Who Are You Listening To? (Church Planting)

I’ve been focusing on Church Planting here on the blog in recent days, so I thought I’d share another concept today that’s important when you’re starting new church from scratch.

Here’s the concept: Be mindful of who you’re listening to.

As a church planter (especially in the pre-Launch process) it’s easy to get caught up in chasing to the latest fads, the most intriguing conference speakers’ advice or even the cumulative thoughts of your local pastors gathering.

And there’s wisdom in the counsel of many… to a point.

But you must decide early on to listen, first and foremost, to God’s calling for you and your new church.

Soon thereafter, you want to try and find one or two voices that you can connect with and that provide the godly wisdom that every church planter needs.

And here’s why: Too many planters I speak with are trying to concoct just the right mix of this planter and that planter, when they should be building on solid, proven principles and allowing God to use them for the unique church He wants to plant through them.

Listen to, read from, meet with everyone you can, but be wise in discerning what is sound, godly advice.

And don’t get so caught up in chasing someone else’s story that you miss out on the story God is writing through you.

Below is a quick video from Chris Goeppner, one of my Senior Pastor Tele-Coaching Alumni and Lead Pastor of Riverbank Church in Lebanon, New Hampshire.

Chris is a good example of this concept – building on solid principles and letting God shape the future of your new church:

Thanks for the kind words Chris – and keep up the great work in New England!

How about you Church Planter? Who are you listening to?

My new Tele-Coaching Network for Senior Pastors begins in just 8 Days – NEXT THURSDAY – and I would appreciate the opportunity to help you and your new church reach as many people as possible for the Kingdom.

This twelve month coaching process has been honed and refined as I’ve coached over 1,000 Senior Pastors (many of them church planters).

This network is over 85% full already, but I still have room for a few more if you get your application in soon.

The network begins NEXT THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24, so don’t delay.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.