STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE

Transcription

1 STEPPING INTO THE FUTURE CHURCH PLANT 2019 go and make disciples Matthew 28:19

2 WHY SHOULD WE PLANT A CHURCH? TO FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION IT S IN OUR DNA Church planting was modeled for us by the greatest missionary in history, the Apostle Paul. His mission strategy consisted of two parts: 1) going to urban areas and 2) planting new churches. The book of Acts documents the extensive network of churches he formed. Modern studies show just how effective church plants are at reaching people. Young adults and new residents gravitate to them. These people groups are, attracted by the fresh approach to ministry and opportunity to become meaningfully involved that a new, small, growing church offers. At a meeting of our founding members that took place this year, we were discussing the numerical growth of Bethel over the years. One of the members present said, Maybe it is time for a new group of people to go out from Bethel to start a new church as we did. Fulfilling the Great Commission is our main reason for wanting to plant a church. Jesus envisioned church planting when he gave the Great Commission. He implied this when He instructed His disciples to Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing and teaching (Matthew 28:18-19). Since baptism is a symbol of incorporation into the church, Jesus was telling his disciples to reach people and enfold them into Christian communities where they could be taught. C. Peter Wagner has said, "Church planting is the most effective form of evangelism under heaven." Not only that, a church plant s ability to reach those living far from God is unparalleled. It is not uncommon that 60-80% of a new church s membership will be made up of people who had not previously been worshiping with any group. TO GROW SPIRITUALLY Obedience always stretches us in ways we don t fully anticipate. By following the Spirit into a new challenges, we will inevitably experience both joy and growth. If we plant a church, joy will come as we partner with the new church and hear exciting stories about how God is transforming lives. We will grow as we learn about their new and innovative ways to do ministry. Bethel started as a church plant. Many years ago a relatively small core of people left Maranatha Christian Reformed Church and began meeting in Highlands United Church under the leadership of their new minister, Pastor Chuck Fennema. Now, Bethel has over six hundred members, and the impact we are making in Bannerman, our own communities, and the world started with the vision and dedication of these first members. In our church s vision document, A Dream for Bethel we express our prayerful intention to do this very thing. With our 40th year anniversary coming up in 2019, perhaps the time is right for Bethel a launch a new church as these pioneers did four decades ago. God s Plan This is a story that was shared with Janet Vroon (a member of Bethel) by a Fort Saskatchewan resident. A friend called me up and said that she was doing her devotions and she had a bit of a vision. In it, she saw Emsie, herself and me. What was emphasized was that God brought all three of us to Fort Saskatchewan for a reason and she kept seeing these maps. The maps represented the different cultures that we came from. I didn't talk to her for awhile and yet she felt God had something in mind that included the three of us and the Fort.

3 WHERE WOULD WE PLANT THIS CHURCH? A SURPRISING COINCIDENCE OF THINGS HAS LED OUR CHURCH PLANT TEAM TO THINK THAT FORT SASKATCHEWAN IS THE LIKELY PLACE TO PLANT A CHURCH. THESE ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE MADE US THINK THIS WAY DEMOGRAPHICS Currently 13 churches exist in this community of over 25,000 people. Estimating (conservatively, we think) that each church averages about 100 members, that means that less than two in ten people are attending church in the Fort on any given Sunday. The city is growing, and new people will require new churches. The graph below illustrates the city s past and anticipated growth: THE FORT NEEDS A CHURCH Fort Saskatchewan is ripe for a new church. Residents report that there is no church in the city that is currently attracting people in any significant numbers. A once growing and thriving church in the city experienced a sudden and serious decline in membership in recent years, contributing to the city s spiritual need. Many residents of the Fort travel to find churches outside of the city but wish there was a local church where they could attend and serve and to which they could invite friends and neighbours. THE MOVING OF THE SPIRIT The Bethel Members who live in Fort Saskatchewan are passionate to reach their friends and neighbours with the Good News. They see a church plant as an excellent way to do this. Several of our Fort Saskatchewan members have indicated that they are prepared to shoulder the sacrifice required to launch a church aimed at reaching those living far from God. Already one family from the Fort has joined Bethel Church, and another has been visiting Bethel, because of their friendships with Bethelites from Fort Saskatchewan. These newly arrived community members enjoy worshipping at Bethel, and are intrigued by Bethel s vision of possibly planting a church in their home city. Our team takes all these stirrings to be important indicators that the Spirit may be directing us to plant in the Fort. PROXIMITY TO BETHEL Fort Saskatchewan is within a twenty minute drive of Bethel Church. This nearness will allow the two churches to stay in contact with each other, and it opens up opportunities for us to partner together. FROM THE CITY OF FORT SASKATCHEWAN WEBSITE: Home to more than 25,500 people, Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta is a vibrant economic and cultural hub located just 15 minutes northeast of Edmonton on the banks of the North Saskatchewan River. The City of Fort Saskatchewan proudly manages state of the art recreation, culture and historic amenities including 75 km of outdoor trails, a performing arts theatre and fitness centre within the Dow Centennial Centre As the Father has sent me, I am sending you. John 20:21

