I’ve been dreaming of planting a new congregation for over 30 years. In my early days of ministry I tried to shake it off and be content with serving existing churches. I’m glad I did. Not only did it prepare me for God’s gracious answer to my prayer but I met some of the most wonderful people along the way.
A pastor is in one of the most privileged positions. It affords opportunities to love and be loved by gracious people who’ve been assigned to help you grow spiritually and to see the Lord in clear, beautiful ways. But there’s nothing like being a part of God doing a new thing. Church planting is not a new tactic we’ve cooked up. In fact, it’s part of God’s story from the beginning. Scripture tells us that God has always been gathering a people for Himself, and sending them out into the world for others to know Him.
Think about Jesus’ words to His disciples in Matthew 28:19–20. “Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you.” Jesus never intended for that command to stay localized. In fact, the book of Acts is essentially a church planting narrative. Read through it and you’ll see church after church being sent out by the Spirit into new cities all over the map. Planting a church is simply obedience to that same command today.
The Apostle Paul had this command in mind as he traveled. He planted churches all over the known world. In fact, look at what Paul says in Romans 15:20. He says that from Jerusalem all the way around to Illyricum, he preached Christ, and he ONLY preached the finished work of Christ where Christ had been named. Paul set out with a heart to reach the places where Christ had not yet been given a name. That should be every mission’s heart. That should be every church planter’s heart.
We pray that no one in your community would perish without knowing Christ. We believe that God wants churches to spring up all over the place, churches that reach their community and speak to their neighbors in ways that civic organizations simply cannot. Planting a church is an act of faith. It’s trusting that the Spirit still calls, saves, and builds His Church today just as it was in the day of the apostles. Jesus promised in Matthew 16: 18 that He will continue to build His church, and that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. When we plant a new church, we’re not building something. We’re joining into what Christ is already doing.
I’m excited about the future and I’m asking you to pray for me and the congregation of Grace Resurrection. The pioneer spirit is building daily and the Holy Spirit is moving in a way I’ve never experienced. Scripture is clear that God will do the growing. He just asked that we plant and water. That’s the Great Commission. That’s life.
In Christ,
James