7 insights from church plants working together
From a video by FIEC.
What could partnership between new churches look like? What does it take to start a new church?
In a roundtable discussion, Trevor Archer, Director for London, FIEC, is joined by the leaders of The Globe Church London, SE1, Hope Church Vauxhall, and Stockwell Baptist Church to find out what their partnership as leaders looks like and to discuss church planting. Here is a segment on working together:
Now you've worked together for a few years, what would be some of the key things you'd like to impart to other people who might be stirred and excited about working together?
1. Similarities between us
We are different but hold similar kind of convictions and a similar kind of philosophy of ministry. It's easy to challenge one another and to receive that well. Our churches are very, very different but I think there is a shared idea of what ministry is about and what's central to that. I think has enabled us to partner well. Talking to these guys is always a blessing, helpful, challenging for me, as I think through preaching or what we're doing at our churches.
Obviously, there's broader networks. There's always going to be broader things, but, in terms of the 'smaller, closer', similar kind of convictions about ministry have helped to make it fruitful.
2. Friendship, love and respect for each other
We really don't see each other a huge amount. It isn't that we're deeply embedded in each other's ministries. There's just a friendship, a love, a respect for each other. We trust each other completely, such that we can challenge each other on things and not worry about that because underlying it, there's a trust.
These are the guys that if I'm in trouble, I'll be in touch with. If I need some advice, I need some help, I'm struggling. However, I don't want weekly accountability with these guys. I don't want a monthly service that we do together. I don't like, 'let's make sure we do this thing together each year'. My energy has to be in my area. I need guys who can understand that and then can support me.
3. Don't rush to partner on a project - build relationship
When you think of the word 'partnership', one thinks, 'let's have a thing that we partner on'. So we think we should go very quickly to the project or to the, 'let's do something together'. In our experience, we haven't done much together. We haven't done anything together as churches yet but I'm sure we will. But that's grown out of the friendship.
4. Start simple
Partnership, however loose it is, happened through friendship and involvement in ministry. Two of us had been in same churches before planting out. Then two of us worked together on an initiative called, 'Westminster at One'. Then at some stage one of us said, "Why don't we get together - the three of us?" So it was organic rather than intentional.
Our first meetings were sermon feedback. Then there was a conversation around what might this be? Let's see where this goes in the future.
5. Make the effort
It does take effort to arrange meetups. They don't happen by accident. You have put the effort in to intentionally invest in them.
6. Be flexible
For example, if two of us want to do a Good Friday event and after contacting the third person, they didn't feel it right for them, then that is fine.
7. Beware ego
We're not trying to compete with each other. We're doing very different things. Even if we were doing similar things, I don't think that there would be a competitiveness. That's in our heart, isn't it?
I feel like when I listen to these guys sermons, when I see their ministry, when I hear the stories, I'm encouraged by that and not bitter and resentful because I'm struggling while they're thriving.
Watch the 28 minute video (with further segments) here:
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From a video by FIEC, 17/10/2023