When a new branch of a famous food chain announces its opening at a place near you, there is a buzz of excitement in the neighborhood. Popping by the new joint to check it out isn’t difficult. If you like what is served there, you can easily patronize the restaurant regularly. There’s just something special about the NEW. There is an air of excitement that accompany new beginnings!
By planting churches in new communities, it creates proximity for access and reach to people in that new community
Now imagine new churches popping up in every community. By planting churches in new communities, it creates proximity for access and reach to people in that new community. It brings fresh hope into the new community. It catches the attention of people who may be thinking about visiting a church. It delivers the Gospel closer to the doorsteps and hearts of people.
Church planting is for the advancement of the Gospel. Since the time of Acts, God has been growing His kingdom and multiplying His church. With more churches planted, there will be more centers where worship, teaching of the Word and discipleship can take place! It’s about seeing every corner of the earth filled with a lighthouse of God.
Church planting also caters to the growth of churches. Don’t judge the strength and health of a church by its seating capacity, but by its sending capabilities! Church planting helps renew an existing church as they rally a new congregation to avail themselves to be seeded for a new church plant. As a new church is birthed out of that “mother” congregation, the faith, prayers and excitement of pioneering a new church and sending out of leaders and members creates a momentum of faith. This applies to both the “mother” congregation and new church plant as they fulfil the Great Commission together. Leaders and members who are part of the pioneering work often grow in great dependence in prayer and on the Holy Spirit.
With the official launch of the MM33 initiative later this year, there’s been much discussion on church planting. The goal of planting one million churches for the Lord by the year 2033 will require our unified efforts.
Here’s how we can be unified in church planting.
Ask God to enlarge our vision. The thought of church planting may sound incredulous to you. But I am reminded of William Carey, the father of modern missions who advocated for world missions when missions were primarily directed at unreached people groups in one’s home country. He said “Expect great things from God; attempt great things for God.”
There is a new move of God. If we are to reach the world, we need to break through into an exponential growth pattern.
It does not take a megachurch to start new churches, it takes YOU to be available.
Be willing to be seeded by God. It does not take a megachurch to start new churches, it takes YOU to be available. It takes you to start praying for the harvest, actively sharing the Gospel and leading people to Christ. It takes you to say “Here I am, send me!”. It’s easy to remain in the comfort of familiarity of your home church. But if we are to reach the world, we have to allow God to plant us in new territories.
Will you be willing to be planted by God in a new church to reach new communities of people?
为什么要植堂？
杨德文总督著写
当一家知名的餐饮连锁店宣布它将在你家附近开分店时，你的邻里街坊会兴致勃勃。前去新的分店看看不是难事。如果你喜欢那里的饮食，可以常光顾那家店。这种新的感觉就是特别。新的开始带来兴奋感！
现在，让我们想象每个邻里出现新的教会。当我们在新的社群植堂，教会就能触及那里的人，并为他们提供便利。她把希望带进新的社群。那些正在考虑上教会的人会注意到她。她把福音带到家门，带到人们的心里。
教会植堂为的是福音的传播。从使徒行传的时代开始，上帝已在扩展祂的国度，倍增祂的教会。有更多植堂就有更多敬拜的聚会点，能门训和教导神的话语！植堂就是看到地球的每个角落遍布上帝的灯塔。
教会植堂也迎合教会的发展。一间教会的实力和健康不能以她的座位数量来衡量，而是以她的差派能力来决定！教会植堂帮助更新目前的教会，因为植堂行动号召新的一批会众摆上自己，成为植堂的种子。当弟兄姐妹一起行出大使命，当新的教会从母会诞生时，信心、祷告和差派领袖会友成为新教会先锋的兴奋感，为母会和新的教会创造了信心的动力。参与这份先锋工作的领袖和会友一般会更加倚靠圣灵和祷告。
随着今年MM33的正式启动，教会植堂的讨论也更多。于2033年为上帝植一百万间教堂的目标，需要众人同心努力。
我们在教会植堂行动中，能如何合一？
求上帝扩展我们的异象。教会植堂的概念对你来说也许难以置信，但是我想起近代宣教士之父——威廉·克理。当时的宣教重点主要放在自己国家的未得之民上，而他却主张全球性宣教。他说：“期待上帝做大事；为上帝做大事。”
上帝在进行新的行动。如果我们要把福音传遍世界，我们就必须突破，进入指数增长的模式。
愿意作种子，被上帝栽种。我们不需要是超级教会才能栽植新的教会。只要你愿意付出就行。你只需要开始为丰收祷告；你只需要积极分享福音和带领人信主；你只需要说“我在这，差遣我！”。驻留在自己熟悉和舒适的教会很容易，但是如果我们要影响世界，我们就必须允许上帝把我们栽种在新的领域里。
你愿意被上帝栽种在新的教会，触及新的社群吗？
