The problem’s with the model

Believe me, I know this sounds arrogant. But this is so important, I have to say it. Most of the problems that professional church starters & leaders face – we don’t have those problems in Cheers! Conclusion: these problems are inherrent in the model they’re using, not the mission itself. The problem is with the model! 

I was in a ‘church planters conference recently. — Well, yes, we are ’sort of’ planting a church – well, at least if you bend the definition of church a bit: it’s not a building, not an institution, not a church service. But it is certainly an ecclesia – which is the word often translated as church. In the conference, they asked us to write a definition of church.  

Definition of ecclesia:

A Christian gathering to encourage core beliefs* and practices,* to transform their local community* (according to the “Kingdom of God.”)*

*- beliefs: God, Bible, Sin, Incarnation, Cross, Resurrection, Holy Spirit, Obey KofG teachings
*- practices: God-stuff, Pray. Learn, Love, Serve, Explain, (in the world)
*- Kingdom of God (all Christ’s teachings, eg. Sermon on Mt, Great Commandment, Great Commission.)
*- local community – further afield: see traveling bands (below)

PS. There are also Apostolic bands: sent by ecclesias, to go further afield, to spark, plant &/or develop new ecclesias. Note: Apostolic bands should be used especially by church plants!

Anyway, back to the conference.

They were talking about planting a church – as in train your leaders, get a venue, market yourselves, practice your service,  start a service, draw-a-wage, “church.” 

And they were saying – “let’s list the challenges we face in church planting.” Here’s the list:

X finances (wage & overheads, viability)
X time away from the family
Y different visions 
X children losing church friends 
X boundaries – to keep church people from overwhelming you / your family
X use of the family home (good to keep a church room separate from the home)
X you have to fill all the gaps: admin, ushering, speaker, leader, carer 
Y Spiritual warfare
X isolation
X pressure on family (goldfish bowl – the professional Christian’s family)
Y Blindspots (I added this one.)

The ones marked “Y” are the only ones we really face. The rest are really only problems faced by those using that kind of model. 

So you have to ask: why keep doing that model???