What can a church planter do while you wait?
Do you dislike wasted time? Have you had a delay while
waiting to deploy as a church planter? Have you felt there are steps you CAN
take even though you aren’t in the new community yet? You might be waiting to relocate
to your target city, to sell your house or need time to find employment or wind
up a job. There is packing and moving your stuff or getting rid of stuff! Kids
need time to settled in school, supermarkets need to be found and bird-dogging
a favorite coffee spot to slide into every day or so! All this and more could
be a part of your waiting experience.
Are there things a planter
can do? There sure ARE!
1.
Develop
your prayer team. Prayer is, as Jack Hayford puts it, “…is invading the
impossible.” Spiritual warfare is the most underestimated part of starting a
new church says planting leader Tom Nebel. So start right away gathering and
discipling your prayer team. Your need them to be hammering the beachhead with
heavy artillery prayer long before your landing party arrives! (p.30-36 First
Steps)
2.
Begin
your fundraising network very early. It is simple and is an ongoing part of
any church plant. The bible says, ‘Where your treasure is there your heart will
be also.” Peoples hearts AND funds will be drawn to your new church. Have you offered your friends, business
partners, family members and workmates an opportunity to support you? Your
mission is a cool privilege and opportunity for financial partnership. Think like a missionary! (p. 37-45 First
Steps)
3.
Start an
in-depth study of your planting community’s history and dynamics. Every
city has a reason it was founded and a spiritual culture. There are racial,
social, economic, religious and political foundations that define a community make
its personality. A key to knowing how share the gospel is knowing what your city
connects with and how. Remember the Apostle Paul on Mars Hill? Dig in! And
share you findings with your prayer team! (Wikipedia gets you started!)
4.
Get going
with networking. Start to call, write and visit the Mayor, Chamber of Commerce,
local business’s, schools, police department as well as other churches and
NPO’s. Service agencies abound and are always ready to meet new potential
partners. As a giver and a servant and you will be received with open arms!
First impressions count so make them awesome! Have your business card ready to
offer! (p. 46-50 First Steps)
5.
Prayer walk
your city or community often. Walk with your eyes open for needs AND assets
of the city. Talk with local people asking how you can pray for them or city. Transformation begins both in you, your team
and the city and people you are called to. Ask God to enlighten your heart to
what He is already doing! God is already
at work and you are a new part of His plan. (See Guidelines for Prayer Walking)
6.
Dream of
what this church will look like. God will start to put people, both
pre-Christians and followers in your life. (see Spiritual Journey Guide) Seek
God with fasting and prayer for clarity. Write down your impressions and those
of your launch team. Gary Rohermeyer (author of First Steps) says, “Gods dreams
are always bigger that ours because he loves lost people more than we do.” Read
Romans 16 about Paul’s lifelong launch team! (See p.23-26 Church Planting
Intensive Manual)
To go deeper on any of these subjects contact me (Ron
Steslow) rsteslow@gmail.com and refer
to your “First Steps” Manual! Lets help
more people call Heaven home! Luke 10:2
