8 time-tested principles of church planting
Some random thoughts:
#1 seems somewhat on shaky ground, as where does genuine culture end and the need for Gospel confrontation begin? For example, should churches make Americans feel comfortable about their gluttony and greed? I hope not.
On the flip side, I’ve felt at home among blacks, hispanics, asians, Germans, Indians, Malays….and even caucasian Americans at times. :^)
#6 is a powerful rebuke to our “Field of Dreams” type “build it and they will come” theology, isn’t it? that said, I like it.
#8 and #3 are in some tension with each other.
Aspiring to be a stick in the mud.
I actually have more of a problem with the first half of #2, which seems to fit more with the homogeneous unit principle (HUP) in mind, which states that it is easier for people to become Christians the fewer ethnic and cultural barriers they have to cross. However, having a church where one’s 1st language is spoken is important, which he seems to state in #1 and the second part of #2.
Interestingly with the millions and millions of legal and illegal immigrants and refugees that have entered our country in the past 50 years, we literally have hundreds of nations at our doorstep. A good friend of mine is a missionary in Houston (the 4th largest city in America) reaching out to Rohingya refugees, a closed, traditional Muslim people group from Burma. Here is an excerpt from his his latest email.
September 15th
“How many of my people group will hear the gospel today?” The sad reality for the Rohyinga and Burmese Ms* in Houston today is that none will hear; but, not for much longer. We’ve had an energizing and inspiring week this week, strategizing how we can get the gospel to every unreached M* household in our people group. With the language barrier, it’s a daunting challenge; but, God has already been at work in so many ways-bringing in national partners, using churches to serve in the love of Christ, and providing resources. We’re excited to get back to Houston and join in what God is already doing. No longer will the Rohingya be left without a witness. God is sending workers into his harvest!
September 20th
Tonight, M* invited us to share a meal with him of amazingly spicy beef and peppers. After the meal, we sat cross-legged on the floor to have our Bible Study, while M* chewed betel leaf. I am excited about how the study is going. First, M* opens his home week after week to hear from a book most M*slms believe is corrupt. Second, M* knows Jesus died and that he died for our forgiveness, again a truth M*slms deny. Third, he shares these Bible stories with his M*slm friends. Tonight, we read the crucifixion story from Luke 23 and the convict who trusted in Jesus. We discussed for a long time how it was God’s plan for him to die as the final sacrifice for our sins. He also understood the significance of the criminal’s faith, that even though he was a convict, he was forgiven because of his faith in Jesus and his message. Pray that the Word will continue to bear fruit in M*’s life and he’ll come to believe the gospel!
All in all, I think these principles would work well in planting a church among the Rohingya people in Houston and because of the language barrier, they should look to plant a church in the Rohingya language.
Discussion