Tuesday, February 1, 2011

The Joys and Challenges of Church Planting


Russ and Mary Doty relocated from Australia to be the advance team in the Church Plant that has become Redemption City Church. They serve on the eldership of that church as well as the NCMI Translocal Team

The Joys and Challenges of Church Planting

When we moved from Australia to the U.S. with the idea of planting a church, I was faced with some unexpected challenges.  There are always challenges in church planting, that we are can expect.  The need for faith, connecting with new people, and understanding a new culture, are just a few.  What I didn’t expect, and what seemed to creep up on me unawares, was a huge focus on the natural in the U.S.  When we communicated that we would be planting, many friends recommended many books for us to read.  While most of them were really good, taken together I began to see a similarity.  They all focused on the natural.  They pointed out good principles for growing a church.  But none made any reference to being led by the Holy Spirit.  It was as if church planting were an endeavour that could be learned through education, rather than a partnership with the Lord who is building His church. 

Before coming to the States, I had heard the Lord say that the Kingdom of God is advanced in partnership with Him; by hearing His voice.  Since every place is different, every leader and every group of people is different, we need to be led by the Holy Spirit in order to accomplish His purposes.  John 5.19,30  are two of five references where Jesus says He did nothing of His own initiative.  He only did what He heard the Father saying, or saw the Father doing.  This speaks to me of partnership.  Doing something with God rather than doing something for Him.  Yet, much of what I read had the idea that doing something for God, like planting a church, was sufficient. 

To me, the excitement and joy of partnering with the King of the universe in every stage and step in planting, is what it is all about.  Early on while driving around the area we were looking at, we came across a Comedy Theatre.  One of the guys with us, felt something in the Spirit and said that would be a great place for a church to meet.  Many months later, that’s were we are meeting. This was God’s plan, and not ours.

It’s a joy to be led by Him, rather than trying to implement someone else’s good intention, or even what they heard God say to them and their situation. It also means that He alone is the One who says, “Well done”, based on His purpose, ways and strategies, and not a comparison to others.  

3 comments:

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  2. Well done Russ! Great reminder for us to hear the Holy Spirit and obey. "He who has ears to hear ...

    Love the truth that doing something for God is second best to doing something with Him!!

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  3. It's amazing, especially when you mention about partnership with HIM. We need to keep that in mind always.

    Thank you

    Cláudio Modesto, São Paulo, Brazil
    www.berakhot.org

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