Over the past several years, there seems to have been a “boom” of church plants. They are (stereotypically) plants that happen in a thriving, hip, arts driven cool old part of a metropolitan area. The pastor is youngish, typically wears a beard, has a young family and has some charisma if not even some street cred.
And the motto is always the same… “not your parents church”.
They take pride in “doing things differently”. They either meet in homes and/or, if they grow, they meet in some cool hip public rental space. If home driven, they are proud of the fact that they don’t have to purchase or maintain a facility. And the first thing they struggle with is finding a place where they can all meet together.
The larger groups have the ubiquitous coffee bar; only wishing it was craft beers. There’s the loud band that’s led by a rock star leader. With CDs (or download codes) available in the back.
And, from somewhere, there’s always funding.
Sure, I am drawn to such churches. I find a sort of romanticism in these endeavors. The grass roots efforts. The not being bogged down by years of “we’ve always done it that way” sort of mentality. The pure joy or trying something different, and not being judged if it fails. Yeah, I find that quite attractive.
go back 50 years…
3 things occurred nearly simultaneously and nearly independently.
A small group of people came together to cry out for the community of Olathe, KS. This was a bedroom community to Kansas City, with fewer than 12,000 people and ready to start growing like mad. There were also only 12 churches in this community. So, this small group of people looked to the future of what was happening, prayed earnestly and diligently and sought God’s provision on reaching the current and coming needs for more houses of worship in this small community.
The Southern District of Mennonite Brethren Churches started seeing the transition of people moving from the traditional farming communities to suburban areas. The MBs were slowly moving away from an agrarian society and there were fewer children being born to these people. So, adapt or die! They saw the need to start planting churches in urban and/or suburban areas. But where…?
Finally, a man named Art Harder was pastoring a small community of MB believers in Weatherford, OK and was also seeking God in starting a new church somewhere. Planting churches was “his thing”. And though this would possibly mean uprooting his family and consistent job in Weatherford, he was willing to go.
Community Bible Church in Olathe, KS was founded 50+ years ago. My parents, though not really a part of the original “small group” moved to the area specifically to be a part of this new church plant. My mom had helped in planting a church in Wichita, KS, so, this wasn’t new to her. This was God’s call on their lives. So, with 2 small children, they moved.
So, did others. They moved to be a part of this church. The pastor gave up a consistent paycheck for the unknown. Others moved to the area first, hoping to find a job when they got here, and found finding a job difficult. Few had deep pockets. And, the denomination, though supportive, didn’t funnel the kind of funds to fully support the congregation. The congregation came together to support the congregation. It was, a Community.
When it came time to build a facility, the people came together, with few funds, but a vision that God would provide. He did provide, but, not without the (literal) sweat and tears from the congregation. There was no pulling out the checkbook, writing a check, and deciding to spend 5 days in Mexico rather than 7… There was no Mexico. There were no funds. There was work by their own hands.
So, yeah, you cool and hip church planters out there, I AM jealous. I DO wish I could be a part of something with the freedom that starting from scratch provides. And yeah, I “get” your motto. I understand what you’re trying to say there. And I agree…
With your vision, your plans, your craft beers and coffee bars and vintage Telecasters… And funding and support from other congregations who funnel money into your endeavor. Your hip cool places to meet with trendy logos and marketing…
Yeah, you’re NOT my parents church. You have it easy.
