State Street Community Church
Posts tagged church plant
Name that Church!
Jul 20th
When we found out that Ema was expecting our daughter, Nora, it didn’t take us very long before we started talking about names. It was a stressful and humbling task. After all, two-thirds of her name will be carried with her the rest of her life. Every suggestion brought to the table would go through a rigorous test; can an adult be named this, can it be used in a derogatory rhyme on the playground, do we know any of our friends that have already named their child this name? We settled on Nora and I truly can’t imagine her being called anything else.
As most of my blog followers know, we’re launching part of our Lamb’s Chapel community out into their own church this Fall. We’re very close to working out a contract for a building (the former Salvation Army building on State Street in LP), people are starting to assume roles and responsibilities for the future, and the date for launching draws nearer each day. It’s to the point where we must give it a name. But, instead of me picking out a name for this new community in LaPorte, I thought that I’d put it on my blog. You are now in control of the naming of this new church. It’s up to you!
Below I’ve embedded some choice that you can vote on for names. Some of them I came up with, some of them were given to me by other LCers, and there’s a spot for you to write-in a name. So, get ready, get set… vote! If you can’t see the poll below, you can visit here and vote instead.
Identity
Jul 9th
I’m figuring out more of who I am. I often wonder if God knows who I can be and rejoices when I take steps towards that likeness. Planting a church does funny things to a person. It’s made me realize that:
I don’t preach as well as Craig.
I don’t have the intellect of Greg.
I’m not as clever as Los.
I’m not as innovative as Mark.
I’m not Don, Anne, Scott, Andy, or Rick.
I am Nate.
I’m Nate; the son of a construction worker and husband to a beautiful European. I’m the father of the funniest 1 and a half year old around. The brother of many siblings and the grandson of very involved grandparents. The pastor to a bunch of crazy, passionate Christ-followers who are ready to take a giant leap into the unknown. These things I know about me.
There’s lots of things I don’t know about me. I’m learning quickly to say these simple yet profound words, “I don’t know.” I don’t know how to plant a church or proper methodology of being a “church planter”. There’s many things in the Bible that confuse me and leave me saying, “I don’t know.” I don’t know everything about denominational ecclesiology or the paradigm for pastoral identity in the Old Testament offices or exactly how intentional growth groups look/happen. I don’t know if it’s even right to tell people in my church that I don’t know EVERYTHING about the Bible. But, I don’t. I don’t know a lot of stuff.
But, what I do know is that I’m me. I am loved by God and being made more in the likeness of Him as I grow closer to Him every day. I know that God has blessed me with an incredible wife and daughter. He has given me gifts to use for His glory and a vision within to use those gifts. He has given me an opportunity to plant a church in LaPorte and be just me.
If you’re reading this and you’re coming on this new adventure with me, please know that I’m excited about you being you. There’s no need to fake piety or be a cheap imitation of another Christ-follower in a way that isn’t sincere (you know, in a non-1st Corinthians 11 way). Be you and be willing to allow God to form you into His likeness. I’m figuring out that it’s the best way to truly live. I’m really excited for “us“.
Partnering
Jun 22nd
I’ve long believed that if all the churches in LaPorte County would become the Church, the community would be a stronger one. Quite honestly, most of our American churches are terrible at working together for a common good. It’s a problem. But, one that’s fixable.
Craig Groeschel, in one of his books, sermons, or blog posts (they all run together), once mentioned that every pastor should know the other pastors in their community. He rightly believes that it’s not a competition to fill the pews. Pastors are on the same team working towards the same goal; to help all people take their next steps towards Jesus Christ. So today, in light of my recent announcement that a group of us from Lamb’s Chapel are planting a church, I decided to email other pastors in LaPorte to (1) let them know what we’re doing and (2) find out what they’re doing. I didn’t email every pastor in LaPorte (note: churches, please get a website. Once you get a website, put an email address on it) but I did send notes to 15 of them and I’ve received quite a few emails in return.
LCers (and future members of to-be-named church in LaPorte), please pay attention… other churches are NOT our competition. We should speak well of what God is doing in their lives and their community. He is a big God and is not contained to box with which we call “our church”. We will not be a church community that belittles or denigrates other churches, pastors, or Christians.