Church Planting Part 1 - Ian Mckellar

Ian & Nola McKellar relocated from South Africa to Asia in 2002.

They went to help build up local churches that relate to the NCMI team.

In 2009 they started leading Church of Joy in Singapore. They have a passion to see God's Word and God's Spirit build the beloved community and bless the city.

Part 1 - BUILDING THE BELOVED COMMUNITY OUT OF FRESH AIR

“The LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little. You will not be able to eliminate them all at once, or the wild animals will multiply around you.” Deuteronomy 7:22.

One of the most profound statements I heard regarding church planting was told to me by a church planter who had recently planted. He said, “They told me it would take time, that God’s way is ‘little by little’. But when they said ‘little by little’ I did not realize just how little ‘little by little’ was!”

Church planting takes perseverance and patience. Starting anything is hard work. But church planting can be exceptionally difficult. This is because we are required to die to self in order for God’s grace to enable us. Now this is true for the Christian life, but it seems to be exaggerated when we plant a church.

Romans 5:1-5 tells us that perseverance produces character, and character produces hope.

It seems that God is always working on the character of the planter, as well as the difficult task of creating a godly community out of fresh air.

“We do not want you to become lazy, but to imitate those who through faith and patience inherit what has been promised” Hebrews 6:12.

Don’t be lazy, church planting is hard work. But church planting is also an act of faith; of putting your trust in God for his fruitfulness. Therefore before you plant it is good to have a testimony of faith. David had killed the lion and the bear before he faced Goliath. Before you go out and tackle the Goliath of church planting you should have killed the lion and the bear. You should have some victories at home base before you move out into difficult terrain.

So it is good to prepare yourself before you go out and plant. It is good to lead a small group. It is good to have some sermons in the pocket. If you don’t have time or inspiration to prepare to preach before you plant, it is going to be very difficult once you plant. Normally once you plant you need to be drawing deeply from what God has already put into your heart. You may think it will get easier once you plant, but the reality is most planters complain of not having enough time to build the church they desire.

It is good not to put yourself under excessive financial pressure when you plant. If you can tent make that is good. It will introduce you to your new community and it will help you not have to preach for financial results. A church planter recently told me that, “No girl wants a desperate guy. And people steer clear of a desperate pastor”. So true. How can you be the shepherd of the sheep and lead them to still waters when you cannot be at rest yourself because your pressures are too great. Try to be realistic, God does come through, and normally it is “little by little”.

It’s a long journey of faith.

People want to follow a leader who knows God and is led by God. When Joshua took over leadership from Moses God led the nation to a place of testing so that the people could see that God’s favor was with Joshua. “And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so that they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses”. Joshua 3:7.

The community needs to know that God is leading you, and that you will empower them. They need to know that God is there for you, and that you are there for them. You need to build up the “beloved community”, the church of God.

Church planting is not there for the good of the shepherd. The shepherd sacrifices for God’s best for the sheep. Quite a challenge. Remember how frustrated Moses got with the Israelites. But also remember he lost his inheritance because of his public display of frustration and lack of faith in God. Don’t let your emotions hijack you. Remember leaders are door-openers. They open doors of maturity, and doors of opportunity. And unfortunately also doors of catastrophe. Just look at the life of Moses or David.

The church planter needs to keep perspective. It is good to be able to talk issues through with someone who understands the process of planting. Someone who will not allow you to wallow in self-pity (this is a great temptation), but also someone who understands just how challenging the process is. It is good to find such a person, with a shepherd’s heart, and also with apostolic wisdom. The pattern of Apostolic teams working with new church plants is seen in the book of Acts. It is wonderful to have apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to help build into the foundations of a new church!

Church planting is not just starting a Sunday meeting. It is building the new congregation into a community. It is leading them and shaping them so that they become one. “May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ”. Romans 15:5-6.

This is so important to the planting process.

If the planter plants out from a large base church then the planter needs to realize that the new church plant is not just a mini-church version of the larger church he has left.

It has the potential to grow and become large, but right now it is completely different. It needs new strategies and a new identity.

Be careful not to be sidetracked by secondary issues.

Nehemiah was careful not to come down off the wall to deal with secondary issues, “I am carrying on a great project and cannot go down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and go down to you?” Nehemiah 6:3.