Partnering with our first plant…

We are 15 months old. That is young. We are in the process of thinking about finally putting a budget together. We have never had one. If money comes in, we spend it. That has pretty much been our approach. But as we started talking about budget, I knew one of the first things I wanted in it was some cash for partnering with our first church plant. The fact is we would have done this whether we have a budget or not but it is cool to know that I have money that will be sitting there for our first plant.

I know who we will be supporting with this money if they decide the timing is right but I have been thinking about how we will choose church planters in the future. The fact is I am very unimpressed with most planters I meet. It has nothing to do with whether I think they will build a church or not but for me, based on my conviction that the church should be for the unchurched, it boils down to whether or not I think these people will reach unchurched people. It is that simple.

So as I was thinking of how we will spend our cash I came up with these simple things:

1.) I have to believe in the planter. Whether or not I believe in him has nothing to do with the call on His life. Very few people believed in us when we started but, since it is our cash, I need to believe he can do it.

2.) I have to believe in the area. I am a church planter therefore I think EVERY area needs a church plant. Every building I walk into I am thinking about how to turn it into a church. But lately, God has really been giving me a burden for some areas. Now the guy I hope we will be supporting, I will support no matter where he goes because I believe in him. But I have two areas right now that God has placed heavy on my heart and one of them I am consumed with. We will plant in one of this areas even if means Tim, Preston, and I go there on Sunday nights and do it.

3.) Their focus HAS to be unchurched. Not just in words but deeds. I want to truly believe they care about lost people and are targeting that group of people.

Not really fool proof and I am sure it will get tweaked but that is where I stand right now. We don’t have much cash but it seems like every one wants a piece. Deciding where it goes isn’t always easy.