Date: Jun 30, 2003 [ 8: 21: 0]
Subject: Summary - Planning and staying motivated
© 2003 BCP Harry Shelton Cole
Subject: Summary - Planning and staying motivated
SUMMARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING LIST
===========================================
Moderated and edited by Pastor Harry Shelton Cole
===========================================
Introduction:
We do not have all the answers and the question of the week exhibits this
idea more than any other question. I hope that we are dispelling some
darkness and encouraging others in the work that is most precious to our
Lord -- MISSIONS.
When my father taught me to swim, he threw me into the deep end of the pool
and I had two choices. You guessed it, sink or swim. This is not the best
way to teach someone how to swim. (Don't think to badly of my Dad, there is
more to the story :) A lot of church planters learned how to plant a church
the same way. Thrown into deep waters they feel like a lot of times it is
either sink or swim while others watch. Unfortunately, in my experience, I
have seen too many drop to the bottom of the pool while others look on and
condemn their attempt.
The question of the week is elemental and might be considered the first
strokes of learning to plant a church but they are not easily answered.
Each person has their own idea of how to formulate a strategy to plant a
church and how to effectively carry it out. Answer the question according
to your experience or first hand knowledge.
===================================================
The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
===================================================
Bob Hines in Boise, Idaho, believes there are certain practical things that
a church planter needs to be aware of in the temporal planning of the work.
Not only does he biblically base his approach and practically explain some
areas but he mentions the key to cross cultural church planting. Know the
people. Love the people. Thanks Bob.
=========================================
Good question!
Obviously the Holy Spirit must be in control of the call and the direction
for methods that a church planter uses. The scripture, does however, tell
us to do all things in good order. Our experience in all of our churches
has been to do a survey of the area including all of the current
demographics, go into the town and meet the people door to door with a
survey, then formulate a strategy for starting from the information received.
In one town we put a man on full time to start the work because of the need
of stability for the new work. In another town we held a week's revival
with music, etc. to pull people together to introduce the new work. In
another town the man went into the town, took a very public job, started a
Bible study and spent two years becoming a part of the community before
starting the church. All have worked successfully and all of these churches
are now self supporting, independent, Baptist works. The most important
thing we found here in Boise and in the rest of the works we have started is
that no one method is the universal way for starting a church.
similar to any field of study -- "The more you know the less you think you
know." No two churches are started exactly alike. Beware of an attitude of
pride that because your method worked that you have been chosen of God to
impart wisdom :) >>>>>>>
The people are the ministry, and they will give us the methods we need to
have a successful start if we will ask, look, and listen. We have had many
come from other parts of the country and try to build a church with the
style of ministry that was successful where they came from.
Unfortunately, the vast majority of these men left within 2 years
discouraged and defeated. Those that have built their churches with the
culture of the area in mind have a much better success ratio.
<<AMEN>>>>>
===================================================
Eric Simpson is a graduate of BBC and hopes to plant a church someday. He
was one of the first members of this list and I hope it has been an
encouragement and blessing to him. He offers this pointed, spiritual and
practical response to the question of the week.
=========================================
The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
=========================================
Again I am not a church planter (yet) but I have gleaned much from the
book of Nehemiah. You recently mentioned about the importance of being
prepared. If you will notice the end of chapter 2 shows how prepared
Nehemiah was. He was ready to answer the king and to ask for materials
for the work. I feel that there are many such great applications from
Nehemiah building the wall of Jerusalem to church planters.
===================================================
Larry Olson just had a great day at his charter service and we praise the
Lord with Him for what He has done. He answers the first part of the
question of the week with some detail about how a church planter should
begin to plan his work. This shows insight into the real core of church
planting --- people. Thanks Larry.
=================================================
The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
=================================================
Many times a church planter will go into an area because someone has
suggested that this area of the city needs a church. The person that makes
the suggestion will have one of the best minds for an area. I have found
that people have boundaries to their city that new people to the area will
not no anything about. I have found in my city that a highway is a
boundary line that people west of that line don't want to cross to go to
church or shop. People are funny and have a strange way of seeing their
"village" or area of the city that is theirs.
Many times staring a church will be determined on the type and lifestyle of
the people that live in an area that you would like to start a church.
Being a detective would certainly help a great deal.
=================================================
Just being around Marc Leverett is encouraging. Some of that exuberance
comes through in his posts. A welcomed contributor, Marc always has a down
to earth practical sense approach to his advice and counsel. Thanks Marc.
===================================================
The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
===================================================
The most stimulating, exciting, rewarding, and even terrifying aspect of
planting a new church is BEGINNING. The first steps are risky steps. We
can plan, pray and prepare all we want and it still comes down to the FIRST
SERVICE. Until it assembles... there is no church, embryonic or otherwise.
So all our plans must dovetail into this all important first service.
Whether it be in a home, school, rented meeting room at a hotel, storefront
or barn it has to be advertised, promoted, planned out, funded, prayed over
and HELD. Preparation for it could include: handing out of flyers,
newspaper ads, door to door visitation, placards posted on any available
wall or bulletin board.
If so, you will flounder for a while you decide what to do. The beginning
usually is met with the most effort and very few plans. Assuming I am a new
church planter, How do I plan the work? Marc relates that planning should
focus on the first service. Amen. But also think long term in the areas of
resources , and effort. >>>>>>
As for staying motivated, this is a necessary factor in every aspect of
church planting. But, in the area of actually starting the work and
continuing to work it there are two indispensable motivating forces:
# 1 The Call. If it is sure, then God wants you to do what He's called you to
do.
Great Barrington, "Make sure God has truly called you. For when everything
else is going wrong, your call will be the only thing you have to lean on."
