7 things that made us into church planters
I am 53 years old. I take Lipitor. And this week I became a church planter. After six years working at the Assemblies of God Theological Seminary (http://www.agts.edu) as a teaching administrator, my wife Janet and I are changing ministry vocations. While my teaching relationship with AGTS will continue, we will be moving to Berkeley, California to plant an AoG church. OK, so we better get back to the whole Lipitor thing. What could possibly motivate an almost-senior citizen like me and my outstanding wife to go off the deep end like this? There are many factors, but here are a few of the most salient to us…
1. An example: Several years ago Missiologist Gaiylen Van Rheenan significantly reordered his professional life to become more involved in church planting. He did so later in life and with grace and honesty. I have been unable to shake this illustration of risk-taking in a season where playing it safe comes so much more naturally. Lesson: Good examples can really drive you crazy.
2. A breakfast: About two years ago I was eating breakfast with Ed Stetzer , discussing the challenges of academic life when he asked the unthinkable, “So why don’t you start a church?” Being involved in a plant himself this question had some annoying authority and I found all my rationalizations boiling down to, “I’m too busy.” As if he isn’t. Lesson: Never buy Ed Stetzer pancakes.
3. A sermon: My friend and Dean, Joe Castleberry, preached a sermon in an AGTS chapel last fall that contained an intriguing statement: the two great risk-taking phases of life are the twenties (before you have kids) and the fifties (after the nest is empty). This thought became like a virus in my mental programming, slowly beginning to take control of things. Lesson: Listen for prophetic voices.
4. A joke: Curt Harlow , director of west coast campus ministry development for my denomination emailed me a couple months ago asking who I would recommend to pastor a plant in Berkeley that would partner with a ministry on campus. I responded wryly, asking if they would consider applications from senior citizens. He replied that, if I were serious, we would be their first choice. Uh-oh. Lesson: Never joke with Curt.
5. A friend: I went to the President of our school, Byron Klaus, as soon as the potential of planting began to concretize and asked him to help Jan and me discern what the Holy Spirit was doing. In the weeks that followed, he literally pastored us through the decision-making process, confirming it himself with a public announcement only a few days ago. We leave AGTS with our relationships and our teaching ministry not only intact, but likely to expand. Lesson: Trust your friends.
6. A visit: We walked the Berkeley campus for a day, visited the East Bay area and literally saw the future being invented before our eyes. The people in towns and on campuses like this are the architects of that future. We must reach them. The Peet’s coffee didn’t hurt either. Lesson: Go see for yourself.
7. A helplessness: Jan and I took a day after our visit to the East Bay area to process the whole experience. We talked for a long time under the influence of mega-doses of Italian food. At the end of our conversation she said simply, “We have no defenses against this.” She was right. Neither of us felt that we had any way of powering up our shields to resist what feels like the future calling us forward. The inability to defend ourselves is a product of our experience at AGTS and the influence of its President on my own life. Lesson: If you really value your defenses, stay home.
The path ahead has many, many steps. But we have no way to defend ourselves.
And so it begins…
[This blog originally appeared in Monday Morning Insights]
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Thanks for sharing this story Earl! As a church planter myself (in Santa Barbara, a little south of your new home) I’m excited to hear about your new journey! Blog often, I’ll be reading!
wow, earl, this is amazing! i am encouraged in my faith just reading this post, and will be praying with and for you and your wife as you step into the gorgeous mystery of god’s calling! may i be so bold in 10 years.
Go, Earl, go!
Something that might make this even more captivating for you is that the Bay Area is the only signficant urban center left in the United States that does not have a revival in its urban history. I think that God might be up to something in the Bay Area and specifically in Berkeley. I moved to Berkeley 2 years ago to plant a church. Get ready to fight, claw, and pray for the Gospel in Berkeley. Welcome aboard…when are you moving? I’d love to welcome you to the team…
As one who is in the first great risk-taking season in her life, I resonate with the defenselessness that you describe. It’s so frightening and exciting at the same time. You know you’re supposed to do IT, but you have no idea how IT will actually happen when you’re the one in charge of IT. So you just go. And God shows up. Every time. We are praying for you and Jan as you enter this season in your scary, fun, terrifying, exhilarating, journey of life.
