Torch, Spring 1984

Younger, continued from page 5 Very well. Are you saying, then, Let the small churches do it? Who is better able to absorb the loss of a dozen families , to invest a quarter million dollars, to invest leadership , or to supervise the planting of a church? I ask, who is more able than you fellows who are already a thousand or more deep in people? In the past ten years I have been privileged to travel extensively in the United States. I have enjoyed visiting large churches. Thank God for them. They meet needs that small churches often can not. However, there is not a large church in this country that does not have hundreds of people who worship on Sunday but who are also inactive in the ministry of the Lord. One of the best things that could hap– pen to large churches is to become ac– tive in planting churches. Recently I listened to a sermon by a popular pas– tor who unburdened his heart about passive believers in the body, plead– ing with them to be available to serve. But I hear you say , We have too many orphan churches across the landscape now; why take the chance of planting more? Too many churches are flying at ground level Jennings, continued from page 7 the twinkling of an eye . ( 4) "To res– cue from the danger of destruction ." This use of the word has in it its proverbial meaning and confirms the fact that the church will not go throu:sh the Great Tribulation. The Lord will keep the church from the hour of trial (Revelation 3: 10) . (5) 'To transport with divine power a person or thing from one place to another." The Rapture will be the church's glorious nonstop flight from the woes of earth to the wonders of Heaven. When the church is caught up into the glory world by God's divine power at the Rapture, the Lord will then present the church to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish (Ephesians 5:27). In view of the church's marvelous prospect, let's resolve anew to love the church and live for the Lord. 22 and not enough are soaring in the sky. We can't do everything . Forgive me for presumptuously addressing pastors in super churches, especially since I do not walk in your shoes. But, somewhere in time your super church got a start and it was small . Someone helped you . Some– one sacrificed . Surely, somewhere in your ministries there must be room for including church planting in your strategy meetings, in your prayers, and in your vision. Looking back over thirty-four years of ministry, none were so happy as those when I was actively involved in the ministry of church planting, firsthand. Will you, pastor friend, whether your proud domain includes an ecclesiastical "sub-compact" congre– gation or a "Continental" congrega– tion, give serious consideration to church planting in the next 10 years? It's not all that difficult. I would suggest that you begin by: I. Researching present demo– graphics of your community. Investi– gate what city fathers are planning for your area during the next I0 years . 2. Asking God for a burden and a vision of how best to reach your com– munity with the gospel of Christ. 3. Setting some general goals re- qumng 10 years to implement. We think this is important. In 1956 we prayed for a v1s10n to plant 15 churches in eight years. There was no magic to the vision: .it required only a plan. The plan, sketchy at first, gathered momentum. We missed our goal. We planted 12 churches and it took 15 years. 4. Dividing one-year goals into 12 one-month segments. 5. Developing a strategy to imple– ment goals. 6. Sticking with it. Do not abort the vision or plan . There were times when we were discouraged and thought of quitting, especially in the tenth year. Yet we persevered and God gave us one of our more success– ful works in the Blackhawk Baptist Church in the twelfth year. 7 . Praying for wisdom. We have a wonderful fellowship of churches in the GARBC; however, we dare not sit back waiting for others to plant churches . You can be sure others will. The Assemblies of God start 240 congregations per year and the Southern Baptists, over 700 per year. We can plant churches, too. The only question to be answered is, - will we? Walker, continued from page 17 WHICH APPROACH? The following approaches are often used in youth programs. I. "Head in the Sands" Approach . This is a youth emphasis. The parents are not involved . The teens run and plan their own program and meetings. Confusion and lack of communication are usually the results. 2 . "Head in the Hands" Approach. This is a leader emphasis . There is limited input from parents. The danger with this approach is that the leader draws teens because of his personality and then everyone suffers when that leadership changes. 3. "Head in the Clouds" Approach. This is a program emphasis. There is the attitude that a "kit" can and will meet all needs . This idealistic approach is not realistic. Many churches have several "kits" left discarded on their shelves . 4. "Head in the Game" Approach. This is a parent emphasis. The youth leader supports the parents and helps them to be a spiritual success with their teens.