We’ve been a church for 4 1/2 years, and we’ve met in 3 locations.  What’s interesting is that each of these locations came with their own set of unique challenges.  While they frustrated me to no end at the time, I look back kind of fondly and think of all that God has done.  #1 – Church in a hotel – When we met in a hotel, there were only 2 meeting rooms so we put all the adults in one room and all the kids in the other.  Think about that for a moment, Birth through 5th grade all … Read More

My #3 selection for best books for a church planter is “The Upside Down Church” by Greg Laurie. This book is not your average book on church planting. It’s the story of how Greg Laurie’s church, Harvest Christian Fellowship has grown without using any of the church growth principles that have filled 100’s of books. I’ve read a bunch of books on church planting, church growth, church health. etc… but the one that I believe the one that most matches what we do at CCML is this one. It’s a simple approach that uses Acts 2:42 as a model of … Read More

Here’s a question I’ve been thinking about recently. Since I’ve started this blog 3 weeks ago, I’ve gotten to meet a few church planters. So here’s my question, “At what point are we not church planters anymore?” Is there a time limit? Is it like “You’re only newlyweds for a year, then you’re just married?” But are we ever done planting? Or at some point is the church planted? What are the markers of a planted church to a planting church? Is it time, facility, attendance? Who’s got the 411 on this? “Who is this one so wise in the … Read More

I’ve decided that it’s too hard to number the best books on church planting, so these next posts will officially be in no particular order. So the 2nd book I’d like to mention is “When God Builds a Church” by Bob Russell. The thing I really liked about this book is that Bob isn’t trying to tell you how to build a cookie cutter model of Southeast Christian. Instead, the book is simply the story of their church and the elements that he believes should be in every church. This is so refreshing because I’m totally sick of books on … Read More