Growing the family

Being part of multiple churches, over the past 20 years, has given us some wisdom in how to go about starting a new church.

Much like using all of your family's dessert recipes as a starting point for creating your own pie. We are starting a church incorporating some ingredients of pure beauty and excluding others we have seen or heard about from past church experiences.

One element of healthy church we are committed to is simplicity.

We are denying our longings to fix problems by adding more. A heavy and complicated organization leads to burnout (for all), constant anxiety, unsustainable pace, and a waste of resources.

Simplicity. Simple Church. simple.

Those words, to a seasoned leader, can be like cool water in the hot desert.

We have been slow to add new projects to our plate unless they pass the tests of being needed and possible.

One area has not remained simple. And we are ok with that.

The ever expanding people group under the umbrella of Restoration Church has multiplied over the past year. The longer we exist and the more we pray, serve, and live...the more people we have signing on to be part of what is happening.

Check out this graphic.

Every word I share with you is bathed in gratefulness. So many previous church planters we speak to mention being lonely. We have our moments of feeling alone but we are not alone. We are surrounded by a growing group of groups of people supporting and championing this new church.

Starting on the top left (of the graphic):

Supporters: Those who have committed to generously sacrifice their own resources to create sustainability for Restoration Church's first few years. We are currently reaching out to supporters and potential supporters for intimate video meetings to share the current and future plans of Restoration Church. Click here to book your 30 minute video meeting now.

Prayer Team: Those who have committed to receive our monthly email updates, read the update blogs, and actual pray for us. This takes some real commitment. Sometimes the prayer requests, needs, and goals stay the same month after month. Sometimes prayer team members are praying for needs they can not relate to in the world of starting a new church. We need as many people praying for us as possible. Please consider joining our prayer team if that is your gifting OR recommend joining to someone you know! CLICK HERE to let us know you want to join!

Network Partners: These organizations and churches believe so much in the present and future of Restoration Church they have committed to give resources to sustain the first few years of Restoration Church's existence. They receive these blog updates and a special network update every month. If you attend a church who supports missionaries and new churches, please let us know by clicking here. We will reach out! Thanks!

Network Contacts: These church workers, pastors, and passionate Jesus followers are friends who have faithfully expressed their desire to Restoration Church (and its households) to succeed. They attend churches all over the US, are part of cohorts and more. They continually give us the gifts of belief and hope.

Potential Supporters: We currently have the goal of doubling our current financial pledges. This requires communicating with and valuing the time of potential supporters. If you are interested in hearing more of how you can be a part of supporting Restoration Church, CLICK HERE and set up a time for a 30 minute video meeting.

Looking at the top right:

Potential team members: We are stepping out of our comfort zones to invite and encouraged our local connections to join our launch team or attenders. This IS out of our comfort zone but we are finding God meet us here. This takes significant time, focussed prayer, and the emotional rick of rejection.

Launch Team: These individuals have or plan to move to Colorado to be part of the early years of building a new church. By the time you read this, we may have new commitments who already live in Colorado committed to the team. This team is not church staff but they sign a covenant agreeing to understand the extra time and effort required to start a new church.

Attenders: These individuals are those who may not find the launch team a great fit but desire to be part of the church. We do not create a worth chasm between launch team and attenders. Attenders are invited to all events and gatherings.

Kids/Youth: In many ways, the youth belonging to Restoration Church did not choose to be part of us. They participate WITH their parents. Recognizing them apart from their guardians is a way of showing them value and recognizing they have needs different from the adults who bring them.

Leaders: Our leadership team is small and flexible. Our goal is implement an elder team before launch with a healthy process for joining the elder team. The elder team would serve as an advisory team for church business and accountability to the lead pastor.

This was a longer blog than usual. Thank YOU for being part of this family tree!

If any area stuck out to you, please email us to find out more! No regrets.

Pray for us as we navigate the complexities of investing in and connecting with so many people with so many different needs.

- Jared