as the sending church, it’s important to talk and meet with people who are staying as well.
I had regular meetings with my sending pastor and we still talk on the phone or get together for coffee periodically to keep that relationship intact. I also regularly email, call or text people from my sending church letting them know how I’m doing and asking how they are. Keeping up communication helps the sending church feel like they are still part of our church plant instead of feeling like I just left.
Even Where Church Campuses are Close: Thank God for the Privilege
Even though there were some tensions we had to navigate, I thank God regularly for the privilege of planting in our local community. We didn’t have to move. Many of our friends came with us. My children didn’t have to change schools. Our church has grown quicker and stronger than if we had planted far away because we were able to focus on the activity of building up the church right away instead of resettling.
Church planting nearby our sending church came with many challenges and blessings, but it has been so worth it all. In May of 2018, we had our first preview service of the Lighthouse Vineyard Church in an Elkhart mall. Around 65 people helped us launch and since then we have grown to around 140 people each week.
Every Sunday I get to participate in seeing a new Vineyard church shining the love of Jesus in the city of Elkhart. To God be the glory!
This article on nearby church campuses originally appeared here, and is used by permission.