4 WHEN WOULD WE PLANT THIS CHURCH? Several things have led us to focus on September of 2019 as the date for starting the new church: This target date will give us enough time to lay the ground work for the plant. Fall has proven to be a good time to plant churches. This is partly because new residents who have moved into town for the start of a new school year are among those most likely to embark on a new church adventure. Classis Alberta North will make money available for a church plant in 2019 as part of their plan to plant one new church every three years is Bethel s 40 year anniversary. It seems a perfect time to build on the vision and dedication of the pioneering members who planted Bethel Church. God can speak to us in many different ways. Long before Bethel began talking about planting a church I had two noteworthy experiences in Fort Saskatchewan. The first was in the summer of I was in Fort Saskatchewan because I had to bring my dog to the vet. While driving in, a thought entered my mind: Does this town have a strong Christian presence? Someone should plant a church here. Two years later I was driving down highway 21 in South Fort after meeting a Bethelite at the local Starbucks. I saw an empty lot and, feeling the presence of God, remembered that earlier thought about a church plant. Needless to say, when the idea of a church plant in Fort Saskatchewan was first brought up at Bethel years later, I was astounded. Pastor Ryan We were in the Dow Centennial Centre looking at these facilities as a potential meeting place for the new church plant. When we told one of the staff the reason for our visit, she said "Oh I would attend." We hadn t even said what denomination we were part of. She just thought it would be exciting to visit a church that met in a community center. Ed Dubbeldam The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few Luke 10:2

5 HOW WOULD WE DO THIS? BY COMMISSIONING THE CHURCH PLANT TEAM Bethel s Council has appointed the Church Plant Team to study the church plant proposal and communicate our findings to the congregation. The team plans to spend this church year gathering information and trying to answer any questions church members may have. We hope to receive a go ahead vote for the proposal at our spring congregational meeting. BY SENDING OUT FAMILIES. We envision that families from Bethel will form the initial launch team. This will require sacrifice on the part of those going and those staying behind. As a church we will lose the launch group s presence, finances, and volunteer support. Those leaving will sacrifice by investing their tithes, time, and talents, into the new work. Since the time we returned to Canada from the States, I had always seen us living in Sherwood Park. We chose a realtor out of Sherwood Park, viewed many homes there, and even placed a deposit check on a new build but backed out at the last minute. My wife had begun to see Ft. Saskatchewan as our new home, but I was not on board. It was after visiting Ft Saskatchewan Christian School, and having a God-planned encounter with its principle, that I finally saw what my wife already knew: we we're supposed to be in Ft Saskatchewan. Since then God has continued to open doors for us in the Fort and has begun to prepare our family for a task we did not see coming when we first moved backed to Canada. We couldn't be more thrilled and thankful. Greg Boskers BY GIVING FINANCIALLY We estimate that the new church will require between $150,000 and $200,000 per year to operate. It will be supported by several partners for three years, and then will be expected to become self-sufficient or find alternative funding till it can become self-sufficient. Funding will come from these sources: Classis Alberta North will give a minimum of $120,000 over a three year period. Bethel Church will be asked to give an equal or greater amount over three years. Resonate Ministries of the Christian Reformed Church will provide up to $75,000 in grants. The members of the new church will support the new church sacrificially through their offerings. Other supportive individuals may choose to contribute financially. The Church Plant Team is proposing a financial faith-raising campaign to be launched sometime in This drive would have the dual purpose of raising funds for the church plant and paying down Bethel s mortgage. We believe a drive is preferable rather than adding the cost of the church plant to our annual budget for several reasons. A drive will allow church members to support the church plant to the full extent of their generosity rather than limiting them by a predetermined amount. Also, a successful drive would free Bethel from $40,000 per year in mortgage payments - an important reduction in expenses as we anticipate losing the financial support of those members leaving for the church plant. BY CALLING A CHURCH PLANTER At some point we will need to call a church planter to give primary leadership in this effort. Finding this new church planter will be the task the Church Plant team.