Date: Jun 30, 2003 [ 8: 22: 6]
Subject: Summary - Selecting an area
© 2003 BCP Harry Shelton Cole
Subject: Summary - Selecting an area
SUMMARY OF THE BAPTIST CHURCH PLANTING LIST
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Moderated and edited by Pastor Harry Shelton Cole
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Baptist Church Planters List - Question of the Week
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Introduction: This truly was a difficult question. I am not sure that we
can fully understand the scope of it until we actually have to experience
it. On the part of the church planter there must be some survey work done
in seeking the call of God. Preparation does not exclude the call of God.
On the part of a Fellowship or Pastor some responsibility must be exercised
but it cannot be ecclesiastical control. Tough questions is why this list
exists and some questions seem tougher than others. Thanks to everyone for
your responses and keep them coming.
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Baptist Church Planters List - Question of the Week
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Let me set up this Question with a Scenario. A church planter is sent out
from a BBFI church to plant a church in a town of about 50,000 where 2
churches of like faith (IFB) are already doing a work. Sometime later the
same church sends another church planter to the same town. With 1,000's of
towns ( ranging in population from 5-12 thousand in population) in the
state with no church:
1) Should there be peer influence involved in selecting the location for a
church plant?
2) Should there be at least some input among the local preachers regarding
where church plants should be?
I know that this question sounds like it borders on denominationalism but
the answers might help someone determine how a church planter is influenced
by God and how a sending pastor might be led of God to plant another church
or support another church planter.
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Brother Don Tackett, Evangelist who heads up Third World Baptist Missions
and Baptist Home Missions Ministries <http://www.3rdworld.org> (an outreach
ministry of) Temple Baptist Church in Cincinnati, Ohio responded to the
question of the week with the following. I appreciate the thoughtful
comments of a Baptist Church planter who holds the authority of the local
church in high esteem.
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>1) Should there be peer influence involved in selecting the location for a
>church plant?
I am not exactly what you mean by "peer influence".
area of the plant>>>>>
I am persuaded that local churches start churches as opposed to
individuals or fellowships or etc. Because I also believe that the pastor
leads the church in this aspect of missions as in all other decisions and
choices, he needs to be aware of what other churches are doing in a
particular area. Too often I have been to a preacher's meeting and heard the
statement to the effect that there are "no Bible preaching Independent
Baptist churches in that town". Later we learn that there are two or three
we did not know about.
There is a need for better communication and information gathering
before a church decides to start a new work. We need to accurately define
the doctrinal parameters within which we can work and then cooperate rather
than compete with those within the parameters. Once a decision is made
concerning a location we are committed. Once the commitment is made it often
becomes a mater of survival. Where there are two or three efforts being
made it becomes the survival of the fittest. The result is competition both
on the field and with the sponsoring churches.
Much of this competition and duplication of effort can be avoided if
we are better informed concerning the field and the efforts of other
churches. The pastor leads in these decisions so it is he who needs to be
informed. Information is a requirement for intelligent prayer and prayer is
an un expendable part of our leadership.
The Lord leads churches through the leaders He gives them (Eph.4:11)
and the Lord leads His men through the Word , by the Spirit and for the
glory of Christ in the church. (Eph.3:21) Co-operation is not compromise
when it is within acceptable parameters. As a mater of fact it is Biblical
and essential to New Testament Missions at home and abroad.
>2) Should there be at least some input among the local preachers regarding
>where church plants should be?
If input means sharing information and resources to assist one
another in supporting and encouraging new works the answer is yes. If input
means collectively deciding if , when , and where new works are to be
started or prohibiting or hindering by exerting influence the answer is no.
Church planting is not a race to win a prize but a responsibility to be
fulfilled. If it were to be compared to a race it would be a relay rather
than a sprint.
In a sprint each runner runs his own race for his own glory. In a
relay each runner runs his best at his time and in his place for the team
victory. How are we doing in the effort to bring Him glory in the church?
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Brother missionary Dennis Ebert responds to the question of the week. This
brings up an interesting thought. Missionaries often love and get giddy
about the thought of another missionary coming to work with them for while
and pool their efforts. Why is it we feel so threatened by others?
-Rhetorical-
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> 1) Should there be peer influence involved in selecting the location for a
> church plant?
In my experience, the question as to where to establish a church
should be strictly in the mind of the planter directed by the will of
God. Who can say what God has to accomplish. There are too many
opinions that would influence in bad as well as good ways. The only
thing that should determine the decision, is the fact that God has
called that man to that place.
