Building Structures for Growth
Paul Dale planted Church by the Bridge in Kirribilli, NSW, in 2005. He spoke at In the Chute Church Planting Conference hosted by The Geneva Push Network at Collaroy, NSW, 08 December 2009. He gave 12 suggestions for building a healthy church plant:
- Build a team, don't do it solo
- Have clarity, not vagueness with what you plan to do
- Work on a sense of belonging in the church, not people who are just consumers
- Be fresh, don't be tired -- keep being relevant to your community
- Empowering leaders, not controlling -- watch for the danger of micro-managing
- Accountability must be in place with someone taking initiative for that to happen
- Remember you are building a kingdom, not an empire
- Keep looking outward, not just inward -- keep missions a priority
- Good communication to your people what you are doing, why you are doing it
- Keep planting, not plateauing -- keeps mobilising your members
- Be prayerful, not proud
- Do it all for Jesus' glory, not for yourself
About the author
Jack De Vries was hired on by the Christian Reformed Churches of Australia and began his work as Ministry Training Coordinator in January 2008. In 2012 this role shifted to that of Ministry Development Coach.
Jack came from Canada where he pastored three Christian Reformed churches: Alliston CRC, Alliston, Ontario(1983-87), a church plant: New Life Community Church, Pickering, Ontario(1987-95), and Bethel CRC, Listowel, Ontario (1995-2007). Jack is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary (Master of Divinity - 1983) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (Doctor of Ministry - 2003) Jack and his wife Jeannie currently live in Petrie, a northern suburb of Brisbane in Queensland. They attend and are members of Bray Park Community Church. They have four adult children and seven grandchildren living in the USA and Canada.
In Isaiah 58:11 we read: "The LORD will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail." Australia has seen times of drought and floods. There is another type of drought in Australia; there is a spiritual drought. But God promises to provide refreshing rain, a never ending supply of refreshing water. The water he provides will satisfy the needs of all Australians. As we take up the missional vision God has given us we extend the life changing invitation of Jesus: "Come! Whoever is thirsty, come, and take the free gift of the water of life!" (Revelation 22:17)
