Category Archives: Church Planting
Worth Reading: The Multiplying Church
The Multiplying Church by Bob Roberts, Jr. Just finished Bob Roberts latest book and I’m sad it’s over. I loved this book! As a church planter, Bob Roberts speaks my heart language and gives me permission to continue pursuing my call and passion to see new churches planted all around the world. This is a must read for church leaders! Here are a few quotes that set my heart’s temperature a little hotter and made me think:
– “The future of faith in America (and anywhere in the world, for that matter) is not tied to planting more churches, but in raising up of mother congregations of every tribe, tongue, denomination, and network that are reproducing like rabbits.” (page 18)
– “The hope of the future of the church in the United States really is not in raising up more preachers; we’ve been doing that in high style for the past hundred years. The hope is in pregnant mother churches.” (page 18)
– “The highest demonstration of maturity for a local church is when it multiplies. Only something alive can reproduce, and it will do so only if it is healthy.” (page 61)
– “Churches that see only their own agenda and refuse to live in the broader context of the universal church will never be a part of the coming global church planting movement.” (page 65)
– “…missions isnt’ something you do – it is an expression of who you are.” (page 74)
– “As pastors…if we fail – or more likely simply refuse – to aggressively plant churches, God will hold us deeply accountable for using the church for our own end as opposed to extending His glory to the ends of the earth.” (page 87)
– “Every believer is a church planter. The lowest common denominator in all church planting is the disciple.” (page 105)
– “How sad that we’ve settled for a growing campus instead of striving for a transformed community.” (page 109)
– “Any vision that doesn’t require your entire life isn’t a vision; it’s just a thought.” (page 172)
– “Converts may grow a church, but disciples change the world.” (page 172)
Well worth reading. Also, check out Bob Roberts blog – www.glocal.net.
My Best of for 2007
After Christmas comes the litany of what was best in 2007. As a way to evaluate my year, I’ve put together a few list of my own. Feel free to add your own.
Best books read:
1. Family Driven Faith by Voddie Baucham – God’s discipleship strategy was the family. Refreshing.
2. Confessions of a Reformission Rev by Mark Driscoll – Being a church planter, I’ve had many of the same thoughts.
3. Lone Survivor by Marcus Luttrell – Behind enemy lines, surrounded, sacrificing for the team, dangerous rescue, Medals of Honor, True story, etc.
4. Breaking the Missional Code by Ed Stetzer and David Putnam – The church becoming a missionary in the community. It’s time to apply mission principals here at home. Thank God for this book.
5. Living the Cross Centered Life by C.J. Mahaney – First importance – the Cross. Centering life on that is the pursuit of a lifetime.
Best Podcasts:
1. Matt Chandler, Village Church, Dallas, Texas
2. Rick Warren Ministry Podcast, Saddleback Church,
3. Ravi Zacharias, RZIM Ministries
4. Fighter Verses (Scripture Memory), Bethlehem Baptist Church
5. Mark Driscoll, Mars Hill Church, Seattle, Washington
6. Tom Cheyney, NAMB Church Planting Group
7. Darrin Patrick, Journey Church, St. Louis, Missouri
Best Places/Events Visited:
1. Azalea Falls, Arkansas – Family Vacation, May 2007.
2. San Kristobal, Chiapas, Mexico – Mission Trip, October 2007
3. Jena, Louisiana – No matter what they say, I still love my home town
4. Abita Springs Crawfish Festival, Abita Springs, Louisiana – May 2007
5. Hope Cafe, Hope Church of Waldheim
Experiences that have helped me grow:
1. Watching my son being wheeled away for surgery – September 2007. Jack broke his arm and had minor surgery to set the bones and insert pins. However, it was still a life changing hour of my life. I now know what they mean when they say, there is no such thing as minor surgery.
2. Hearing unfounded criticism and gossip about myself spoken from someone I considered a friend. Not responding to immaturity and ignorance with my own immaturity and ignorance has been a challenge that has forced me to rely on God more than anything. Loving those who say all manner of evil against you is truly a supernatural phenomenon, impossible apart from Christ. The pain of conflict seems constant in ministry. It’s what I dislike most about what I do, but it has helped me grow as a Christian and as a leader like nothing else.
3. Preaching at the graveside service of a dear friends infant son – January 2007. I’m still trying to figure out what I should say. But God gave me grace and His Word gave us comfort.
4. Watching those friends recover and serve God enthusiastically the remainder of the year. I’ve learned in ministry that it’s the people who should be and could that usually don’t serve enthusiastically and sacrificially, and the people that shouldn’t have to that usually do. God’s strength is promised in our weakness and God gave incredible strength to these friends and amazed me in the process.
5. Choosing to confront instead of flatter a friend. Knowing that something must be said and that it might cost friendship has kept me up several nights as a Pastor desiring to protect the flock God has placed me over. Sleepless nights and responding to the call to be honest has helped me grow this year.
6. Preaching and serving in a primitive Indian village in Southern Mexico – October 2007. Trying to communicate from English, to Spanish, to Tzotzil, in speech and in culture was an awesome experience. Seeing the light bulb of the Gospel burst on in their hearts and minds, made it very much worth the effort.
Best/Most Used Blogs and Websites:
1. www.theologica.blogspot.com
2. www.desiringgod.org
3. www.drudgereport.com
4. www.bpnews.net
5. bible.lifeway.com
6. www.amazon.com
7. www.edstetzer.com
8. www.churchplantingvillage.net
9. www.theresurgence.com
10. www.newchurches.com
Unreached in the Americas
Last week a group from my church journeyed to Chiapas, Mexico to work with the Tzotzil Indians that live in the mountainous region along the border of Guatamala. It was an amazing trip to say the least. We worked along side the International Mission Board Volunteer Strategy Coordinator, Sergio Matassa, and a team from his church (Oak View Baptist in Irving, Texas). Sergio has been working in the state of Chiapas for six years and has formed a non-profit organization called G.L.E.D. (Global Leadership and Economic Development) to help facilitate a church planting movement among the unreached Indians of Mexico.
Our work consisted of three projects:
1) Visit and encourage mission churches planted among the Indian villages around San Cristobal and Simojovel.
2) Construction work at the Institute for Church Planting in Simojovel.
3) Medical Clinic and Evangelistic work in a Tzeltal Indian village near San Cristobal.
The scenery was breathtaking, the food was interesting, but the experience of seeing people of another tongue hear the story of Christ’s death and the way He paved for eternal life was unforgettable.
Please pray for the Unreached Indians of Chiapas, Mexico.
For more info see www.tzotzil.ovbc.net.
Lane Corley 