Becoming a Base Church

Steve and Debra Sudworth, along with their 2 girls, Rebecca and Hannah, arrived in Chicago in May 2004 in obedience to God’s call to church plant. They have been leading Church in the City (www.churchinthecity.us) since then. Their son - Cade - was born 2 years into the plant. 

What are base churches? Churches of thousands? Churches made famous by thier leaders who are conference speakers or best selling authors? Churches with budgets that rival corporations? Scripture suggests otherwise…

(1) A base church embodies the teaching that it is more blessed to give than it is to receive.

This epitomizes Jesus’ heart (Matt 20:28, “The Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.”) and should therefore define ours and our church’s. Before we are church planters, elders, deacons, smallgroup leaders, business or community leaders, husbands, wives or parents we are servants of Christ – first and always.

How should our church serve our city and nations?

·      Be an apostolic household that heralds and proclaims the Good News.

·      Trust for supernatural signs and wonders to follow the proclaiming of the Gospel.

Samaria (Acts 8), Ephesus (Acts 19) and Thessalonica (1 Thes 1) are just 3 examples of cities broken open by the release of the supernatural power of God.

·      Don’t forget the poor (Gal 2).

Mercy ministry is not a “conscience-cleanser” for Christians but an opportunity for the Gospel to restore dignity, identity and value in everyone.

(2) A base church stands in the gap for its city and the nations through prayer

As Russ Doty so brilliantly taught our church last year during a ministry visit: “The kingdom is advanced through hearing the voice of God and partnering with God through prayer.”

In Eze 22 God “looked for a man who would build up the wall and stand before me in the gap on behalf of the land…but I found none.” I find it remarkable that God wanted just one man to intercede on behalf of an entire nation. Jonah gives us a snapshot of what can happen when one man obeys God and brings the word of the Lord to a city.

Intercession (in Greek, meaning “to meet with someone for the purpose of conversation”) is the partnership of God’s people with Him through prayer. It’s a partnership of…

·      RELATIONSHIP

Grace allows us to approach the Throne of Grace with confidence (Heb 4:16).

·      RULERSHIP

                        We worship…we wait on God…we hear His voice…we declare His will…we agree in prayer.

(3) A base church is diverse

We’re called to reach cities and nations, not just neighborhoods. Churches and leadership teams of diverse cultures – from all nations, for all nations, to all nations – and diverse giftings – not built around a single gifting, personality or theological emphasis

(4) A base church is a model

Jesus tells us that followers of His are “the light of the world” and “a city on a hill which cannot be hidden”. When our “light shines before others” they will “see our good works and glorify our Father in heaven.”

(5) A base church is front-footed

It’s so tempting when facing trial, difficulty, persecution or hardship to want to close-rank and protect the ground we’ve already taken. I say no! Even in adversity the Kingdom is advancing…it always is! The church in Antioch was birthed out of the persecution of believers in Jerusalem (Acts 8), producing a tenacious, nation-minded, Kingdom advancing people.

(6) A base church is a gathering of saints who are united, trained and released to advance the Kingdom of God

A priesthood united: “All the believers were one in heart and mind” (Acts 4).

A priesthood trained: training is not the impartation of information, strategies or techniques but, within the context of community, training is identifying calling, shaping character, fashioning gifting, teaching saints to dig deep wells of intimacy with the Father and learning to be faithful with little in order to be entrusted with much.

A priesthood released: through accountable relationships of trust and a recognition and honoring of the gifts, authority and the anointing of others on the team. Philip working with the apostles in Samaria is a great example of this (Acts 8).

(7) A base church is a resource to others by releasing & receiving Eph-4 ministry

For the sake of time I encourage you to read Acts 14:21-28.

(8) A base church transforms cities

Acts 19 is a wonderful case study of a base church transforming a city. In Ephesus “the name of the Lord Jesus was held in high honor” and “the word of the Lord spread widely and grew in power.”

As we plant churches may I suggest that we plant with the end in mind! That as we lay the foundation for our plant we are mindful of what the spirit of God is saying as well as the scriptural encouragement to have lasting impact and influence in the city or context God has placed us. It is my conviction that every church whether it truly becomes a base church or not can live and act by faith as a base church that resources, releases and refreshes ministry life in its context and beyond.

My intention here is not to create a “checklist” but rather a “faith list” that will stir and challenge us, as we plant, to always hold the big picture ahead of us.

Steve Sudworth