Planting churches

We Are All Church Planters

The world is broken, the church has a solution, and we all have a role in this sacred task.

Whether you like it or not, you’re a church planter. It’s probably time you knew. 

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy recently published a national health advisory called, "Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation." In it he writes: 

“I embarked on a cross-country listening tour, where I heard stories from my fellow Americans that surprised me. People began to tell me they felt isolated, invisible, and insignificant. Even when they couldn’t put their finger on the word ‘lonely,’ time and time again, people of all ages and socioeconomic backgrounds, from every corner of the country, would tell me, ‘I have to shoulder all of life’s burdens by myself,’ or ‘if I disappear tomorrow, no one will even notice.’ It was a lightbulb moment for me…Loneliness and isolation represent profound threats to our health and well-being.” 

Humans were made for community—for relationships, friendship, companionship. But something has gone wrong. The world is not the way it was meant to be. Sin has broken and distorted our life in community, which is why ReachGlobal and the EFCA are unapologetically committed to planting, strengthening and revitalizing churches.

Through the local church, God is creating new communities characterized by the forgiveness, grace, intimacy and truth of the gospel. This is in direct contrast and opposition to the guilt, shame, loneliness and isolation that characterize life east of Eden. This is incredible news, friends—the best possible news. And this new community was only made possible by the Creator of the universe taking on human flesh, bearing the incredible burden of human guilt and shame on the cross, and then utterly defeating it through the power of the resurrection. This is the powerful message we proclaim.

Evangelism is church planting; discipleship is church planting. Gospel ministry is, by definition, about planting and developing churches that will plant and develop churches.

I still remember presiding over the funeral of an infant who had tragically passed away in our young church plant in Mexico City. I was supposed to be the one shepherding that community, but it was the church body who ultimately shepherded me in that season. Where else do grieving parents lead mourners in songs of praise at their own child’s funeral? Where else do people of different nationalities, sexes and ages come alongside one another so radically in their corporate grief and hope? Where else are people so driven by love that their own personal tragedy becomes a vehicle to extend the grace of Christ to those who don’t yet know Him? That is the local church. That is the power of the gospel. 

You may not think of yourself as a church planter, but you are. Every time you sow the seed of the gospel, you sow the seed of the church. Apple trees produce apples that produce apple trees that produce apples. Orange trees produce oranges that produce orange trees that produce oranges. Disciples produce churches that produce disciples who produce churches.  

Evangelism is church planting; discipleship is church planting. Gospel ministry is, by definition, about planting and developing churches that will plant and develop churches. Some prepare the soil. Others plant or water. And yet others strengthen or revitalize. “But only God gives the growth” (1 Cor 3:6-9). So, whatever your particular ministry role—children, discipleship, evangelism, immigration, finances, pastoring, teaching, leading, small groups, parenting, theological education—you are engaging in this incredible work of sowing and harvesting, of planting and strengthening “so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known” (Eph 3:10) . One conversation at a time, one disciple at a time, one church at a time.

In a world too often characterized by loneliness and isolation, we have been entrusted with the sweetest news of all. Our God has made a way to bring us home, to create a new community of love, to give us a glimpse of the way the world was meant to be and a foretaste of the way the world one day will be.

If Jesus lived and died and rose again to form a new people for Himself, how much more should we dedicate ourselves to the same? Yes, it is messy and hard—but it is good, and it is true. 

In your hearts and minds and actions, in the use of your time and energy, in your team meetings and Sunday mornings, remember the sacred task that has been entrusted to each of us. We are sowers, we are waterers, we are reapers. That is to say—we are church planters.

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