IS GOD CALLING ME TO JOIN A CHURCH PLANT?

To join or not to join a church plant … For some people in our church and in our Stoney Creek small group, that is the question of the hour. For many, it’s a difficult question that carries emotional, relational, and spiritual freight. It certainly requires thoughtful conversation and humble prayer. In an effort to help with this, I decided to outline some good reasons along with a few (potentially) bad reasons for joining a church plant. I’ll close by attempting to bust a few myths about church plants.

My hope is that this will help you pray, consider, and reach a decision on this matter, whether or not to join New City’s daughter church plant, Mission to Stoney Creek. We recommend that you talk to Moses and myself about this too, if you’re seeking clarity and further conversation about these things.

1. Geography

Geography is not the only factor but it’s an important one. The daughter church plant’s area of focus will be lower Stoney Creek and East Hamilton neighbourhoods near the Red Hill. This area has been identified as under-served by gospel churches and faithful Christian presence. If you live in or near the area, that should be reason enough to at least pray about this.

Speaking to the Athenians, the apostle Paul told them that God determined “the boundaries of their dwelling place” so that “they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him” (Acts 17:27). What part of town you live in, how far you are from church, proximity to this area of ministry, or your interest or relationship to it, may be a factor in your decision. Click here to view the map of our ministry area.

2. Gifting

The Holy Spirit apportions spiritual gifts as well as natural talents and inclinations to various parts of the body of Christ. He does so wisely and purposefully (see 1 Cor. 12).

Like any other church, a church plant relies on the gifts the Spirit gives, from faithful members who plod in the ministries of connection, hospitality, service, kids ministry, and administration to those who are inclined (or even burdened) with gifts in music, arts, creativity, leadership, teaching, evangelism, strategy, and compassionate care of the poor and needy. A church plant needs all of these!

A church plant may be an opportunity for you to exercise a spiritual gift or natural talent God has given you, where you might not/be less able to do that at a more established church. Mission to Stoney Creek is at its nascent stages and needs people of both types who feel called by Christ to give of the gifts that the Spirit has given to them. If you aspire to exercise or grow in your gifts, you may prove to be a blessing to a church plant near you!

Here’s what I’m not talking about. This is not an opportunity to exercise more control in your church or to bring your wish-list into a different church (more on this below). But if you feel that you have a gift or talent to offer in the service of Christ, or if your pastors and elders have tapped you on the shoulder, this may be a factor in your decision. Please speak to Moses or myself about it!

3. Growth in Grace

This is related to the previous point, but not exactly. Church plants are a great place to grow in the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Why? Because they tend to be a bit more “all hands on deck”. This means desperate and expectant prayer, faithful evangelism, expecting and relying on God’s Word to touch and change people. It means inviting people and building bridges with people. Regular and sacrificial giving of resources. In other words, it’s an intentional opportunity to live on mission for Jesus and to see him at work in your life and your family’s life.

Besides, who doesn’t love to see a baby learn to walk? There is incredible joy in seeing a daughter church plant learn to walk, gain stability and maturity, be part of God’s gospel presence and growing kingdom in an underserved part of the city. Of course you can do that at New City Hamilton (and they need you too!), but a daughter church plant is a special opportunity. This too may be a factor in your decision!

Now, here are two ambivalent or potentially bad reasons for joining.

1. The Preacher

I didn’t say “preaching” but the preacher himself. It is a bad idea to base your decision to stay or to go solely on whether or how much you like an individual preacher. Still, truth be told, preaching God’s Word is of primary importance. Clear, faithful, passionate, robust preaching of the Scriptures is a mark of a true and healthy church. But you should not seek to stay or follow a particular preacher because “they’re your favourite” or base the decision on loyalty or interest in a particular person or pastor. Though I don’t suspect this to be a serious issue in our situation, I thought it may be worth pointing out.

2. Preferences

Unfortunately, church plants can sometimes be magnets for people who are highly controlling, or who have particular interest in seeing their version of church come to realization. To put it bluntly, you should not join a church plant if you feel wounded by another church, or you have unresolved grievances, or a difficult situation. While it is important to ask (see above) if the Lord has gifted you in such a way that you could be a valuable member of a church plant, be sure to search your heart about the motives. Are you merely seeking greater influence? Do you have a particular view on how to run a certain ministry? Preferences around things like music or children’s ministry or even where your friends go to church are not in themselves good reasons to join a church plant.

Finally, here are a couple of myths I’d like to bust.

1. Church Plants are Unstable and Exhausting

I don’t think it has to be that way. In fact, part of the reason Mission to Stoney Creek is a daughter church is so that it can rely on a healthy and diverse launch team (the initial members of a mission church). If we are physically exhausted and spiritually discouraged, we will rob ourselves of the joy of abiding in Jesus, of balanced, physically and emotionally healthy lives, and ultimately of our fruitfulness as servants of Jesus. So every effort will be made to do what we can, simply offering our best to the Lord, without making demands and placing undue burdens on our members.

2. Joining a Church Plant Means you can’t join programs offered by other churches

This is also a myth. Mission to Stoney Creek (MSC) won’t be able to offer many programs. Our task will be to stay focused on our mission by capitalizing on what we can do best given our people, our resources, and where God has placed us. For example, it’s unlikely that MSC will offer a youth program, but this doesn’t mean that your kids can’t be involved at New City Youth, maintaining those relationships they may already have.

Your pastors and elders would be happy to pray and think through this decision with you. Our prayer is that New City Church will give birth to a healthy first daughter church plant. May the Lord guide you as you pray over this decision.