# 2 Faith (different from optimism but works similarly) We must have
faith that God will build HIS church and that He will do it through this
particular effort. The "swimmer" must swim. No one else can do that for
him. The watchers can be rooters but it is lonely in the pool. Sink or
swim? Yes! Isn't it exciting?!! Anyone ready to jump in?
===================================================
Somehow this week the question of the week made it to the BBFI-P list. I
have done this in the past on purpose but not this time. I am glad it did.
Brother Jeff Merrick, Pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Walla Walla, WA,
responded to the second part of the question of the week on how to stay
motivated in carrying out the work. He states that the responsibility of
encouragement should come from us and it is more than, (dare I say it while
I am trying to raise it for our first land & building -- gulp!) MONEY!
Hebrews 3:13. I hope he joins our list.
=============================================
The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
=============================================
A man must have a call and he must have faith when he goes to plant a
church. Yet, after months of labor and seemingly few results, a call can
loose its excitement and faith can loose its strength.
1. It starts in college. Present not just chapel speakers who have been
"successful," but those who have also been faithful. Men who went to a small
town and labored for 7 or 8, even 10 years and have 40, 45 people.
But they have "stuck." This way young men do not expect 100 in the first
year. They have a realistic goal. - FAITHFULNESS
2. We need to stop trying to buy our way out of missions responsibility.
When we want to encourage a man in this spot we send him $50.00. Go ahead
and send the $50.00. But then call and see when you can come and help him
knock doors. Be apart of the work with him. Let's take some of our people
down to help out with flyers. It will help the work and our people. A BABY
CHURCH NEEDS TO KNOW THEY ARE NOT ALONE.
Conferences by brother Dave Brown and the guys up in WA state. Any church
planter who is starting a new work is really encouraged and exhorted by the
events that surround this type of meeting >>>>>>
3. If our church is close enough, let's send a willing family or two to his
services on Sunday until he gets that tough first couple of families of his
own. This will keep him encouraged and help him keep what visitors he does get.
4. Don't say, "Son, you need to come to the fellowship meetings." "You need
the fellowship to stay fresh." Since most Preachers support "home" missions
different than foreign, he is probably more worried about where he is going
to get next weeks groceries than how he is going to get to the "meeting." If
your church is able, send him a check for gas and pay for his motel for a
night. HE DOES NEED THE FELLOWSHIP, BUT HE PROBABLY CAN'T AFFORD IT.
=============================================
Several times this past week, my server has given me a hard time about
sending messages to the Philippines but when Dennis responded to the
question of the week I was sure that some messages had made it. Planning
seems to be a difficult question to answer. Staying motivated is it's tough
big brother. Most people put more thought and effort into buying a car than
some church planters do in planning their work. While there is no one plan
that will work better than another, I am firm believer in the old cliche in
the question of the week. Dennis addresses methods slightly and then hits
motivation. Thanks Dennis for your insights.
==================================================
> The old cliche goes "Plan your work, then work your plan". In the area of
> Baptist Church planting how do I plan the work of starting a church, then
> how do I stay motivated to continue working it?
==================================================
I am not sure just what plans should be made other than knowing that
it is the place that God has called. With the place comes the
method. It seems that every place has a different method of
starting.
common things that can be done to initiate a good start for your church and
your family, Don't you think? Home missions may have less logistical
concerns than foreign but they are concerns. Ask any preacher's wife :) >>>>>
For some there may be a home with a basement or carport, garage, etc.
For others, there may be money for a store front. What ever the
place, that would be necessary to acquire in advance. Other things
might be song books, chairs, etc.
As to the motivation. I think that will be the work itself.
Of course there are discouragements and times of wondering about the
work. However, that comes with any work, whether it is established
or not. The thing that will keep a man going will depend on the
person, absolutely.
will come and in working through them it goes without saying that one must
depend upon the Lord. But what have been your sources of encouragement? As
a church planter or as a supporter of a church planter how has God used
others to give you the lift that you needed at any given time? >>>>>
Like anything else in Lords work, the only formula for success is
following the principles of the Word of God. If that is done, I do
believe that God will provide the necessary motivation.
==================================================
Joe is a very new church planter and finds himself where many of us have
found ourselves. The very purpose of this list is to encourage enlighten
and develop the hearts and minds of church planters. Thanks Joe for taking
the time to post this note of reality in the area of planning. Planning is
not a means to an end but rather is the answer and result of a higher call.
Remember, "Faith is best measured when God withdraws his blessings rather
than in the middle of them."
==================================================
This list has been interesting but this topic caught my eye (planing) I
am fresh out of college and have no idea or how to planting a church. We
moved here (York, Nebraska) to plant a church on 8/1/96. God has really
blessed and given us a building to meet in. We have knocked many doors,
run ads in newspaper, handed out many flyers. Two families were saved and
planning on getting Baptized on 11/3/96. The devil begin to attack. The
two families that were saved are a part of AA. I don't know what happened.
Sometimes I feel that I did something wrong. I planned, planned, prayed,
prayed and prayed. On 11/3/96 when the families were to be baptized the
devil hit full force. One family the husband left, the other said he was
confused and his wife told him he was not ready to be baptized. What a
hard blow to a baby church, and its new pastor. The sermon I preached on
Sunday morning (11/3/96) Walking By Faith Matthew 14, hit me right in the
face. That's all I had to hold on to was my faith in the Lord knowing
that He called me here for a reason. I can't give up, I will not give up.
I look at what has taken place in the past two days. My plan is to be
prepared for the mountain top but also for the valley.
END
2003 BCP HOME PAGE
=================================
Pastor Harry Shelton Cole Moderator
bcp@baptistchurchplanting.com >:-o