Two Posts to Go on 'Struggling Planters'

It's hard to write a 200-word blog post without laying out a comprehensive argument. So while I've enjoyed the debate about struggling church planters in my comments section, it's clear to me that church planters can be like Vietnam Vets. All it takes is one sound effect (or one viewpoint in this case =) to send them into a rage. I thought I'd respond to some of the main criticisms:

"If your church is not growing quickly, then you're not called. Get off the playing field."
I'm starting with the assumption that if you're planting a church, you're called by God. To withhold my compassion for struggling church planters because of calling would be like pulling my bleeding 4-year old out from under the car and saying, "Well, you shouldn't have been in the driveway."

"Successful evangelism doesn't depend on you, you jerk-weed; it's all God."
I'm unashamedly not a Calvinist, so you might try reading the Resurgence or Piper's blog instead of pulling your hair out over mine. What's interesting to me is the level of pride and even anger that so often accompanies these arguments.

"Planting in the Bible Belt is NOT easier than other places!"
Wha?? Who was arguing that? Again, my main point was this - church planters often struggle because they're trying to start a church in a community that is not spiritually prepared for one. It's not that they shouldn't be there; it's that they should understand what their community needs first. It'll help them avoid depression and discouragement.

"Church Planters fail for a whole number of reasons."
Yes, but I haven't heard this reason before, which is why I was blogging it.

"I'll inflict bodily harm on you."
What is this... a chat-room at the Georgia Department of Corrections website? =)

I've got a few more posts in this series to go, so I'm hoping there's a church planter or two out there benefitting from it. I'll try to hit on these topics: 1. When to walk away from a plant, and 2. What a spiritually fertile community looks like.

Comments

[shannon]

Press on dude! Bring it. I'm especially holding out for the one "2. what a spiritually fertile community looks like" :)

[Jesse Phillips]

Cool, excited to learn more!

[TW]

"Again, my main point was this - church planters often struggle because they're trying to start a church in a community that is not spiritually prepared for one. It's not that they shouldn't be there; it's that they should understand what their community needs first. It'll help them avoid depression and discouragement."

Are you saying that it is up to us to determine where we should go so that we can benefit from it the most? I believe, Christ came to save us sinners, even though you can say that we weren't ready, but in His case, He is God and He knew we were ready to repent and be saved. And yes, we do benefit, but ultimately it is God that gets the glory. Does God put us in positions of tough times or is it the lack of our wisdom and sinfulness that puts us in positions of less fruit? Should church planters always head to where the fruit lays ready or should some do the hard work in a hard area?

How do you answer about the shepherd who goes out and looks for the one lost sheep? (Matt. 18:10-14)

[Mark Howell]

Love it! Good job Ben!

mark

[Steve Brown]

Ben,
I enjoyed your post about church planters. I planted the church I pastor now almost 10 years ago. It is a small church in the buckle of the Bible belt. I identified with many of your points having gone through them myself. Considering the spiritual climate of my city would have been a good step of preparation, and one I did not take. I have had to totally reset the vision of our church, and repent of being a very poor leader for the last 5 years. Praise God for anyone who can offer insight to church planters. Thanks

[Joe Miller]

Good couple of posts on this topic. If you are interested, I would love to get your input on the research I am doing into developing better core teams. I think a lot of the considerations you give here should be addressed.

http://www.morethancake.org/2008/05/plant-gospel-plant-church.html

[Jonathan Hopson]

I would have posted this yesterday, but my internet service went down. Both posts are right on target. Thanks for bringing these things out in the open!!

[Ben Arment]

Thanks for the feedback!

TW, I am stating the exact opposite of what you're accusing.

I am saying GO, but understand your primary task depending on the season. You even quoted me as saying, "It's not that they shouldn't be there..."

GO to all places where God leads. But some places will first require cultivating before a church can be planted.

For example, having a bus-load of students drive all the way from Loudoun County to CHBC in DC was indicative that they needed a church in their community.

As I visited Guilford several times, there was no question that PHC had paved the way for your church. They were sitting all around me every week.

I only pray, as Paul did in 2 Cor 10:15, that "as your faith continues to grow (within the sphere of work done by others), [their] area of activity among you will greatly expand..."

[phill]

Hey Ben:

Found you over at swerve...added you to my reader...

I have a dream to start a dream center (LA) type ministry here in Houston, TX.

At first I thought we would plant a church out in a growing suburb and do the whole church plant deal...but as I worked through vision and heart burst it just continued to grow.

This is the first post I saw on church planting but did not see a link to the other posts...

I need all the help I can get in formulating this vision and understanding what I am getting into...

Can you place links in your posts to the other posts in this series...it would help me out a lot...

If not groovy...I will search for them...thanks

[Ben Arment]

scroll down on my main blog page Phill, and you'll see everything from this week.

[TW]

Thanks BA.