As we consider preparation for planting, it appears that from discussion in the past few days that the ‘where to plant’ is both an interesting thread but also one which can cause a lot of tension. As I said from the outset, all I can do is share my experience and add to a conversation, but I will tip my hand and hopefully suggest things that might challenge all of our thinking. Before we think of the places we are planting, I want to consider why we may have chosen that place to begin with.
Gospel Presence & Gospel Witness
Some of you know our story of planting in Loughrea, but we are here primarily because of prayer and faithfulness. Two ladies in town were driving each week around 30 minutes to go to their local church, not out of preference, but that was the closest evangelical church to them. Yes, you read that correctly - 30mins to their closest church. In an act of faith they began to meet on a Thursday morning to pray, and specifically that God would send people to plant in Loughrea. God has answered their prayers, and now Calvary Church Loughrea has been meeting publicly in town for almost 5 years.
As I think of terms, words and phrases, we can get muddled. I’m not sure how to properly define this, but I think there is a difference between Gospel presence and Gospel witness through the establishment of a local church. The church is a Gospel presence and witness, a gathering of God’s people who are in a place for that place. The Gospel is proclaimed, the Word is taught, the sacraments are observed, and people are discipled as they love one another and are joyfully and faithfully obedient to the Word by the Spirit. I know there are many ideas on what a church is, and marks to define a local church, but these are some basic ones we'd all agree with. When I chat to folks who are planting, and I’ve been guilty of this, we can talk about presence and witness in a way that discredits and diminishes others. We can look to a town of 8000 people with 5 churches and talk about a lack of Gospel witness, meaning that we think that they don’t teach the Bible, believe the Gospel or engage with the culture. I don’t know all contexts, but I wonder how much harm and division is caused as churches are planted because there is an opening for our particular ‘tribe.’ Is some of the tension we are feeling because we have set up in a town where people are leaving existing churches for the ‘new thing.’ Again, I’m not being specific to anyone or any context, because what I would encourage is not to think of where churches are, and evaluating their effectiveness, but notice where churches aren’t. Where there might be Gospel witness, but the need for Gospel presence of a local church. In short I’m asking ‘why’ we choose the particular ‘where’ we are desiring to plant.
They Why’s of Where
The question becomes therefore, why have we chosen the where for our plant. I’d urge that we give this serious thought. As I said last time, I am a massive believer in pioneer planting - where there are no churches, and think how we can reach that place. In some ways it offsets the comparison and competitiveness that we can naturally feel. As I talk with planters one of the major indications it seems for planting is reaching people, not places. I understand that, we called to go to people. However, places are where people are at. I’m not particularly artistic, but I thought to explain my point I would use an illustration...
Place A is a city context. It has a population of 100,000 and 20 churches. There is one church for every 5000 people.
Place B is a large town. It has a population of 50,000 and 7 churches. There is one church for over 7000 people.
Places C, D and E are small towns. They have a population of 5000 each. None of the towns have any churches.
Before I begin, I know this is simplistic and without many details but stick with me. If we are deciding on where churches are to be planted, I would say from experience that there is a greater likelihood of new churches being planted into place A & B, than C,D and E. I’ve heard arguments of population size, influence, prevailing culture, ‘trickle down’ and all sorts of reasons. I’m not saying that these are bad or inherently wrong, but why is it that clusters of churches attract more church plants? Does place B need more churches than places C, D and E to reach a greater number of people? Now, I know what you might be saying, does it have to be either/or? No it definitely doesn’t, but it is a pattern that begs the question, why is there a great likelihood of planting in place A or B rather than the others? Why are we seeing lots of younger leaders being drawn or called towards contexts where there are already churches rather than where there are none? Has our sense of ‘going’ become less in terms of distance in recent years. Has our focus on the ‘missional’ come at the expense of the ‘missionary.’
If we are concerned with Gospel witness or Gospel presence, then we could confidently say that places A and B are likely to have have some, even if we might disagree with some secondary or tertiary differences. I think we need to start asking those questions, especially as we identify, train and resource planters. Why are there places that we aren’t seeing planters raised for? Why are people more attracted to areas with more churches than places without? If we are part of churches and organisations with people who desire to plant churches, are we open to ask them to prayerfully consider not going to a place A or B, and thinking what it would be like to reach a place like C, D or E?
I’ll admit that I’m being a little bit provocative, and intentionally so. I know that going to an area with more churches, Christians, support etc. is a real blessing for ministry. I know that living in a nice neighbourhood, or in a place with good coffee will help in those hard times. I know there are people in all contexts that need to hear the Gospel. However, it’s still something that is worth pressing into. In my context in Ireland there are over 100 towns with a population of over 5000 people that are without an evangelical church. None. There are folks in our church that have to drive 30mins to us because we are their closest church. If we are called to go, then how can we ensure that we are not bypassing places on our way? How can we fill in the gaps, reach the unreached, and see these little lights cover our nations rather than be clustered in the one place?
I would love to have some discussion on this, and I know there are people in cities, rural areas, inner city places that will probably feel overlooked and under resourced. We all, me especially can develop that chip on our shoulder for our own place, but if you are considering planting, supporting or sending planters, are you asking ‘why’ we have chosen the particular ‘where’ and are there other ‘where’s’ that might be of an equal need? Is our ‘where’ chosen from comfort and amenities over somewhere which might be slow and hard? These are questions we all have to ask, and I hope that we can have some conversations seasoned with grace in these areas.
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