I am extremely blessed to have several church planters as friends. While my relationship with some of them consists primarily of e-mails, texts, and tweets, there are a few who I have had the opportunity to get to know very well, and I assure you, there is no greater group of people on this planet whose faith in God I am more impressed with.
While I am not a church planter, I can’t think of any other vocation here on Earth that requires more conviction to pursue. The responsibility to lead others from where they are to where Christ is is one that no one should ever accept casually.
This burden to live a life of service is one that cannot be carried alone, which is why many church planters, when first embarking on this great task, often seek out the wisdom and support of family, friends, and leaders who are passionate about the mission and purpose of the local church.
While seeking support from these are indeed important (Ben Arment does a great job of sharing why in this book) – as I reflect on some of the horror stories I’ve had the opportunity to listen in on about church planters trying to leap tall buildings in a single bound, I wonder if there is another group of people that has gone overlooked when church planters seek to build their initial launch teams.
“And Jesus, walking by the Sea of Galilee, saw two brothers, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then He said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Going on from there, He saw two other brothers, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in the boat with Zebedee their father, mending their nets. He called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him.” – Matthew 4:18-22
I find it interesting that when Jesus first began selecting those who would eventually become a part of His ministry, He did not seek out those who already had some form of ministry experience. Although several of the disciples appear to be men of faith, most of them had secular vocations when Jesus first approached them, ranging from tax collectors to physicians, with a few professional fishermen in between.
Fishermen who owned their own boats, I might add.
Jesus, a carpenter for many years, had the wisdom to know that in order to plant the church He was sent to plant, it would not only take a group of people who were burdened for those far from God, but also those who had the skills, intelligence, and perhaps the finances necessary to pursue them on a full-time basis.
No worship leaders were recruited. No guitar players or organists were selected.
No graphic designers were hired. Not even a few leaders who were on the fence about leaving the church they were at were asked to be a part (even though a few choose to follow Him anyway – see John 1:35-39).
Jesus went against the grain and dared to MAKE fishers of men, not just FIND them.
My prayer is that more church planters will consider doing the same.
