Another New Church, and Random Notes

I. For a variety of reasons, I had to let go of coordinating church planting in the MidSouth Conference. As we prepare for our covenant renewal service tomorrow, I am struck by how hard it is to pray, "let me be laid aside for you." I did what the Lord asked, and it was time to do the next thing He asked. But... I did check some of my traps, catching up with a few of the new churches. One of the great things was to talk to a fellow who I had been in discussions with about starting a new church out of his church that did not disaffiliate. They decided they had enough of the direction the United Methodist Church was going, and had their first service Christmas Eve! Very cool! The church is Capstone, in Louisville, KY. I was very desirous that we would get something started in Louisville. If you knew how much Mike Powers and I agonized over it! So to hear it happening is very encouraging!

It's strange. We've known for years that a great way to plant is to send a pastor out with a number of families to a new place. You have some worshippers, some giving base, some leadership. If it's such a good plan, why do we never do it? Because churches are selfish and afraid. We don't want to "lose" people. "What if I never see so-and-so again?"

Some churches that did not disaffiliate were able to leave with whoever felt called to stick to the Bible. It only takes a few people, and in many places lay people have led new churches. It's amazing. Now, if we could start to do it intentionally, multiplying not by division, but by multiplication.

II. W.E. Sangster used to say that you needed time for "hard, flinty thinking" to prepare a sermon. I am thankful for my work as a pastor which includes that time. After about 2 days of alking around Illinois farmland, reading Hebrews, digging into some commentaries, and doing some "hard, flinty thinking" about a passage in Hebrews that has become a touchstone passage since 2020, I got some clarity where to start and how to move ahead.

Dr Deitrich has already given me a pained look that I did not read Psalms while I was in Illinois, looking for what are the conditions of blessedness, so I am working on that.

III. I am stoked for this year. May it be that the Lord protects us from evil, and that churches prosper, and the Gospel reaches farther and deeper than before.