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Plant Update: 4


Launch imminent

 

19th December 2011

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I realise that it has been a long time since a plant update. A lot has happened in the last six months.

 

In God's sovereign plan the initial idea of a "two-stage" church plant like we have done before did not materialise. At the APCM in April we discovered that the final location of a church plant was a significant factor in people considering signing up to a daughter church. Since we were asking people to leave St Leonard's and commit to the new congregation, the Children and Youth Work provision was also a major factor. On reflection, the initial plan was not what God wanted for us and was not right for us as a church at the present time

 

After Easter we considered another option. Again, in God's good sovereign purposes this did not materialise. Over the summer it looked like things were going quiet on the plant front. At our first meeting of the "Greenhouse Group" in the new academic year a new idea was put on the table. This was put to the PCC who enthusiastically supported it and asked us to return with a concrete proposal. We presented the proposal to the PCC on Monday 12th December who accepted it. So, we are proceeding apace with a mid-week evening non-church venue congregation. We will be launching it with full details on:  Sunday 15th January. Decision day will be Sunday 5th February, and we will start the new venture on Tuesday 21st February.

 

Please pray as we put together the final information, the presentation and launch. And please pray that all the practical details will fall into place. And please pray for people with a heart for Jesus and for the lost to commit to this new evangelistic congregation.

 

Nick Gowers, 19th December 2011
 

Plant Update: 3


Why plant churches?   

 

 

 

28th May 2011

 plant

 

One of the big questions people ask is "why plant churches?"

 

There are three common responses to discussions on church planting:

 

1. "We already have plenty of churches in the area, and none of them are full. Fill them first before we start new churches."

 

2. "Most churches are shrinking. Planting new churches will take people from existing churches, weakening all."

 

3. "Help the struggling churches first rather than planting new ones."

 

If any of those thoughts have crossed your mind, then you need to read this article by Tim Keller here. 

 

For those who want to think more about these things the following resources are useful introductions:

Planting for the Gospel: A Hands on Guide to Church Planting by Graham Beynon is an easy introduction to church planting that can be read in a couple of hours. 

Church Planter: The Man, the Message, the Mission by Darrin Patrick is a longer and fuller work ideal for anyone involved both in church planting but also anyone involved in pastoral ministry.

 

Nick Gowers, 28th May 2011
 

Plant Update: 2    

 

 

 

9th May 2011

 plant

 

We held our first "Plant Pot" meeting on Sunday 8th May. Here is a brief summary of the content:

 

Aim in church planting: 

  • Evangelise Exeter and Devon to the glory of God through planting growing church-growing churches.

 

My biggest fear and a big challenge:

  • My fear: plant a church so that we as St Leonard’s can feel we are doing “gospel work” without us individually having to do anything.
  • Encouragement: make a plant an absolute necessity within two years!

 

Maps and plotting:

  • We have produced maps of Exeter and Devon showing where our various congregation members come from.
  • If you want to see them, see Nick.

 

Planting options

  • Specific places
  • New housing estates:
    • Cranbook
    • Monkerton (2500)
    • Blackhorse (2000),
    • Pinhoe (around 800)
  • Church graft?
  • Job for Nick

Pray:

 

  • Ephesians 3:14-21 for us as a church and individually
  • Concrete options
  • Meeting with the bishop on Friday

 

Nick Gowers, 9th May 2011
 

Plant Update: 1    

 

 

 

1th May 2011

 plant

 

 

Praise God that Jesus is Lord of the church and working his purposes out to grow his kingdom and save the lost. This is his project not ours.

 

Initial plan

Our initial plan was to follow the path Trinity trod before us. We would put a steering group together. They would formulate a viable plan for planting into our parish with a view to possibly moving somewhere else in due course. A number of people were approached to join the group. After plenty of time to pray and consider, three agreed. Ten others, all for good (and different) reasons, declined, although were excited by a church plant of some sorts. The impression we were getting was perhaps God was saying “yes to a plant, but not in the way originally planned.”

 

Change of plan

At the APCM on 6th April 2011 we put the above to the meeting and took a survey. We discovered that the final location was the most significant factor in making people more likely to consider joining a plant. The meeting strongly supported forming a group to explore all possible options. These options include transplants and new housing estates.

 

The new plan

  • “Greenhouse group” will be a group of St Leonard’s church members focussed on exploring all the possible options for planting. By joining the group there is no requirement to “go” or “stay.” The only commitment is to pray about and explore concrete options. Would you like to join the group?
    Time commitment is one evening a month (possibly a Monday) for a meeting plus other time researching. With enough people on the group, each person can research and explore one option each.

    If you are interested, please speak to Nick ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it [at]stlens.org.uk, 01392 286998).

 

  • “Plant Pot” meetings: Every two months on a Sunday from 5pm-6pm, upstairs in the church centre. Open to all (however interested or not in actually going on the plant), “Plant Pot” will be a forum for plant news, praise, prayer and sharing of ideas. Our first meeting is 5pm, Sunday 8th May. Do come along.

 

Challenge and encouragement

My biggest fear is that we (and I include myself in this) want to do a plant because by doing so we can think we are doing a big gospel project without having to make costly and personal decisions to reach the lost around us. Projects are always easier to get behind than investing in people.

So, my challenge is to make a plant from St Leonard’s an absolute necessity within 2 years. What would we each have to do individually to commit ourselves to reaching just five people with the gospel?

 

Current points for praise and prayer

  • Praise the Lord that he will grow his kingdom by his Spirit as his gospel is proclaimed and so pray that we will remember that this is Jesus’ church and gospel, not ours.
  • Please pray for all of us at St Leonard’s: for a deep love for the Lord and the honour of his name, and for hearts that reflect his passion for the lost to be found.
  • Pray for five people you know who don’t know the Lord.
  • Please pray for the Bishop of Exeter and his staff team to support and suggest concrete options. Our original plan didn’t require a final location for a number of years. In the new plan, the usefulness of the Greenhouse Group depends on the availability of real options. We don’t want to waste people’s time just talking about planting.
  • Pray for the conversations we are having with Belmont and Trinity in which we are exploring the possibility of doing something together. Next meeting between Clive, Jonny and Nick is in July.
  • Pray for concrete options quickly to become clear.

 

Many thanks for your partnership in the gospel!

Nick Gowers 1/5/11