Hey Earl, welcome to the Central Coast! I am stoked to have you so close to Santa Cruz. Let’s get together for coffee if you make it to SC again. What are your dreams for Berkeley? When do you move?
Earl
you’re scaring me. I have just finished reading ORD [my reivew will be up shortly] and it resonated with me in terms of our journey.
Then I was at an event recently where someone talked about being 50+ and planting a church [I am in that 50+ category]; and as he said it, I was taken back to an event when I was in my 20’s and I said to someone, “how come all our church planters are right out of bible college – where are the church planters with years of experience?”
I’m not sure church planting is in our future… but I am probably more open to that possibility than I have have been.
Keep blogging about your journey. I, for one, appreciate it.
I’m so excitedly giddy, I can’t contain myself. But, rather than inundate your blog with a metric ton of exclamation points, I’ll just call you. :)
Whoo!!
Super exciting! Good for you. May God order your steps, fill your mouth and strengthen your gifts. May you release yourself to rely on Him. May you lead with love and follow it up with power. Shine on!
I am very happy for you and Jan. I sure am going to miss you guys.
exciting journey! now i understand our conversation at ruby tuesday’s better. thought there was more in your eyes than just other peoples experiences.
Earl, thanks for sharing the news of your new assignment. I was one who got to review your book and loved it. Thank you for your insights and encouragements. I am in the process of praying and preparing to plant a church and look forward to hearing your insights along your way. Thanks again.
Earl, thrilled for the new steps of faith you’re taking, even at age 53! Gives me hope to keep my eyes open at age 40 here, and where I can take big steps of faith too..
Earl, I will be praying for you and this new endeavor. I read your book and heard you speak recently at North Central University in Mpls, MN and I must admit that your announcement did not come as a huge surprise. I really sensed your passion for reaching the lost in both your writing and your speaking.
Just one word of advice… keep up the R-Mentoring!
Earl & Janet,
Woo-hoo!! Who would be better for this than you? I can’t help but remember a few months ago when Eric and I were sitting with you at that Mexican restaurant in Springfield and you said, “There are no books being written yet about what you guys are doing in church planting. You’ll be writing the books one day.” Well, so will you! We can’t wait to connect and hear more.
Woohooo!!!!!!!!! Church planting wins over academia again!!!! I’m so excited for you guys! I can’t believe it. This is the most exciting, scary, awesome journey you’ll ever take!!! I’m so stoked!
By the way Earl, that sermon by Joe Castleberry affected Cara and I also. All we could think was, “We want to take a risk too!” I also know that sermon effected many others too.
Earl,
I will miss your presence at the Seminary. I was hoping to take a class with you, perhaps that will still work out in the future.
May the Lord bless you and make his face shine upon you! I want you to know that your ORD book has helped influence me to the point I am strongly considering church planting myself after I graduate from AGTS.
Blessings!
Wow, am I behind or what? Awesome!! Very stinking awesome! I can’t think of anything else to say.
Actually, it makes much spiritual sense to me. Starting new churches has often been the territory of the young and strong, but they have often lacked wisdom and maturity. Sure we have the Holy Spriit, but wisdom and maturity still comes over time. Empty nesters with a long history of sanctification are good candidates to be the ones starting churches. Old, big established churches can absorb the pitfalls and mistakes of youth that can destroy a new work. They are good places to train young Pastors. This is not to say young people should not start churhes, but that sanctification and wisdom is critical. This is most often gained by experience (cross). I would like to see a huge movement of older saints stepping out in faith and risk.
Good for you. I think we will be seeing more of this.
It will keep you digging. I passed 65 this year and I am still taking risks. Howard Nutt
Great post Earl, I can relate big time. I have wanted our paths to cross for some time… even more so now.
Peace and Joy,
Mike