Archive Single View
11/17/07
Church Planter or Crossing Guard?
My name is Ben, and I am a church planter. Sounds like an introduction I would give at a 12 step program. Maybe you have to have a problem to be a church planter. It is tough, but rewarding. I think that many people have the wrong idea when it comes to church planting. They think it is a place for guys who are just a bit unhappy in an established church. If you have a cool vision, a great band, and a place where there are a bunch of people and no churches (or at least just a few churches), you are ready to plant your church. Of course you also have to also have "style" (like me) and other peoples money backing you. While several of these are important factors in planting a church I believe that the reason many church plants fail is that a big piece of the puzzle is missing. The key ingredient to planting a successful church is that you have to LOVE your community and the people who live in it. I know you are thinking that that is obvious and a given, but is it really? Think about it. How many pastors or ministers do you know that do not really love their communities? Many church planters are very entrepreneurial and are in love with the idea of building the next mega-church. Jesus said, "I will build my church." We need to remember this. It is HIS job. Our job is to simply love people. At Common Ground we often say, "We exist to make our community a better place to live." We believe this. A church planter needs to look around him and find the needs of his community. Sometimes a community needs a school crossing guard more than they need a visionary thinker. This is what I did. I took a job as the crossing guard at the school our church meets at and it has provided many opportunities for me to show love to the students. teachers and staff. There are areas in all of our communities where we can practically show the love of Jesus by just loving people and interacting in with them. We need to start loving the people around us.
Post a Comment
