We all like to be clear about what we are doing at any one point. In fact, the biggest barrier in any task/project is usually our own convictions as to the rightness/wrongness/timing/strategic value/our role etc of the matter at hand – all within our minds/hearts. Once we move beyond the inner barriers we deal much more easily with external challenges.
At our last meeting in September, a number of questions came up for us to deal with ahead of the actual planting. These include but are not limited to…
- What are the gospel needs in Kikuyu town?
- What would an ideal biblical church in the town look like?
- What should be done in order for the above to happen?
- Have you ever thought about/been part of a church plant?
- Is church planting necessarily a good thing to do in Kikuyu now? Why or why not?
- What cautions/pitfalls would you suggest for those thinking about planting?
- What would be a good road map towards a healthy church plant?
I grew up in a tradition that did not embrace planting. Growth was by cell division and took a lot of effort to ‘be given a parish’. Planting afresh was not something you did let alone think about. Planting was almost equated with rebellion and it has taken many years for me to see planting as a natural outworking of the gospel. I am still dealing with a lot of the questions and more and it helps when we engage.