3. Planters Who Plant Churches in Their Heads
Church planting is the en vogue choice at the moment for those who feel called by God to pastor. Blogs, other websites and conferences abound telling “How To” success stories from the sometimes rich and always famous. We can learn from the numerically successful and even the A-list speakers on the conference circuit (see “famous”). Many of us have benefited from the principles and practices of these well-known personalities, authors and planters.
However, church planters must be called to a people not a thing (a church planting model or method). They must think like missionaries who are passionately in love with the people to whom they are called. If that is the case, they must be willing to check their church planting brains at the door of where God has called them. The way God plans to impact a community in Madison, Wisconsin or Charlotte, North Carolina through a new church may be radically different than Sydney, Australia or Seattle, Washington.
As a church planter and leader, I make mistakes and do some things right. I am still learning. There are days when I feel like the poster I once saw, that the purpose of my life was to serve as a warning for others.
If God can use our mistakes to help someone else succeed for His glory, I am proud to surrender the information! Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. He will continue to be all you need in the church leadership adventure.
