In a few minutes, Lindsay and I are headed to Jefferson City, Missouri for a church planter assessment with the Missouri Baptist Convention. The assessment extends through Saturday, and if things go well, this will open doors for an internship and planting partnership down the road, as we take step to plant a church in urban Kansas City.
We’re both a little sleep-deprived (Aidan, Asher, Olympics) and I’m battling a summer cold. But if there’s sufficient coffee on hand, we should be OK.
If you think of it, pray for us this weekend. We want to discern God’s will clearly as we try to build bridges for planting.
AJ – with so many networks and denoms in the US how do you guys choose who to be affiliated to? Or can you be affiliated to more than one group?
I’m in the process of applying (I’ll be assessed in February) to Acts29, my co-planter is heading to Redeemer Presbyterian next month for 6 week intensive training and assessment, plus we’re also part of the Church of England in South Africa (CESA). Most of these affiliations have kind of just landed in our lap – especially the Acts29 link up and the Redeemer link up – both of them were looking to partner with like minded planters in South Africa. I’m just wondering what your thinking is on the numerous church planting affiliations out there.
I’m with Stephen’s curiosity here, too. I am currently looking to travel Western Europe, building contacts, references and a general idea of the mission field/missions’ work. I will attend an evangelical/Baptist-led Bible school in San Lorenzo, Italy, for a semester while hoping to meet up with an Assemblies of God missions team in Padova, about an hour plus away; Some of the church planting sites in Europe say many fellowships work together, so maybe the same is true in the U.S.?
How ecumenical in practice is the Baptist Convention? Are you looking to partner with other church planters in KC, interdenom?
Cheers,
Ben
Hey Stephen, Benjamin–the partnership thing is something I’m working through right now. Since I went to seminary at Midwestern (SBC), most of our relational ties are in the Baptist Convention. My church upbringing was with Great Commission Ministries, a non-denom affiliation that has its roots in a ’60s church planting movement. As a baptistic Reformed guy, I am pretty theologically aligned with both these groups, and my gut reaction is to bring as many partnerships to the table as I can. The more people involved in the church planting party, the better.
One arbitrating factor is that most cp networks ask that the growing church plant direct some money back into the sponsor’s cp fund–so you wouldn’t want to stretch yourself too thin.
Stephen, I have the greatest respect for both Redeemer and A29. I don’t have any personal connections with Redeemer at this point, but it would be awesome to. Unfortunately, the MO Baptist Convention is in a tiff with A29 right now. Around the nation, a number of guys are working with both A29 and the Baptist convention.
So there’s my lengthy reply…I basically look for theological solidarity and a shared vision for church planting that includes my focus: urban work. What are your thoughts?
Sounds good – all the best with those link ups.
[...] church planting blogger and his wife that I follow are off to be assessed. My prayers go with them. I know for myself, in some ways I look forward to that step for us, [...]