Why Church Planters Do What They Do

One of my favorite blogs to read is Gary Lamb's.  Gary is a church planter and loves to blog about the ups and downs of church planting.  He's a sharp guy.  Last week, Gary talked about some things that he's heard people say about progressive church planters that drives him crazy.  He shares some of this in a self-described 'rant' on his blog.  See if you can sense his frustration...

I have something that has been bugging me for a few weeks so I wanted to post on it. There is a mindset out there against pastors/planters that are doing more progressive church. They call us Church growth people. They say we are in it for the money. We are in it because it draws a crowd. We are in it because it is easier. Blah, Blah, Blah.You can't be serious.

Logically that just doesn't make sense.

I think one of the greatest myths about the type of church we are doing is that it leads to church growth. That simply isn't true. I know as many small church plants as I do established churches. They say that 2 out of 3 church plants will close by their second year. In our area there are several church plants. A couple are doing well. The majority of them are running very very low numbers. I don't say that to be mean, I just say it as a fact. A more progressive style of church is not a sure thing when it comes to building a church. The largest churches in our area are county seat churches. So if I wanted to just build a church, I could have taken an established one and tried to build it. So to say we do it for church growth is not a very smart or well thought out comment.

"Yeah but what about the money?" This is the one that makes me laugh the hardest. People actually think we start churches for the money???? HA!!!!! If I was in this for the money, I would have taken an established church. I have several friends who run less then half in attendance then we do, yet they make more then double what I do. When Tadd and I started RSC we were making I think $100 a week from the church. Trust me, we didn't do it for the money. The average established church in America gets about $21 a person on Sunday mornings. We just hit the $13 a person mark. We are teaching on giving right now but I don't ever expect our giving to reach more then about $16 a person because if it gets higher that shows me we aren't reaching unchurched people. If you saw how my wife and I lived last year, you would know we don't do this for the money.

As far as being easier. Nope. There is nothing easy about a church plant. We set up and tear down every week. Every Saturday we wonder if people are going to show up. We are the pastor, IT guy, graphic designer, etc. Pastoring an established church isn't easy either but it would be a lot easier sometimes to find a church that didnt have to deal with the stuff we deal with.

The fact is we don't do church the way we do to be cool. I am sure some do but they don't last very long. We do it because we think people are dying and going to hell. Because of that conviction, we feel as if we must do WHATEVER it takes to reach these people. I could care less about doing church the way we do it. If there was another way to reach lost people, we would do it. I admit I take it personally when people say these things because I know what fuels me and the church planters I know is very simply that fact that we have a burning desire to reach those people that would never darken the door of an established church. That is it. I don't care about anything else. We don't do it for the money, because it easier, because it is the way to build a church, we simply do it because people need to hear the message of Jesus Christ.

Every Monday I am so worn out I can barely get out of bed. Every Monday I tell my wife that I just want to find a small mountain church where all I have to do is preach three times a week and visit the members and get a paycheck. Every Monday I just want to find a place where they don't want the pastor to be the leader, have a vision or reach lost people. Sounds a lot easier to me. Then DeAnna reminds me that yes I could do that but that I would die a slow death. She is right. She always is.

As long as people are dying and going to hell and the % of people attending church is dropping I am going to keep on doing church in a relevant and creative way whether other people, especially other pastors like. I didn't start Ridge Stone for them.

I'm with Gary.  Those who read MMI much at all know my disdain for all those who poo poo against those people who are trying (and being effective) in reaching the lost.  If they're doing something differently that we would, we criticize.  If they're a part of a multi-site church; we say they should just plant a church.  If they plant a church, we say they're doing it for alterior motives, to make a buck, to grow a mega-church, to satisfy their ego, etc.  Argh.

Gary... I applaud your efforts... and I know God does too (no matter what others may think, and even have the nerve to write and say to your face).  I hope you continue to get up every Monday morning remembering the end result of your sacrifice... a growing Kingdom of God right there in your community.

Now... MY rant is done!

Todd

Add Your Comments and Ideas now...
Pass this post on to a friend now...
Subscribe to RSS Feed | Get Email Notifications on New Posts