The Church Planting Issue

ISSUE 02 >>

2015

a newfrontiers usa publication

the church planting issue In the Trenches >> An Interview with Newfrontiers USA Church Planters

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SOUNDBITE • QUICK LOOK

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LINDA LANFERMAN • APPS

SOUNDBITE

JOHN LANFERMAN >> Team Leader >> Newfrontiers USA

REPRODUCING CHURCHES, MULTIPLYING MISSION

Jesus has given us a worldwide challenge. As his church, we are commissioned to give confident witness to this gospel of grace and power of God. In Matthew 28, Jesus commissioned his disciples to powerfully advance the kingdom of God on earth. He promised the disciples an empowerment that comes through the Holy Spirit, and authority to proclaim the gospel. The miraculous signs they performed revealed they were submitted to King Jesus and operated in his delegated authority. Jesus intends for the church to proclaim and demonstrate this kingdom so it will spread to every people group on earth. God’s promise to Abraham that he will bless all nations is now the mission of the church. God’s heart for kingdom expansion is also our foundation for planting new churches.

The disciples understood Jesus’ plan and proclaimed the gospel, producing new believers. They then built up these disciples by: “strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith…” (Acts 14:21-22).

Finally, they formed believers into communities by assembling them regularly (Acts 14-16). They established leadership and encouraged them to continue multiplying in the apostolic mission.

Church planting, or reproduction, was woven into the very fabric of the early church. Church multiplication took place naturally throughout the book of Acts. The word increased and churches multiplied as God’s people reached major cities through the power and direction of the Holy Spirit. Philip went to Samaria, Peter to the Gentile Cornelius, and many from the scattered Jerusalem church shared the gospel as they relocated. They proclaimed the gospel in Antioch, and Barnabas saw the grace of God evident among them. He teamed with Paul and they established a Gentile Church.

Antioch became a reproducing church (Acts 13) when the Holy Spirit directed them to release Barnabas and Paul.

From Antioch new churches were started throughout Turkey, Greece, Asia and Europe. It is clear these disciples un-

derstood that the Great Commission involved establishing a community that would be the presence of God in the area: the church of the living God. God has a heart for the expansion of his kingdom and his method for accomplishing this is the planting of local, reproducing churches. Newfrontiers USA has an apostolic passion to plant reproducing churches, as well as to bring existing churches into a healthy place of multiplying. A church that isn’t caught up in mission can’t justify its existence.

Reasons to plant

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Jesus mandated making disciples of all people groups. Discipleship takes place in community.

New churches reach more people. More vibrant churches in a city mean more entry points into God’s kingdom, thus more people coming to faith in Jesus.

New churches reach new people, new generations, and new people groups. They attract people faster than established churches. The diversity of people groups requires a diversity of churches to make disciples of all people.

QUICK LOOK

• New churches provide a faster leadership track, thus multiplying leaders more rapidly. Starting new churches provides an opportunity to identify and develop leaders for church planting.

We understand it’s only healthy churches that are willing and able to give birth to new churches. It is God’s design that we be fruitful, grow, and reproduce other churches. Therefore we must multiply congregations in obedience to Christ’s command to witness in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and the ends of the earth.

Benefits of being a reproducing church:

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A reproducing church develops a culture of generosity that keeps looking outward and avoids becoming ingrown.

A reproducing church stays fresh as they equip leaders and send people out, allowing room for new leaders and people to emerge. Churches stagnate when they cease looking outside their own walls.

A reproducing church stays on point as it repeatedly engages in birthing new churches. It never forgets why it exists in the first place. Without embracing mission, many churches become focused on self-preservation.

A reproducing church always depends upon God. Giving away our best people and our money creates a dependence on God as our provider. Raising money, training leaders, and the discomfort of change focuses our energy toward those who are yet a part.

We are not left without resources in this huge task: we have the presence of our Lord, the empowering Holy Spirit, the promise of God to fill the earth, and the joy of doing mission together. It is a challenging, but most rewarding calling. We stand firmly on Jesus’ promise: “And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations and then the end will come” (Matt. 24:14). Let’s plant reproducing churches! It’s the adventure of a lifetime.

We can do more together than we can apart.

Church Planting: A Wife’s Perspective LINDA LANFERMAN

Man makes his plans, but God directs his path. As I look back over the life John and I have shared, there are places that I would not have chosen to go. Though we would never want to repeat them, those were the very places that caused us to lean into God, trust him more, and made us who we are today. No one escapes adversity and pain. They are part of life no matter what our walk, or where we are called, they are also how we grow in the grace and knowledge of God. Church planting is one of the hardest things we’ve ever done, but is also the greatest privilege!! John often says it’s not for the faint of heart! It places you on the front lines of battle. You are planting the flag of the Lord and declaring he has come to take over by establishing a people to declare his glory!

It’s absolutely vital to know God has sent you. Each time we moved, it was in response to God speaking to us. It’s those words that held us when adversity came. Knowing God calls us and we are his is a comfort and joy, which gives us strength and endurance!

