Part-1: How we can bust out '1,000 in 10' without burn out.

Part-1 of a mini-series on a church planting game-plan for the LCMC.

Prior to 1945, churches planted churches in America.  Since then, however, too many churches have punted their reproductive rights to the responsibility of a denominational bureaucracy.  Since allowing that to happen, Christians have seen more churches die than be born.

A core value of the LCMC is to turn that tide and birth 1,000 new congregations over the next 10-years.  We are more than just a church with a great Mission (LCMission in Christ), but a great Mission looking for great LC churches!  Such a bold number of developing 1,000 in 10, however, is not to be measured by a worldly (or even a typical church) scoreboard, but rather by a kingdom scorecard.  For that to ignite, we must first receive and unite with the following vision:

1. To see our Lutheran-ness as a tool for missional transformation in Jesus Christ, and not vice versa.  In other words, let's make sure the M of LCMC doesn't stand for "Maintain Lutherans."

2. To see that millions are going to hell if we believers aren't willing to model a daily, life-saving, faith in Jesus.  In other words, let's learn to obey everything Jesus has commanded us to do in love.

3. To see the need for apostles and prophets be welcomed into the Lutheran leadership ranks, exercising all spiritual gifts so the whole church can gain greater momentum in the culture.  In other words, let's recognize Ephesians 4:11-12 as needed in our Lutheran-ness.

4. To see that our current paradigm of what "is" church, is probably on the soft-side of biblical.  In other words, church in the 21st century is going to look more like the 1st century church in order to be more effective.

Here are some ideas to see how all 4 of the above listed points might come to be:

A. Storefront, or conventional start-ups, will no longer be our main priority when we think of "new church plants." While this model has been the norm for hundreds of years, it may no longer be the most effective manner to change lives.  Besides, this particular model comes with the mentality that only an ordained pastor can lead the charge.  That would be wonderful except we have a clergy shortage and the harvest is plentiful!

Storefront models often start with the focus on money rather than mission.  Money is certainly needed when the primary focus is the development of stuff (such as: office and worship spaces, band equipment, staff, etc), rather than what kind of resources are needed to develop disciples.  I'm certainly not against the storefront start-up model; after all,  I planted a storefront church myself that led to programming, hired staff and building a facility!  To be honest, though, I wouldn't do it the same way if I were starting a church today.  I wouldn't focus so much on the Sunday morning worship experience as my main front door to the community.  Instead, I would move my energy and trained volunteers to bless and train other folks in the community to be fellow disciples.  The amount of money I had, or didn't have, would no longer drive the mission, but the mission would drive the mission.  Money would then follow (see last week's blog for more details on that).  My laptop and phone would be my office, located wherever I sat in the community.  In other words, the church goes from come-to the building for Christian consumer stuff, to going into the marketplace for public Christian relationship development.  Hmmm...

B. Jesus started a worldwide revolution that has lasted over 2,000 years--- and he didn't have programs or a building.  Instead, he had a plan and a purpose to disciple others who would then join him in the work of multiplication.  In fact, when the church began to build its own facilities 300-some-years after Jesus' resurrection, that's when the church started its decline from its earlier straight up influential trajectory!  Perhaps a more biblical, less expensive, more highly impactful new church start would be "missional communities"---  smaller, flexible and fluid groups of believers that simply serve, act, love, speak like Jesus within a city.  Think on this: people use to flock to Jesus.  Are people flocking to our churches today?  If not, it might be because we don't look like Jesus!

When we look like him, that's when laboring in Christ becomes our worship inside our spheres of influence.  That's when members turn into ministers and audiences transform into armies.  We no longer have to keep reinventing the wheel, but innovating it (see my previous blogs).  Here's a quick example: instead of always doing our own in-house programming to only bless insiders, let's join other so-called "secular" community services that are already in place---  serving as people of Jesus to the outsiders.  (By the way, when believers do something in Christ's name, how can it be considered secular any more!?)

Would the gospel and a public worship gathering still be shared through this paradigm shift of what "is" church?  Of course, but perhaps only after prayer has set the climate in the favor of the Spirit, after relationships and trust have been built, after people's felt needs have been attended too--- THEN we can proclaim the kingdom of God has drawn near! (see Luke 10:1-9 for Jesus' plan).  The previously unreached will then be reached, discipled, and empowered to disciple other people--- ALL starting outside the context of an expensive church/office facility.  Again with the hmmm...

I'm certainly not against nice buildings.  In Minnesota, our facilities keep the snow off our feet and rain off our heads.  But I ask, why build more facilities when there are so many already around us awaiting for us to reclaim them in Jesus' name?  Why focus on building new facility structures when its clear that buildings aren't drawing more people to Christ?  I know a church that meets Sundays in a YMCA because the facility is about as community-centered as they can get in that community.  This church, called "The Why Church," has no intension of ever moving to its own private facility.  After all, "why" pour millions of dollars into things, instead of mission?  "Why" move to a building that communicates being separated from the marketplace, instead of gathering in a facility that communicates Christian unity in the marketplace?  Please think on all that as we contemplate how we can have greater success in planting more life-impacting ministries.

NEXT WEEK: a more specific game-plan of how we will bust-out 1,000 in 10 without burn-out.  Don't miss! 

BIG NEWS!  We now have a newly formed MISSION TEAM for the sake of developing our association's vision to birth more kingdom-reaching churches.  I am excited to introduce to you the team of: Sean Kelly (California), Jonathan Haseley (New York), Jonathon Kosec (Texas), TJ Anderson (Ohio) and Nathan Anenson (Iowa).  These five pastors join me in developing a national  think tank for developing our missional movement.  As decisions are made and opportunities are created, I will be sure to let you know via this blog and our LCMC website.  Please keep this new team in your prayers!