Church Planters, take note…

Anyone that knows me, knows I love guys that are planting churches. That love has been passed onto our staff and we bend over backwards when church planters contact us or need something. Hardly a week goes by where we don’t have a planter in our Sunday morning services to see what the buzz is about. Yesterday, we had 5 different church planters in our service. It was awesome!

HOWEVER…..I have noticed a few interesting things from SOME (not all) church planters that visit us that literally makes me want to kick them in their heads. So before I do that, I decided to try and give church planters who visit other churches on Sundays some advice.

1. While we are thrilled and honored that are with us that morning, remember we have a service to pull off that morning. We can’t completely stop everything we are doing and spend the morning with you. We would love too, but we have a service we must get ready for.
2. Remember that you are a guest - If we ask you to get a security tag to walk around our children’s area then do it. If our greeters inform you that we don’t allow children in our services, then have enough respect to listen to them. Act like you have some brains and remember this isn’t your place We shouldn’t have to be worrying about church planters giving our volunteers a hard time.
3. We didn’t ask your opinion - If you will remember correctly, you decided to visit us to learn, not the other way around. If we want your thoughts on what you think we can improve, we will ask you. Matter of fact, if you wouldn’t spend the whole morning telling us how we can improve, you might learn something and chances are good that we would have emailed you during the week asking your thoughts on how we can improve.
4. Come ready to ask questions - Again, while we love church planters, we have better stuff to do on Sunday mornings then to hear all about you. If you want to see what God is doing here, then awesome!  If your such an expert then why are you here?
5. Quit acting like you know it all - You don’t. Neither do we. Nothing kills me then someone who hasn’t launched yet or someone who can’t break 100, yet they know everything there is to know about church planting. Humble yourself and learn. We got where we are today (wherever that is) by visiting other churches, shutting our mouths, and learning.
6. Call ahead - If we know you are coming then I can promise your trip will be MUCH better for you. We will be prepared and ready for your visit.
7. Stop taking pictures during the service - Are you freaking kidding me??? I am trying to teach people about Jesus Christ and you are snapping your flash non-stop. Dang, church planters can be rude!
8. If you are with your core team and they don’t like the service, that is cool.  We are not the church for everyone.  BUT, tell them to have more class then to stand in our lobby yaking about what they don’t like.
9. I am the WRONG person to ask - I know you think because I am the Lead Pastor that I know everything about all the ministries at The Stone but I don’t.  Matter of fact, I probably know the least.  I don’t know how much signs were, I don’t know what the cafe does, I don’t know how the plotter works, etc.  Sorry, but the least amount of time you spend with me, the more you are going to learn.
10. Hang around after the service and I’ll talk - When church is over and I am in the lobby with our people, that is probably not the best time to get to talk to me.  If you will be patient and hang out for a few moments, I will give you all the time you need and if I know you are coming, I will probably take you to lunch.

Anyway, that is just a little advice off the cuff as you visit churches.