Posted by Jeff Jackson at 2:18 pm
I just want you to know how much I respect Dave Ferguson the pastor of Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL. I’m an aspiring church planter and I am doing as much research as I can to prepare for the future. I thought it would be smart to talk to the guys who are planting and learn from their experience (thanks @kevinrapp for pushing me over the edge). I hit Dave up on Twitter asking him if he would discuss church planting with him and he immediately responded. I sent him some questions and here are his responses:
1. If you had to plant all over again what would you do different?
First, if your vision is to be a reproducing church (and I hope that is the case!) than the one thing I would do over was have 2-3 apprentice church planters/campus pastors on my team. I would have them raise their own money to do a leadership residency with the plan that within 12-24 months we would either reproduce a new church or site.
Second, we should have raised more money. It was very tight for us from the beginning. I think God used that – but it was tight.
2. What is the biggest challenge to casting vision to your launch/leadership team?
(I’m answering this question with the assumption that a reproducing infrastructure of small groups is essential to becoming a reproducing church) I think one of the great challenges is getting second generation reproduction from your small groups. If your staff team all starts small groups it is a challenge to get the small groups to believe that they will do great under the new leadership of a lay person. Once you break threw that second generation of small group reproduction you will see real momentum.
3. Multi-site vs. Church Plants?
Both. I believe that with a close proximity that multi-site will give you a bigger return but requires greater leadership. If you can’t do both – do church planting.
4. If you could tell a group of Church Planters one thing before they launched what would you tell them?
Make sure you hear from God everyday. If you hear from God everyday and obey him and teach your people to hear from God everyday and obey him – you will plant a church that will give birth to a missional movement.
Once again, thanks Dave! I hope this interview helps you as much has it will help me. I am going to continue to interview guys that are swinging away in the field. If you have any questions you would like me to ask or people I should interview hit me up here.
If you are interested in planting you should read this post.
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Its amazing what you can learn from your kids. Most of you know that I started a journey through the New Testament in 30 days. This has really opened my heart and mind to learning Gods word.