Church planting can be lonely, for both you and your children. Many times we went alone. I take comfort in the fact that God uses our experiences for good and for our growth.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways knowledge him and he will direct your path” (Ps. 3:5). This is a life scripture for me. If I could change one thing, it would be to have known about grace at a young age. I would have relaxed and enjoyed life more knowing that it wasn’t about my performance or what I could do, but it was about what God has already done for me and was going to do in me. It’s impossible to trust God with all of your heart until you understand the message of grace and his unconditional love for you. Grace is an ongoing revelation through every circumstance of your life as God reveals his love and faithfulness to you. It is impossible to trust in the Lord with all your heart unless you understand His heart for you.

We believe the most effective way of evangelizing is to plant vibrant local churches. We interviewed some Newfrontiers USA church planters to provide some “real life” perspectives about church planting.

IN THE TRENCHES

A CLASH WITH CULTURE

Tell us about your call to church planting.

CARL (GA)

I felt called to plant churches in the mid 1980s. God gave me a vision to see New Testament communities established in the U.S. I had a couple of dreams while leading Grace Church where I was leading a different church. I sensed God was speaking to me about planting again. I talked with my wife and John Lanferman and his team. Over a six month process we decided to move to Atlanta.

MATT (IL) My calling was confirmed in three ways. Firstly, John Lanferman approached me to do a year of Church Planting Training in St. Louis. Such a request was a good indicator. Secondly, I became very influenced by the vision to reach big cities with the gospel.

Thirdly, the Holy Spirit spoke to me directly one day at work and gave me the green light.

SETH (NY) I joined a young Newfrontiers USA church soon after coming to Jesus out of a life of drug addiction. It didn’t take long to catch the heart for church planting, especially in the top cities in the USA. We got prepared to plant by participating in Trilogy and Church Planting Training, as well as training within our local THE CHURCH PLANTERS

Nashville, TN JOHN PRIVETT

John Privett went from Grace Church in Lee’s Summit, MO to Nashville in 2002.His launch team of 12 has now grown to around 200 at Lifehouse Church.

church. God began speaking to us through the Bible, prophetic dreams and apostolic input about planting in Brooklyn. We felt confident we would be going with leadership oversight and support. We are excited about the future.

What was it like in the early days?

DAVID (MA) The early days were filled with divine appointments on the streets, having neighbors over to our apartment, and groups of college students being part of our family. After 2.5 years, we had a committed team of 18 and launched a Sunday service in a nightclub ironically called “Church.”

GRAHAM (TX) When we arrived in Austin we quickly felt God giving us peace that this was now home!

We had a social the first weekend after arriving and had a number of guests we had met while out in the city. We began Sunday meetings and saw 2 salvations a month later.

JOHN (TN) When we moved to Nashville, we didn’t know anyone. It was Michelle and I, our two children and the dog. It was strange, difficult beyond words, and yet God’s grace was tangible. It was difficult to not have day-to-day interaction with a larger team like I had at Grace Church.

Atlanta, GA

CARL HERRINGTON

Carl Herrington left Lee’s Summit and started Jubilee Church in 2005 with 30 people. They currently gather 120 with plans to start a future location in Smyrna.

What has been your biggest challenge/win?

CARL (GA) BO (WA) It was hard work and we wondered, “How is this going to happen?” We didn’t know anyone, so we spent much time praying for connections. We prayed for people who didn’t know anything about church and for bold people to put their hands to the plow with us. We felt faith God would do it, we just didn’t know how.

How things are going now?

JOHN (TN) Things now look vastly different than 13 years ago. We have a strong team, our own building, and a history of seeing God provide when we are at the end of ourselves (He seems to bring us to that place often).

CARL (GA) I feel the church is in a good place and God has really helped us grow through recent difficulties. I have often been reminded how David strengthened himself in the Lord when his city was attacked. I am continuing to learn the church is his, not mine. I am simply to be faithful with what he has given me.

BO (WA) Things are good. We have 11 Community Groups and see new people added all the time. We are training others to lead so we feel healthy and ready to expand.

Boston, MA DAVID W. HILL

David W. Hill launched Sunday meetings with about 18 people in 2008. City Church (formerly Fenway Church) currently has about 60 adults plus “bunches of kids”.

My biggest challenge has been to break through the thinking that views “The Pastor” and “His Wife” as super spiritual people. Making friends here has been more difficult than any place we have lived. Also breaking the “100 barrier” was hard. We seemed to linger around 100 people for a few years. We recently went through a real difficult time where we lost several people, which created some unrest in the church.

DAVID (MA) We have faced two significant challenges. One has been the transient nature of an urban, college town. We have had to be willing to invest and disciple people for the kingdom’s sake knowing many leaders we raise up will not be with us in 1-2 years. Our second challenge has been maintaining a focus on evangelism and befriending the lost as our church community grew and young families emerged. One of our biggest wins has been seeing people baptized each year in a stainless steel trough in Boston’s music clubs where we meet. It’s amazing to see people meeting Jesus at a bar!

