Some people make New Year’s resolutions. Now, I’m not suggesting that this is something you must do. However, the changing of the year can be a good time to reflect, to look back on the year gone by and forward to what is coming up. This can be a great time to review your plans and priorities.
If you are the New Year Resolution type, can I ask you to seriously consider a potential resolution for this year ahead. That’s to make serious steps towards getting involved in church planting.
My great concern and one of my primary reasons for running Faithroots is to seek out, encourage and equip potential church planters to come and work in the West Midlands, particularly in our inner city and estate contexts.
What would a New Year’s resolution involve? The answer is that first of all, it would mean committing to pray each day and to listen to what God is telling you.
Secondly, it means talking to other people. If it’s something you keep to yourself then it’s an aspiration but it’s not really a resolution. There’s no commitment and no accountability. The first person you should speak to is your spouse if married. You should also speak to the elders at your church. Once you’ve done that, why not get in touch with us?
Fourthly, it means starting to do your research, begin to find out about a particular area. What are the needs, what are the opportunities? Who else is concerned about the area? You can of course do some of this research online but I’d really encourage you to plan a visit in.
Fifth, it means counting the cost. What will be involved if you have to uproot your family? Will you need to quit a job? Can you be sure that there will be a new job to go to? Are there other potential means of support?
Sixth, begin to prepare by making sure you are as thoroughly equipped as possible. It may be that you wish to get enrolled on a formal training programme first. Remember that if you are not worried about certificates and more concerned about something flexible, informal and contextualised that it is possible to train with and through Faithroots.
If you have made this one of your New Year’s Resolutions then please drop us a line. We’ve love to begin praying for you and start talking some more to you about what might be involved.
Faithroots 