4 minute read
Urban, Suburban, Rural
By Vince Daniel Vice President for National Mission
As I read this text, I picture the scene. The Earth is covered with the Glory of the Lord like the waters cover the sea. A recurring thought comes to mind. We must plant churches. EVERYWHERE.
This thought focuses on the vision for National Missions. We need churches in the rural setting of America, in the suburban communities in our country, and even in the urban city centers that sometimes go unnoticed by those that live outside them.
The reality is that we tend to get into routines. “This is what we do” type of thinking. In doing that, we miss opportunities to creatively and effectively plant churches that can truly bring lifechange to the areas where they are planted. The current goal in National Missions is to plant lifechanging, life-giving churches proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus everywhere God leads us.
If this is the goal, what is needed to accomplish this goal in a rural, suburban, or even urban context? Let’s dig into a few answers. Who knows, you may have just what it takes to help us get there.
1. KNOW WHO YOU ARE.
This simple statement has been a struggle for pastors and planters for ages. Do you know how God has wired you? It is vital that we begin planting churches in ALL areas of our country, but not every pastor is equipped to pastor in ALL areas of our country.
Knowing our own gifting, personality, and cultural understanding requires work, and proper assessment can help mine them out.
If you are a pastor that is great at pastoring 150, then be great at pastoring 150. If you are great at pastoring 1500, then be great at that. Know who you are and be encouraged that you have been called by God to be that.
The gift set and personality for a town of 700 are radically different from a town of 70,000, and each level in between requires something different. This is a biblical principle we see in the formation of the church in the New Testament.
The Apostle Paul sent letters to the areas where he planted churches. Here are some of the population numbers of these cities at the time of his visits:
o Colossae—25,000-30,000
o Corinth—90,000
o Ephesus—200,00-250,000
o Rome—350,000-400,000
The smallest city that Paul wrote to was Philippi. It came in at around 15,000. A sizeable percentage of our churches among General Baptists are in communities smaller than Philippi at that time. Based on Paul’s background, born in Tarsus (a metropolitan city in Asia Minor) and his upbringing in Jerusalem.
It made sense for Paul to minister and to plant in the major cities where God sent him. Paul was suited to minister in these kinds of cities from an early age. Where are you suited to minister? Are you ok with it? Know who you are.
2. BE TEACHABLE.
It was Harry S. Truman who said, “Not all readers are leaders, but all leaders are readers.” I love this quote, but I also love to read. Someone I respect very much offered me an amended version of the quote: “Not all learners are leaders, but all leaders are learners.” I think this is very true if we are going to be effective in planting churches in the rural, suburban and urban areas of our country. We must be willing to learn new methods and create new relationships.
I can remember when we started Real Life Church in Flippin, Arkansas. It was a town of about 2500 people, and I was trying to build a budget with offerings that were averaging about 75 bucks a week. I kept getting hung up on expenditures. I could not get past the lack of money at the end of the month.
Then I read an article that talked through the idea that “spending money on Evangelism was never an expense, but always an investment.” This radically changed my faith and drive. It seems simple, I am sure, but when I learned the new principle, I applied it to my ministry. It has been so rewarding to be a part of God, growing me as a pastor in these ways. And as you grow as a pastor, the effect will be a healthier church or church plant. Be teachable.
3. DREAM BIG.
The capacity to dream big is not as common as you might think. There are those that it seems to come easy for, and others cannot look beyond the facts that are before them. It takes a little of both mindsets to be successful in the area of planting a church. You must be able to trust God for something that does not yet exist and still be realistic in the timetable that He has for the dream. That being said, you still must DREAM. It is non-negotiable.
So, where has God called you to plant a church? Is it in the small towns across America or abroad that need a fresh touch and excitement in an area that may seem forgotten? Is it in the bedroom community that wrestles with little league and a morning commute? Maybe the hustle and bustle of the big city are where God is leading you? Wherever it is. GO! Learn who you are, be teachable, and dream big. Let’s do our part in covering the Earth with the glory of the Lord.
