A Church Planter's Story - Starting in the Middle of the Book

With The City about to go operational as The Vines primary communication tool (vine.onthecity.org), I think I am going to make a turn with this blog - to share a little more about what it's like to be (take a deep breath) a United Methodist church planting pastor with four teenagers - Rachel, Becca, Daniel, and Laz, our son from Uganda (Raising Lazarus), living in one cramped house, along with my lovely wife of 23 years and an overgrown yellow Labrador and an almost toothless calico cat. Maybe if I tell my story, I can add to the "knowledge-base" (wiki anyone?) of how to successfully (and sometimes not so much) navigate through insane 21st century suburbia as a Christ follower. Maybe this blind squirrel will occasionally find a nut worth sharing with those interested and in the process be an encouragement to others who are trying to figure out how to be faithful to God in such a time as this. (These sentences are way too long - sorry.)

I'm a little older, a little wiser?, a little slower than I used to be when I first felt an undeniable call to start a new church. And in just a couple of months, after fits and starts, The Vine will be moving to Emmorton Elementary School to be a church without walls. No church (building), no steeple, no doors - in the purest sense what church is - people - people gathering - people gathering in the Name of Jesus Christ.

I come at this with great joy and trepidation. Joy, because there is no greater joy than doing the hard work that God has called one to do. Really. God-ordained hard work = joy. And trepidation, because I have been at this long enough to know the batting average on new church starts and have watched enough friends both succeed or flame out with the best of hearts, talents, and callings. I am thankful I'm not doing this alone or even with only a few. I am asking people to rediscover their missional DNA to live out a far different model than the church they are currently worshiping in.

And I am truly thankful for those who are trusting my call as their servant-leader and who are hearing their own call to "Go." 50 or so officially. Really, when I think of all those who have said yes to this mission, I am deeply grateful - people who have become my friends in the deepest sense of the Word - people I will be bound to for eternity for sharing in this God-appointed task. And grateful for a judicatory (look it up) who has honored my call and been patient with me as we've tried to figure this church plant thing out. And grateful for a sending church - Bel Air UMC - who despite her own financial hardships is committed to reaching people outside her four walls and is looking to our experiment to bring new energy to the entire church.

Okay, I feel like someone who's getting the hook at the academy awards ceremony - so many people to thank, but the orchestra is starting to play. Well, most of all, I want to thank God for calling me - I'm not sure why - and using me, and letting me live in this insane but opportunistic time. For Jesus Christ, who has rescued me and taught me what it means to be human as God intended, and the Holy Spirit - Nooma - Who is Christ in me - my Power, my Strength, my Voice, and my Comforter.

Good night