missio

Matt Payne has just gotten underway with the public launch of the church he has planted, Church! at Bethany. He has had quite an experience so far, with his equipment trailer being stolen last week before a service! Of course, God used it for good, giving Church! at Bethany
great news coverage and actually restoring the equipment lost. What a great story, you can read and see more at Matt’s blog, Connecting the Unconnected. But here’s his church planting wisdom tidbits:

• Build a Great Team. Pray every day that God would send you people that complement your gift mix to be a part of your launch team. Even the Lone Ranger had a Tonto. Recruit them by casting the vision about what God is doing instead of making a hard sell. Let God call them as much as He has called you so when you tick them off they will be more likely to stay. A great team will allow ministry to be done even while you are at home with your family or on vacation. A great team will reproduce leaders and make disciples. Spend significant time with your team!! Pray and plan and play with them.

• Know your Target. Buy the demographic data and live in the area. Determine who you will best reach and develop basic plan to reach them. Don’t over-program!! Spend significant time hanging around them. Join the groups they have joined. Love them, don’t treat them as a project. Pray for them every single day!

• Be Flexible/Adaptable. Things will not go the way you think they will go. That’s ok. God is up to something. He’ll let you in on it when He’s ready. Pray every day for the strength to handle whatever situations might come up.

Matt really knows that last one. Great stuff from Matt. Thanks! Up next? Who knows?