From the Ground Up

This book is centered on a comprehensive approach to church planting. It aims to equip church planters for success in diverse environments, from isolated regions to bustling urban settings. Each chapter recognizes the obstacles and resistance church planters might face in their endeavors. It outlines a practical method for connecting with people effectively, engaging them as learners and not experts to help a church planter overcome the hostility that exists today. I focus on the crucial role of building trust and understanding various worldviews in these communities. I want to guide readers on how to share the gospel with clarity and integrity, adapting to different cultural and social contexts. By doing so, I want to help planters to not only establish churches but also foster environments where these churches can thrive and grow. What I am introducing is the "8 Phases" of pioneer church planting. This method has eight relational markers. These markers are designed to help navigate hostile environments, building trust gradually and honestly. Each phase builds on the last, fostering strong connections and clear communication. The 8 Phases guide church planters in forming authentic, trusting relationships. They learn to connect with people and communities, respecting their cultural, social, and spiritual backgrounds. This process values patient, intentional engagement over quick results. The book offers insights and strategies for adapting in hostile settings. It guides planters to establish impactful, vibrant churches in diverse and challenging environments. 8 Phases: An Overview Phase 1: Arrival - having a reason to be in the community, showing you care about the community and serving at the point of the community's need. During this time, you enter as a learner - seeking to understand the context you are serving. Phase 2: Trust - taking the time to live among people, being in their world and enduring the same trials and struggles that they have. The focus is not on changing people, but on serving them showing that you are there to give and not to take. Phase 3: Spiritual Conversations - taking the time to understand the spiritual worldview of the people around you so that when you present the gospel you can present in a way that avoids syncretism and is good news to them. Phase 4: Gospel Conversations - as the Lord opens the door, sharing Christ with clarity not holding anything back. Using the insight you gained from the previous phases, you address the barriers to gospel understanding to make sure that Jesus is presented as distinct from all other belief systems. Phase 5: Nurture - as the Lord saves people, we take the time to nurture the young believer, gently guiding them to understand what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Phase 6: Help - becoming a Christian does not often solve people’s problems, oftentimes it makes them worse. One key role of a church planter in a world of hostility is to take the time to help the believer with the problems that will come when becoming a disciple of Jesus. As people come out of the world there is a pull to go back. The church planter must help the young people to keep their eye on Jesus. Phase 7: Discover - in many cross-cultural contexts people are born into certain positions in the community that they cannot change. In Christ, our earthly community status has no bearing on our call. A key part of the work of the cross-cultural church planter is to help the disciple discern what gifts and skills God has equipped them with and to use them for the body of Christ and the mission of the church. Phase 8: Affirm - one of the main and most important roles in planting a locally led church is affirming people in the use of their gifts and affirming the first round of leaders in the church. As the Lord raises people up it is important that the church planter not only recognizes the gifts and positions, but also submits to them so that the church will be truly locally led. My passion is guiding church planters to focus on real engagement, not just practical success. Church planting must be about love, respect, and relationship building. It's not a one-size-fits-all process, especially in gospel resistant areas. I hope this book inspires readers to love God fully and others sincerely. It should encourage forming deep relationships where the gospel is shared clearly. I wish for it to equip planters to create loving communities and disciple-making churches. Prioritizing love and authentic connections is key. This approach allows the gospel's transformative power to shine. I pray this book ignites a desire to build real bonds, communicate the gospel clearly, and establish churches filled with Christ's love and grace. In a world where Christians often lack influence, this is the way forward.