The future is changing at warp speed. What that means for the church is that we have to be on our toes, ready to engage whatever culture emerges in these next 10 years. This means inviting the Spirit of God to ignite our imaginations, to create whole new forms of life-making, change-making and church-making. This means engaging new challenges and opportunities of changing …
First Baptisms of the Grace Capital City Plant
In August of 2015 a group of ten of us gathered for the first time in our living room in Washington DC to begin to plan, dream and pray about what God might want to do through the new church we felt called to plant, though it was certainly humble beginnings even then we felt expectant about God’s plans for …
3 Ways the Parish Model Would Change Your Church
The Third Church Presbyterian community meets in Richmond, Virginia with the mission “Called together for the renewal of all things through Jesus Christ.” For Third, that means a new model for church, a decentralized Parish model. Each of the eleven parishes will consist of around 100 people, and the parish will be the main mode of community and ministry for the …
Listening to the Story: The Experience of Two Church Planters
Church planting doesn’t happen according to some idealistic model. In every environment, church means something unique, which can mean unique challenges and unique opportunities. Here’s what that meant for two planters, one in Colorado and one in Twin Cities. Meet Scott Olson and Matt Anderson, who were part of our community of church planters, the Learning Cohort. Matt, tell us a …
Behind the Scenes with Church Planters: How Community Can Save Your Plant
We can’t do it alone. That’s why V3 follows its model. There’s nothing more exasperating than trying to fill all the roles in a ministry, trying to white-knuckle your way through ministry, dealing with all the hopes and fears you have—without a community. That’s an easy recipe for disappointment and burnout. V3 had the opportunity recently to hear from two …
Ministry's Most Commonly Forgotten Secret
My week had been particularly hectic, stressful and busy. But honestly, so had the week before! After thinking more about it, I realized that actually we hadn’t taken a day off in more than a few weeks now. Things just kept popping up. I’d say to myself, “This is just a season. It’s how it is now, but it won’t always be …
5 Good Decisions I Made as a Planter
Of course it’s helpful to reflect on mistakes, especially if it will help prevent new ones, or if it can be an instructional tool to those follow after you. With grace, we reflect on those things, and we learn from them. But every now and then, a decision stands the test of time. Here are five good decisions I’ve made …
5 Lessons from the Front Lines of Church Planting
I am the last person anyone would expect to become a church planter. I grew up in the traditional church, majored in Religion at a denominational college, went to a denominational seminary and served three churches around the country as an ordained pastor. This was going to be what I did for my entire career, but God had other plans, …
4 Church Planting Mistakes I've Made
I don’t like making mistakes. I’d rather do things well the first time, and get praised for it. Who wouldn’t? But of course I’ve made mistakes. I’ve planted a couple missional churches where we sought to root our work in discipling people into participating in God’s mission, and then multiplying from there. All throughout this journey, up until this very moment, …
6 Tips for Celebrating Earth Day
It’s time to get ready for Earth Day. This important celebration April 22nd, is often neglected by our churches, but I think should be at the forefront on our yearly rhythms. God created us from the earth and for the earth. In Food and Faith: A Theology of Eating, theologian Norman Wirzba says: When we become strangers to the earth …