I hung out for 4 hours last night with two new church planting friends… Tim Bach and Lonnie Chapin.
Tim and Lonnie are professional musicians and are looking to plant a church in a year or so.
I always love hanging out with other church planters. There seems to be a common DNA and it’s fun not having to explain all your feelings and reasons for doing things.
Church planters keep me excited about the state of the church in America. And, as I e-mailed someone earlier today…
“The church is a lot like Noah’s Ark… it stinks a lot of the time, but if you get out, you will drown. Hopefully enough of us disenchanted folks will have the humility to not shoot her full of holes and the pride to work hard enough to make her seaworthy.”
Ah yes, the joys of church planting… It is encouraging to be with those who have been there and are going through some of the same stuff. I wonder at the challenges, though, of church-reimagining along with the planting bit. This is where it gets scary, lonely, risky.
I too am excited about church in America, namely the trajectory of the church in America. There are a lot of great things happening… fresh air on that ark. The seaworthy thing is the challenging part. It’s not the same ocean as it once was.
Tuning in and desiring the best for what’s happening at Antioch.
Nate
I love your analogy of the church being like the ark. That helps give things the perspective I was needing. Thanks!
I’m amazed at how many times, when I’m out and about the town, that I hear people talking about Antioch Church. Happened just the other day when I was at Ritz Cameras. I’ve never heard so much buzz about “church” in this town. So, thanks all you bravehearts who are out there planting! Central Oregon is taking notice of the presence of the ark!