GRAHAM (TX) Our greatest challenge continues to be the disappointment of daily meeting people who express a desire to get to know us, but do not follow through. Our greatest delights are the salvations and baptisms we have seen, and the growth in our people: emerging leadership, great worship leading gifting, and the desire in people to want to connect others to God in their daily lives.

Tacoma, WA BO NOONAN

Bo Noonan started pioneering in 2006 with 8 adults. New Community Church set in elders in 2011 and currently has 275 attending.

We believe the most effective way of evangelizing is to plant vibrant local churches. We interviewed some Newfrontiers USA church planters to provide some “real life” perspectives about church planting.

IN THE TRENCHES What has been your biggest challenge/win? (cont’d)

JOHN (TN)

My challenge has been leading myself into fresh times of enjoying and relying on God rather than wallowing in the pain of difficulty and heartbreak.

Also, (this sounds so unspiritual...) a place to meet has been a huge challenge. From the start this has always been a challenge and God has always come through. Recently he blessed us with a building and we are making plans to build a new building beside our existing one.

MIKE (CA)

Currently, the biggest challenge is gathering a team. We don’t want to go alone and we are praying for a healthy team of people ready to move to Sacramento to begin connecting with people and start building this church.

SETH (NY) The biggest challenge was figuring out the practical steps to be able to survive in the city.

City living is congested and expensive, so finding a sustainable financial model for our family of six was critical.

Seeing prayers answered for the team and ourselves has been a tremendous encouragement and a vital way other churches have helped us get established in Brooklyn.

(CONTINUED)

What’s a lesson that you’ve learned through this process?

DAVID (MA) You have to be committed for the long haul. There will be difficult seasons and ebbs and flows in attendance. You have to know God has called you and to persevere through those challenging seasons for the purpose of seeing a harvest.

MATT (IL) I needed more personal growth than I realized. As a leader, I must be relentless about my own progress in my faith. After reading The Emotionally Healthy Church, my wife and I voluntarily got counseling to work on unresolved issues. Being more self-aware was something I needed to learn.

BO (WA) Just stick with what God has called you to do and find ways to care for your soul and stay healthy despite all the pressures and ambitions.

JOHN (TN) 1) Who I am in Christ is more important than what I do. “Being is more important than doing” (PJ Smyth). In other words, leading myself is still my biggest challenge. 2) If God is in it, you can’t stop it. 3) It is war and there is pain. That’s ok because God is worth it and this is temporary.

THE CHURCH PLANTERS

Chicago, IL

Austin, TX

Having been sent by Grace Church in Lee’s Summit and received training at Jubilee Church in St. Louis, Matt Sweetman began church planting with 20 people. About 150 people are a part of Destination Church today.

Graham Allen and his wife were the “launch team” that left The Coign Church in England to plant Welcome Church in Austin in 2014. While still a pioneering effort, about 35 people are now gathered.

MATT SWEETMAN

GRAHAM ALLEN

How can we pray for you?

DAVID (MA)

Please pray for us to connect with new college students this fall and that our Bible Storying groups will be filled with people hearing of Jesus for the first time.

GRAHAM (TX) Please pray that our daily encounters with people in Austin are fruitful and that we continue to see great foundations laid in the church.

MATT (IL) Our fourth child, Finley, has been diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy and is in a program with therapists. Pray for Finley’s development and health, and for future schooling options for our kids. Pray for leadership development and for Destination to get our own building.

MIKE (CA)

Pray for a team to be assembled and ready to be on mission as friends in Sacramento.

Pray for financial support and a job for me to support the family while the church is pioneered. Mainly pray for Sacramento, that many would be added to God’s family!

SETH (NY) Pray for strong friendships to develop within the core team, as well as provision for work for the team. Pray for people come to faith between now and the end of the year and join this community. Pray for our growing family as our fourth son arrived in September.

Brooklyn, NY SETH HOFFMAN

Seth Hoffman and his family moved to Brooklyn this year and have gathered a team of 7 adults plus kids. Seth hopes to launch publically in 2016.

BO (WA) Pray we continue seeing people saved and added. We are also praying for 50 Community Groups in Tacoma.

What advice would you give future church planters?

CARL (GA) Always enjoy your wife and children.

Keep your walk with God fresh. Discouragement is normal. The first years are more for your personal development than the people you gather. NEVER FORGET this is a long, difficult race. Build a solid foundation of grace, have Apostolic and Prophetic leaders walk with you, and don’t take yourself too seriously.

MATT (IL) There is no greater thing than enjoying God’s grace. The greatest example you can set is becoming a grace addict. Be constantly learning, receiving, and communicating grace. Make sure your calling is legit and unearth unsanctified motives. Practically: raise more money, get a bigger team, nail down your leadership development plan, set clear expectations, and get counseling.

MIKE (CA)

Start now! You can’t flip a switch and become missional once you start planting somewhere. In your current city, start connecting with people outside the church and loving your neighbors. Exercise your evangelism muscles.

Sacramento, CA MIKE YOUNG

Mike Young from Radiant Church in Visalia, CA plans to arrive in Sacramento this fall. Mike’s current team includes five adults plus kids..

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