Today I was talking with another, more experienced pastor (Tom Melton) about church structures and philosophies of ministry as found in Neil Cole’s Church 3.0. As we came across the topic of church planting (addition vs. multiplication) he had an interesting insight.
For while I have heard the best way to reach people who don’t go to church is to start a church. This gives a reason for church planting other than the, “I don’t like what’s already out there” thinking.
As I was talking to Tom, who planted the church he currently pastors nearly 20 years ago and which has since mothered 6+ church plants, he gave another viable reason for church plants. Not only are they affective at reaching people who don’t go to church, but they also provide a platform for leadership development and an arena for the exercise of spiritual gifts.
In essence a church plant can be on-the-job-training for new and current leaders, a lab for those exploring the way God has gifted them and a way of facilitating spiritual transformation.
Not only are church plants about introducing people to God and his church, but they can be about taking current Christ followers and shaping into more into the image of Jesus.
This may not a revolutionary idea to some, but a thought provoking to me.
2 comments:
Hey Chip,
Those good reason's to plant a church. Are you planning to plan one?
Thinking about do something like it...maybe. So the above reasons would still apply.
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