“He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.” (1 Thes. 5:24 ESV) Recently I was asked to share what God has been teaching me as of late and I quickly replied with three words – GOD IS FAITHFUL. There is nothing earth-shattering about this, is there? No. It’s a truth about God [...]
Posts Tagged ‘church planting’
where do churches come from?
Posted By zharrod on September 22nd, 2009
Watch this…
A couple of years ago, my friend Mike Gunn, of Harambee Church in Renton, WA, mentioned that they were sending a guy (Aaron Youngren) to Chicago with A29 to plant a new church, The Line. Immediately I got excited. “Why?” Because I love Chicago, often times I claim it as home, when I am introduced to people overseas. (I know, I know, I was merely born it what is today a suburb of Chicago, and I have a WI driver’s license and etc. I know, I know…) Seeing guys who are going on mission into urban centers to infiltrate the city with the Gospel gets me fired up. I also mentioned it to a friend, Andrew Lisi, who was moving up to the Chicagoland area to go to seminary, and the rest is history. Lisi and Aaron got connected and I’ve been following the birth of this new church in the “2nd City” for sometime via their blogs, twitter and etc. It’s been fun to pray for them and watch God do this from a distance. I would encourage you to check out what they are doing and pray for them and the city of Chicago. More over pray for all the men and women (guys like Reid Monaghan, who’s planting in Jersey!) all over the world that are trusting God to plant churches amongst people.
city on a hill church video – morning encouragement
Posted By zharrod on March 14th, 2009
From City on a Hill Church in Albuquerque. Stumbled upon it after watching Pastor Dave Bruskas, bring it, about the nations, at the Acts 29 Boot Camp in Seattle. I really loved their promo video. It made me want to go make some vids and also go plant some churches sooner than later!
Patience…. Patience? Wait, some have said I’ve already begun planting? Hmmmm… That’s another blog entry!
a swift kick…
Posted By zharrod on December 9th, 2008
So it’s no secret that I love what I do now, with AIA, but it’s also no secret that I want to plant some churches that plant churches that plant churches that plant churches and so on… I think you get the point. With that said, I live in the tension of now and the dream. Some days it’s tough, other days it isn’t, but I do my best to try to live and make the most of the now with having a eye on the future (I would argue with you that the church planting process, for me, has begun. It began when God got me here September 4, 2007)! Having an eye on the future includes reading, following blogs that will challenge me and keep me sharp, following and praying for friends who are planting churches, and much more. Two of the places on the web that always challenge me are 1) theresurgence.com and 2) Acts 29 Church planting Network. So here is what was swift kick to the gut today… 20 Characteristics of a Church Planter. For some of you other hopeful church planters, or current planters, out there, that I know are some of my most faithful readers, how you doing? I’m thankful for the Spirit of God is at work in me [us] and is producing this, because if it were up to me, I’d get a big F!
20 Characteristics of a Church Planter
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1. Am I a Christian? (John 3:16)
2. Am I passionately in love with Jesus, and is He the Lord of every area of my life? (Personal spiritual dynamics is the second most important area.)
3. Do I believe His word, and does it affect my life deeply?
4. Am I Spirit-filled, Spirit-directed, Spirit-led, and Spirit-controlled? (Acts 1:8)
5. Am I qualified as an Elder? (1 Timothy, Titus)
6. Do I love the local church as the expression of a gospel community on mission? (Matthew 28:18-20)
7. Am I a missionary to the city? Am I sent for the advancement of the gospel in the city? (John 20:21)
8. Do I have a clear vision for this new work? (Nehemiah 1:3-4; 2:11-18)
9. Am I willing to pour myself out in obedience to the vision? (Phil. 2, Romans 6)
10. Am I healthy—physically, emotionally, financially, spiritually, relationally, maritally?
11. Am I the kind of leader many people will follow? Have I served as a church leader successfully? (1 Tim. 5:22; 3:6)
12. Can I preach effectively?
13. Can I guard the doctrinal door with Biblical clarity and tenacious confidence?
14. Can I architect a new work with entrepreneurial skill?
15. Am I called to plant a church at this time and in this place? (Acts 17:26; 1 Peter 5:2)
16. Have my church leaders commended me for this calling? (Acts 11:22-26; 13:1-4; 16:1-2)
17. Am I a hard worker? Am I persevering? (2 Thes. 3:10; 1 Tim. 5:17-18; 2 Tim. 2:3-6)
18. Am I adaptable to new people, places, and concepts?
19. Can I raise the funds necessary for my family’s needs? (1 Tim. 5:8)
20. Am I humble enough to learn from others—particularly those who have gone ahead of me in different areas?
Click here for the longer version.
lessons from a ‘failed church plant’
Posted By zharrod on November 11th, 2008
While reading one of Steve McCoy’s lots-o-links I was taken to a great post, on lessons from a ‘failed church plant’, over at Mike Edwards’ blog, Part of the Story. I know, i know I just posted a post about how blogs rob me, but this blog did no robbing, it actually led to praying and pondering. He, obviously, talked about lessons learned from a “failed church plant” and they were challenging to me, as I always have an eye, or at least a glance out of the corner of my eye, on the future and and hopes/dreams/prayers that I have. These are simple and it would seem that one, who is planting a church, should acknowledge them before hand, but all too often it isn’t until after these things happen, which makes sense, I’m grateful that he had the courage, to help others learn from what God has taught him thus far. Here is the simplified version, but click HERE to read the full post.
- Plant GOSPEL identities, not programs or services.
- Plant TOGETHER, not alone.
- Be faithful, not cool.
- Be humbled, not overconfident.
- Live it as a family FIRST, don’t use your church as a crutch.
- Don’t go after people, pursue the God who will raise them up.
church planting, missional communities and moravia
Posted By zharrod on September 27th, 2008
At this moment I’m laying down typing this on my iPod touch enjoying a beautiful sunset over the south Moravian landscape, which is amazingly beautiful! I’m at the Josiah Venture (a ministry in Eastern Europe that works primarily with youth) hotel and training center for a church planting conference with my friend Mike Gunn (Acts 29 int’l director, pastor in Seattle and former AIA staff guy who helped plant Mar’s Hill in Seattle) and thus far it’s been a blast! The conference starts in an hour but I’ve already had so much to think and pray about while interacting with Mike, who’s a dude! It’s been good. Mike has encouraged me with where I am and what I do know (working with AIA until God raises up Czechs to replace me and/ or says, “move on,” clearly to my director, Billy, and myself) but he also stokes the fires and encourages the dreams of planting churches in Prague, Czech and beyond I have for the future! This should be a cool next couple days. There will be current planters or perspective planters representing 7 European countries here, which is so cool! Well, I wanted to give you all a shout out from Moravia and also ask you to ask our Great God, who is the Chief Church Planter, to show up here in south-east Czech over the next couple of days. Please pray God gives me vision and excitement about what I’m doing now (how I’ve, to a degree, began planting, but in a “less than traditional” way than most) and what I feel He is calling and leading me to in the future here in Czech! Thanks! Off to dinner…
