My wife and I have been involved in full-time church planting since 1993 -- having been invited to England by the UK Fellowship of Churches of Christ - we are enabled to be full-time with spiritual and financial support from sixteen congregations and forty families in the USA. God has blessed us with successful experiences co-leading (and then releasing to indigenous leadership) two church plants in the Midlands. They were both 'traditional' churches in that they have weekly gathered worship, small groups, youth programmes, children's work, a contemporary feel, an informal character, and are led by a leadership team. Both churches met in local schools.
As we closed out our leadership roles in 2008, we began to pray and dream about the next church plant. We have been greatly influenced by readings in the emerging church conversation, simple church, and organic church. Our thoughts centred on how we might better reach people who wouldn't come to a 'traditional' church -- no matter how friendly and casual we were. We felt that our next setting would be based around life transformation groups, and serving as a demonstration of our following Christ. So in this church-planting situation we are starting with discipling and will allow a church to emerge -- rather than starting with a public, gathered worship. Serving and hospitality will be our dominant qualities.
We have been in our latest location less than a year and have developed links with churches across the town, and with two local churches in particular. Our initial roles are as community workers with links to one church, and we are offering church planting consultation with another church. The new church venture is growing as we develop friendships across the community and serve in practical ways.
In all our ministry settings relationship with area Christians has been invaluable. Our partnerships -- (i.e. via Street Pastors, Christians Against Poverty, homelessness ministry) -- has given us local credibility, and has demonstrated that we are a part of the wider body of Christ and are not 'cowboys'.
Life and ministry is a marathon -- not a sprint -- and we are privileged to be serving a great God. We look forward to seeing lives changed because they have had an encounter with the living Jesus.
