That is a question I’ve been asking myself and others for a number of years now. What were the factors that led you to decide on where to plant a church? Not only have I been thinking about this but it’s a haunting kind of question as well because the foundation of it is truly theological as well as pragmatic. Let me explain …
Several years ago while a Church Planting Strategist in Tucson I began noticing a trend. I’d roughly say that about 9 out of 10 church planters and church planter prospects felt God was leading them to plant in a primarily suburban setting/culture and among mostly Anglos. The reason this is theological is this: (1) This exposes how we view call and our theological underpinnings leading into our assumptions that leads into our decision-making. (2) This is theologically tragic because if God is calling guys to plant mostly in suburban settings among Anglos then He must not care about the 35% of the city that is Hispanic, non-White, and urban. Is that really who God is? I don’t think so.
So why or how did you decide where to plant a church? Was it a familiar culture? Was it the most comfortable setting or environment? Were you from that area and you had a burden for the people? Was it to go to the most unchurched part of the city? Was it the easiest soil that’ll give you the most bang for the buck? And if God is truly calling you there … do you know that for sure? How can you tell it is God versus your preference or where is the convergence of both?
In the initial responses received from my surveys as to what were the primary determining factors that led church planters to decide where they were to plant a church the overwhelming majority said that they felt called by God. While this is exciting and affirming at the same time I wonder aloud if there’s a dark side to this. If the most difficult parts of the city are also the same places where church planters are NOT going then what does that tell us? Does God not care? Why would He lead most planters to safer environments that’s inhabited by mostly Middle-Class families? Again, I’m not throwing stones but am simply wondering out loud. We don’t need less church plants in the suburbs because we need exponentially more. What I’m trying to uncover is why church planters chose to plant where they did …
November 5, 2009 at 8:09 am |
We’re one of several new church plants in our small city in the southeast. In our city alone we already have 1000+ churches, which was a factor that we considered when we moved here.
On a visit to the city months before we arrived here, I went on a driving tour of some of the places that have literally been forgotten, through a community in our city that has an average household income of $6000/year.
I chose this area because I felt like God wanted us here. Now as we are meeting the people in our community, realizing who is living here, we now know why we’ve been called here, to this largely urban, multi-cultural, predominantly African American, low income community.
November 5, 2009 at 10:07 am |
We’re Anglos from a small Southern city and pretty suburban. We were encouraged to start a church in the suburbs of Atlanta because it was easier. We wanted to go where the gospel was needed most.
But we knew God’s heart for the city, so we moved to the edge of the city where we are not the majority racially and there is vast variety of demographics. It has not been easy. We failed our first attempt and tried again. God grew this church.
Our church is mostly Anglo because I am. But we have about 25% non-Anglos and many other diverse types of people.
November 5, 2009 at 8:50 pm |
Thanks guys for connecting. It is great to hear your stories. Thank you also for your pioneering works in your community and for planting where you are.
November 5, 2009 at 10:49 pm |
we moved to minneapolis knowing we were to start one in the area, but not sure which of two places we would start. one was a suburb, the other was uptown. after praying and spending time in each, getting input from trusted friends who checked out the areas also, and looking at where I naturally fit in, we decided uptown. its required us to dramatically rethink style and approach as we reach to a section of minneapolis which is very creative, young professionals, single, and isn’t afraid to tell you they hate God and the church to your face. It’s great.