Church Planters I Know

As I develop my new ministry as a church planting coach, it’s encouraging to know the “who” of my work in God’s kingdom. Here’s a new and growing list of “front line” warrior-servants in God’s army with whom I am beginning to work.

Chad is a young 30something who is attempting to plant a church in British Columbia. He is married with two little sons and another child on the way. After serving as a youth pastor in existing churches, he sensed it was time to begin working on a dream that God has put in his heart years ago, a vision for a new church that will reach those who long for true community and a life-changing experience with God. Chad is sacrificing the security of an established ministry with its accompanying salary and benefits for a low-paying, part-time job, some personal support raising and lots of faith and courage. He and his wife are very appreciative to have a coach to come alongside them in their faith-stretching journey.

Mike is another 30something who is currently in seminary, but looking forward to planting a new church in the Seattle area. He is married with a small child and another on the way. Mike probably won’t move to the Seattle area until summer of 2011 but he is responding to coaching as if his future depended on good preparation, and it does! He too is discovering the church that God has planted in his heart. We had our first coaching session this morning in which we talked about laying a good spiritual foundation for planting, his assessment needs, how he might support his ministry and why he is thinking about a certain part and people of Seattle as his future ministry focus. This is foundational stuff for planters.

Sammy is from the Congo in Africa by way of an Uganda refugee camp. He and his wife now live in Vancouver, BC, Canada, with their six children. Yesterday Marty and I attended the first anniversary of his new church named Jesus Grace International Church, a small but growing Pentecostal church plant. I have known Sammy and his family for over a year. This is a man of God with a heart for lost people. Tomorrow we have our first coaching session. I look forward to helping him evaluate his new church and discover the knowledge and resources he needs to be a successful church planter in his new Canadian context.

We can’t wait to see who else God will connect with us and how he will use us in his kingdom. Whoever these dear people will be, they will be an answer to prayer (Matt. 9:36-38).