1. What is the ultimate goal of church planting?
The ultimate goal is the glory of God. We long to see every heart in the Commonwealth professing and trusting the greatness of God’s grace. Jesus Christ is the exalted King of Glory, who is worthy of receiving the praise of every living person. So in an ultimate sense we are gathering worshippers who will become disciples that love God and others.
2. Why is Redeemer planting a Church?
Because church planting or multiplying proves to be a highly effective method of extending the kingdom of God, Redeemer has, from its inception, purposed to be a church planting movement. We have desired to multiply ourselves throughout the greater Lynchburg area, and beyond. In addition, all church plants in the PCA are strongly encouraged to see themselves as self-replicating or multiplying.
3. What are the advantages of birthing daughter congregations?
When churches are new and small everyone senses that they are needed to make it work. It really feels like “sink or swim”. And that is healthy! But as churches get larger folks feel less connected to the mission of the church, and less needed for the fulfillment of its calling. They become more like spectators than vital contributors, and that is unhealthy! This gives rise to the 80-20 rule: 80% of the work is done by 20% of the participants. Therefore, smaller congregations tend to produce a greater sense of family, connectedness to one another, and a sense of being needed. The church feels like a body where I belong and am valued.
Another reason is to provide a church within the living proximity of people. This explains why there are Baptist churches on virtually every corner of the city! They mastered church planting. Some churches tend to be community churches, geared for the immediate area in which they sit. Others are destination churches, such as Blue Ridge Community and Thomas Road, to which some folks drive long distances. We believe an area like Forest, which is 60% un-churched (according to 2003 statistics) and growing, needs a church within its environs.
4. When is the right time to plant?
We have maintained all along that when we had financial, numerical and leadership “stability”, we would look to plant in Forest. Those markers are largely in place, though we will need faith and sacrifice to make it happen (as with any endeavor worthy of the kingdom of God!). Lord willing we will have four deacons by the end of August, and three ruling elders plus pastoral staff. But we will have to rely heavily on involvement from all of you. The officers of the church simply can’t do all the ministry, nor are they called to. The stress in the Bible is on the entire body one-anothering, using their gifts, and on the officers supervising or directing the work as shepherds.
5.Are we one or two churches?
Redeemer purposed to grow in four phases.
Phase one: one campus, one session, one budget.
Phase two: two campuses, one session, one budget
Phase three: two campuses, two sessions, two budgets.
Phase four: each particular church seeks its next plant (or cooperates on one together).
We are about to move into phase two. Though “Redeemer Forest” (if that ends up being its name) meets in a separate location, it will be governed by the one Redeemer session.
6. What about youth ministry and Sunday schools?
While we are in phase two we will have one youth group (RYG) on Sunday nights. Both locations will have children’s church. Boonsboro will have its normal children’s Sunday school classes and details for Sunday school in Forest will be worked out.
7. Who should go to the Forest plant?
At one level, anyone who wants to. Then, obviously, if you live in the Forest vicinity, and desire to bring your un-churched neighbors to church, Forest is the logical place to do that. No one will be required to attend either of the campuses.
8. How will each campus be served by the pastoral team?
For the short term, we will do “multi-site”. That means Tim will lead worship at 9am in Forest and then drive in to Boonsboro to get ready for the 11am service there. Mike (or whoever is preaching) will preach at both locations, leaving Forest around 10:30 for the 11am start in Boonsboro.
9. What is the morning schedule for Redeemer as of September 7?
Forest: worship at 9am, SS at 10:30.
Boonsboro: SS at 10am, worship at 11am
10. Does that help alleviate space challenges at Boonsboro?
It does if folks are willing to park across the street from the JRDS, or in the Boonsboro Shopping Center and then carpool to the JRDS. Would you please consider making this small sacrifice if you are at all able?
As we grow (and we want to!) we need to find creative ways to accommodate more and more seats in the gym at Boonsboro.
11. What about a new members class?
We will (tentatively) have one class for both campuses, mid-week at the church office.
12. Will both campuses have their own facilities eventually?
That is a reasonable goal. We currently continue to look for land (or an existing facility which will meet our needs) in Boonsboro, having been recently turned down on an inquiry on property at the intersection of 501 and Boonsboro Rd.
We own land (~8 acres) in Forest at the intersection of Bateman’s Bridge Rd and Thomas Jefferson Dr. We have employed the services of an architect (Hughes Associates out of Roanoke) to develop a site plan and initial design for a building, which is also a prototype that could be built in Boonsboro. This step enables us to submit a plan to Bedford County so the property can be re-zoned. We are not in a rush to build; we anticipate taking time to raise money for facilities in both locations. (We will have details later on a capital campaign).
13. What are the costs of church planting?
The personal costs are high, if folks have developed close relationships. Our launch in September will feel difficult for many. Things just won’t be the same again. We’ll miss seeing folks we’ve worshipped with for years (at least on Sunday morning). Part of that began when we inaugurated the 8:30 service last fall. While emotionally challenging, we have to remind ourselves that giving and sacrifice is at the heart of our religion. Jesus Christ came to earth to serve, to give up his rights for us, to lay down his well-being for our greater good. As we part company in this venture we move in the pattern of His self-giving life. Remember, the church exists, among things, for a needy world.
Sunday morning is, however, only one aspect of our ministry. We also highly value one-anothering, especially in small groups, which can transcend geographical boundaries. Moreover, we certainly hope to plan periodic events which unite both congregations together.
Multiplying campuses is also financially costly. In some ways it might be easier to simply build a large facility for one large church. Most churches that grow do that. We will ask God for wisdom as we seek facility needs in the future in light of our growth.
