PULLING THE RIPCORD:

10 Checkpoints of Parachute Church Planting

PART 1

A little background info for me might be helpful.  In 2002 God used me to plant Grace Baptist Fellowship in Celina, TX which I pastored for 8 years.  It is a wonderful congregation that continues to serve Jesus.  God then called me to serve as pastor of Harvey Baptist Church in Stephenville, TX for 4 years.  It is a precious group of people with a heart for the gospel and they celebrated their 100 year anniversary in 2014.  I have worked in East Africa since 2009 doing evangelism, church planting, and pastor training with national leaders of the Baptist Convention of Kenya and this has now become the ministry called Gateway East Africa.  I currently serve as the Director of Missions for the North Texas Baptist Association where I assist churches in Great Commission efforts and I am currently working with 11 churches in various stages of church planting.  I have made every mistake that can be made and I did not know what I was doing much of the time.  God has been gracious and has faithfully guided me through it all.  I hope these thoughts from my experiences may be a helpful contribution to those dedicated to planting churches.

1. Discerning the Call - When I began in 2002 I do not think I had ever heard the terms “parachute planting”, “launch service”, or even “church planting”.  All I knew was that God had called me to start a church because people needed Jesus.  I was in a small town that would soon become a north Dallas suburb and although the growth came slower than expected, I knew it would come.  As a pastor there will be times you will want to quit...and even die.  There are times that the only thing that will keep you faithful to the task at hand is that there was this moment in time whereby you know that you were called by God and His word kindles a fire in your soul that cannot be extinguished.  See also Jeremiah 20 “Then I said, ‘I will not make mention of Him, nor speak anymore in His name.’ But His word was in my heart like a burning fire shut up in my bones; I was weary of holding it back, and I could not.” (vs. 9)  Planting churches is hard work and you better know God has called you to it.  The roadside ditches are filled with others who did not because they were not.
2. Obtaining Outside Support - I know the term “parachute” may indicate that this is some kind of maverick effort but no matter how independent you may be you still need some level(s) of outside help.  When Grace Baptist began we did not seek outside financial assistance but I had some money in savings. This soon ran out and we had intense struggles that I would not recommend for any pastor and family.  But even then I had outside relationships with a sister church and pastor as well as our local association of churches. I now strongly emphasize in my current roles the importance of a sponsor church and participation in a local association of churches for the sake of encouraging relationships, prayer support, networking for resources, and doctrinal accountability.  You need others and others need you.
3. Building A Core Group - Building leaders and getting the right people in the right positions is one of the hardest parts of pastoring a church.  Beware that there may be some “pioneers” who are veterans in church work who will show up to help.  They will be of great help to you and are usually wonderful people who love Jesus but often they have a hard time letting go of the control they originally had when the church begins to grow.  Love them and move forward but make sure you are also reaching new people with the gospel and training them in sound doctrine.  You will need core group people who will become leaders without a lot of “churchy” background baggage.  The best advice I know regarding who should be leaders in the church is 1 Timothy 5:22, “do not lay hands on anyone hastily.”  Watch them, time will tell you much.
4. Kneeling in Prayer - It is a natural pull to attempt to do the work of ministry in your own ability.  Repent and get on your knees.  This is backbreaking, soul-torturing, and impossible work.  You can’t do it.  Only God can do this and the only way He will pour His power into you is through prayer.  The first couple of months that Grace Baptist started our core group met every day after work for a time of prayer.  That church continues today.  When I went to Harvey Baptist we began special prayer meetings.  We prayed on Saturday mornings and we had all-night prayer meetings from 9pm until 6am.  That church has grown in every way and to this day is one of the healthiest congregations anywhere.  E.M. Bounds was right, “What the church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more and novel methods, but men who the Holy Ghost can use - men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.  The Holy Ghost does not flow through methods, but through men.”
5. Making a Gospel Presence in the Community - A new church starting in the community is a tremendous opportunity for the pastor to use every meeting and every relationship to introduce himself as the “pastor of the new church”.  Go door to door introducing yourself to your new neighbors and let them know you are here to get to know people and help them in any way possible.  Get an evangelism plan together for  yourself and the core group and start telling people about Jesus.  In less accessible areas have neighborhood cookouts or block parties so that you can work from the inside.  Don't let this just turn into a friendly BBQ only, share with those gathered the reason for this meeting.  Jesus died to save us and rose from the dead and this is why we celebrate.  If you would like to know more about Jesus we are here to help.  Ask people how you may be praying for them, write it down and follow up with them.  Special events, service projects, social media; use every tool available to share the gospel with the people in your community.  You may not see many of those people directly attend your worship services but God will bless your faithfulness in going and He will send people your way.  Be a personal soul-winner and disciple-maker.  Pastor, your people will never go farther than you are willing to go in these most important areas.