How to plant a church

As confident as we are, we still have so much to learn about starting a new gospel community. So many of our faithful supporters have asked, 'what kinds of things are you doing right now?'

It's a great question.

1. We are networking.

So many people have gone before us and most of them are excited to share their stories and offer support. The amount of people I (Jared) have talked to who are friends of friends of friends is almost hilarious.

The insights. The observations.

The redemption in being able to share their stories with someone else.

Recently, I was able to reconnect with a peer from my undergrad days. This rockstar leads a community 30 minutes from where we are moving and reached out when we announced on social media. Our conversation was another reminder of how our maker has not called us somewhere he doesn't intend to provide.

Thank you to everyone who have connected me with your friends & family who know Colorado, church planting, and more. I am still needing to reach out to some of you! Thanks for your patience.

2. We are putting together a portfolio.

The technical term, used by my planting coaches, is a prospectus. While that term sounds more like a low budget sci fi movie, the prospectus is a sharp looking presentation of the basic facts of our 3-5 year plan.

This has proven difficult because we just aren't sure of every detail yet.

However, we trudge ahead confident in what we are SO CLOSE to having ready for you to see.

This will include some clear vision and description of the community we feel led (and equipped) to build, where it will be, why it is needed, how much it will cost, and who is already a part of it.

You will love it.

3. We are preparing to move.

This is proving to be the most difficult one. We need some serious prayer here.

I have started applying for jobs in Arvada, CO and

we have started looking for homes to rent.

Please pray.

Homes to buy and rent (in Denver Metro Area) are so scarce that we are convinced it will require us knowing someone (who knows someone) for us to find a place to live.

Do you know someone who (might) know someone? : )

Not to mention, two other households have signed on to move with us.

They are facing the same roadblocks and prayer needs as we are.

My resume looks really great, when I am applying for local church jobs.

I am venturing into a new world by applying for marketplace jobs.

4. We are building a team.

Wow, this is the fun part.

Our goal is 200 supporters by July 2021.

Right now, we have 101.

Help us by sharing the support link.

We have 2 other households committed to be part of the launch team.

That means they are selling their current homes,

buying into a sweet vision,

and moving, on mission, with us in Arvada, CO.

More about them very soon.

While those two households are IN, we have been praying about God leading others to join.

We haven't been actively recruting but have been open to conversations and vision casting.

At this time, we have 7 other households who have said they are sensing a call/interest in joining us.

Please pray.

However, do not pray for them to join us.

Pray for them to receive peace and clarity.

Finally, we have several people who are unable to join our launch team but have expressed a strong desire to invest in the vision and mission.

This group is quickly becoming the backbone of our support team. They are a small group who are thinking about and investing in this adventure just as much as those who are going.

One couple, being from CO, is connecting us with other pastors in the area.

One couple is putting together systems to help manage and communicate with our supports.

Another friend is proofreading some of the content we are creating for you.

Others are offering encouragement when they see us or sending a "random" note.

Every one of you are part of this team.

Thank you for writing this story with us.

My words fall short of how much you remind us that we are not alone.

Running alone we can go faster

but running together, we can go farther. - African Proverb

That is how you plant a church.

- Jared (& Becky)