I realize that there are so many variables. However, if that planter
is not convinced that it is the place God placed him but he is there
because of some ones influence, in the time of hardship he may not
have the conviction to stay.
We have planted churches in towns that have had a multitude( 7 in one
case) of churches attempted to be planted by missionaries and
nationals. None stayed more than 4 years. They all died. Every one
said it was too "Catholic. Can't be done. No body has done it in 25 years".
This coming Sunday, I will be preaching in that church that is more
than 10 years. They have purchased their own property, built their
own building and have about 200 in attendance.
> 2) Should there be at least some input among the local preachers regarding
> where church plants should be?
Yes, but the only input that is legitimate in my mind, is the encouragement to
do it if that is Gods will. Maybe he won't make it. Maybe he is mistaken,
but that must, must, must, be between him and the call of God. We
preach and teach that the need is not the call of God.
I don't discount wisdom or advise from older men of God, but even
that must not be pressure to do something, but advice based on experience.
The problem in that situation, the adviser becomes offended if the
advisee doesn't follow the advise.
In our method of planting, we force the man to wait until he knows where
God is calling him. Then when he is sure, even if the town of
100,000 has 10 IB churches, go do it. Anyway, most of those others
are not building anything. They are just maintaining and generally,
only a handful at that. Usually, there is only a couple of them that is
going to grow and build something of any consequence.
The influence should be to encourage and help him find a way to
accomplish what God has given him to do. If God isn't in it, then he
won't have anyone to blame when he doesn't make it. But up til now,
we have only had one that has crashed. He is out of the ministry.
Not because of the church failing, but because he doesn't do the work
of God. Sort of like John Mark, if you know what I mean.
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Jeryl Bennett of Bethel Baptist in Battle Creek, MI, does not mince his
words. He is abruptly to the point and answers the question of the week
with practical wisdom. Thanks Jeryl.
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If a state has thousands (?) of towns with no church, it looks to me to be
very clear that a church has no business sending two men to the town to do
the same job independently of each other.
1) Should there be peer influence involved in selecting the location for a
church plant?
Here in Battle Creek several thousand dollars were spent to get some outside
firm to determine the needed location of a new fire station. All the city had
to do was to ask any fireman in the present stations and the location of a
needed station would be immediately ascertained. If a man going to a town to
start a church can even get another man to talk to him, the advice given
would be excellent and proper as to where to locate to reach the people he is
after. Not everybody is attempting to reach the same people.
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Marc Leverett is a pastor in Mobile, AL, and member of the P-list. I
believe he like most of us see beyond the politics of church planting.
There is and must be a way to look beyond the mechanisms of men and trust
only in the patterns set forth by God. Thank Marc for your answer to the
Question of the Week.
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>1) Should there be peer influence involved in selecting the location for a
> church plant?
In my opinion, there is not much chance that there will be much cooperation
between churches in this area any more than exists in any other area among
IFB's. How would it be done? How binding could it be? What would be
recourse against rogue works? Yes, there should be some form of genuine
cooperation between us all in this area but unless ALL are willing to do it
we will still have those who deem your work or mine as insignificant and
send their man in to "teach 'em how it's done". I know some who have that
attitude and have watched about six of them come and go in our area over
the past 14 years. None remain. All failed and the other IFB churches must
clean up the mess they made and live with the stigma.
>2) Should there be at least some input among the local preachers regarding
>where church plants should be?
I have observed that whatever input there is whatever kind that is
sought for. Input that is not sought for is usually labeled as griping or
meddling!
Market forces. It works in the economy and it works in the ministry. Of
course I am assuming that the Acts 13 method as the Holy Spirit leads is
the prime pattern. It is a Holy Spirit matter. Practically speaking, the
scenario you described is not the ideal but who am I to say what another
church does with its money or personal? The fields are white!
BTW I would love to meet a God called man who is willing to come to Mobile
and pay the price of patience to build another good work here. He would
find in me a friend.
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Dr. Jerry Burton, state representative of the BBFI from Ohio is a member of
the P-list and we appreciate his comments concerning this question.
Here in the State of Ohio, in order for a church to be started and sponsored by
the OBBF, in a particular city, there must be a sponsoring church. If there is
another BBF church in that city, there must be agreement from that existing
church that it is ok with them to begin another work. While we have no
"ecclesiastical" authority over any man starting a work, we do have control over
whether or not we agree to support the new work. We believe that we ought to be
good stewards of God's money as well as the expenditure of energy in the "church
planting" ministry.
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