Storyline presented $1000 to Pam and Randy Cope, directors of Touch A Life, this weekend at our worship gathering. I’m so proud of the many people in the Storyline Community who gave generously for it to happen.
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I’m so glad we engage in God’s mission in the context of community. I’m thankful today for mentors in mission who have provided encouragement and counsel to me for the task of church planting.
Like Mission Alive, our church planting resource organization. I’m encouraged and challenged every month in our Church Planter Forums.
And Harold Shank, my church planting coach, who listens often to my struggles and worries and offers deep wisdom.
And Tim Lewis, an elder and staff person with South MacArthur Church (our primary partnering church). I look forward to my monthly breakfasts with him.
And Ryan and Claudia Porche, who with great flexibility work with my “on the fly” style of ministry.
And my wife, who – even while making great personal sacrifices for church planting – reminds me that we’re supposed to be doing what we’re doing.
And as of late, an unexpected blog mentor named David Fitch, whose posts have strengthened me and offered affirmation that we’re not crazy for seeking to be the church the way we are. Plus he had great instincts for naming a church (the church he planted is called Life on the Vine Christian Community).
For a good article of Fitch’s that I’ve appreciated, click here, where he debates the contention that missional churches don’t produce converts.
I believe that much of what we’re doing in the Storyline Community — though in Dallas, TX we may be — tracks with the kind of post-Christian realities of which Fitch speaks.
For you church planters who are reading and need a good dose of encouragement from Fitch about seeking financial sustainability in missional church planting, click here. You might even bookmark it and return to it from time to time, particularly after budget meetings! Okay, so that’s exactly what I’ve done.
Feel free to leave a comment on how Fitch’s articles encouraged or challenged you.
In the Storyline 