Partners in the Gospel

About a year ago I preached a sermon at First Reformed on Philippians 1:1-11 called “PARTNERS and PARTAKERS: a Gospel Community of Joy”. During my study for this sermon I was struck by how often the apostle Paul speaks about those who have come alongside of him in gospel ministry; people like Aquilla, Priscilla, Apollos, Timothy and so many more. In all Paul mentions more than 30 different people who join him in ministry and prayer throughout his letters. You have become these partners for Sandy and me.

I thank my God in all of my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. :: Philippians 1:3-5

All of you know that Sandy and I have been praying and preparing for a move toward church planting for a number of years now. During this season of discernment God has shown us Himself with such depth and clarity through the Word of His gospel and yet it has also been a season that at times has felt like suffering. We are longing with words inexpressible to bring the seed of the gospel to an unreached community and see Christ grow His church 30, 60, even 100-fold.

Please forgive the length of this letter. I want to seek your kindness and discernment in prayer. And so, I also want to carefully inform you on what has taken place in recent weeks.

Increasing Desire to Plant ::

About seven years ago my participation in Living Fire Leadership Ministry helped me to clarify the personal vision that God has given me for my life.

… to see Christ’s church become a discipleship community of joyful worshippers.

About three and a half years ago Sandy asked me a question that prompted this three year long quest for discernment. She asked, “Have you ever considered church planting?” During this season, God has answered Sandy’s question with a resounding, “Yes!” In fact, we have realized that the personal vision that God has given me really defines how God has called and equipped our entire family, though each of the six of us contribute our own part to this ministry family.

Shortly after Sandy asked me about church planting I began to ask God to give me a prayer so that I would know when He answered our prayer for direction in ministry. I was running on a warm afternoon and began to pray the following ::

Lord, I humbly ask you for a partner, a people, a place, and provision prepared by a movement of the Holy Spirit.

During these three years this prayer has been prayed in many ways. At times boldly, at times like a simple repetition, at times with little faith, and at times through tears.

Florida for Spring Break ::

For the first time in my life I went to Florida for spring break! Sandy and I flew to Orlando on March 20-24. But we can say with all integrity that there wasn’t any much time for sunbathing and Disney.

We were invited by the New Wave Network to join with seven other planters to discern if God might be calling us to be a part of a church planting movement in Florida. The New Wave Network is a network of RCA leaders who have been working for 3 years to start a gospel movement in Florida by intentionally, creatively, and boldly planting “churches that reproduce”. As Sandy and I got to know the people and vision of the New Wave Network we were drawn to their passion for the sake of the gospel.

The intention of the New Wave Network during our week in Florida was to connect five church planters with five sites that they had prepared to plant a church over the next 12 months. Five quality planters were chosen. Though we were not among the five “first wave” planters, the vision was set to invite our family to come to Florida for 6-12 months. During this time I would participate in an apprenticeship with a church planter in Orlando while doing the preliminary work for a “second wave” church plant.

I hope that you can see the intentionality and vision of the New Wave Network. They spent three years preparing to call the first wave of planters! It is, therefore, wise to already begin to prepare the second wave of planters to move forward in about a year.

As Sandy and I have prayed over and carefully considered this opportunity we have a significant desire to be a part of the movement of Holy Spirit in Florida.

It seems appropriate to reflect again on the prayer we have prayed for three years ::

• A Partner :: Sandy and I believe strongly in the concept of apprenticeships in ministry. This would provide someone near us who understands us deeply and can help to shape and refine our future in ministry.
• A People :: Wow are there ever people! The target region the first wave of plants is one of the fastest growing regions in America.
• A Place :: For a long time Sandy and I have sensed that the way that our family naturally relates in ministry would best fit in an area where people spend a good deal of their time outdoors.
• Provision :: As an ordained minister in the RCA I have assumed that the provision would look much like it has in our present ministry. And yet, I have repeatedly described church planting as a missionary work. God is challenging Sandy and me to trust Him for our provision in much the same way as many missionaries by relying upon a network of “senders” who believe in the ministry and to whom we would be accountable.
• Prepared by a Movement of the Holy Spirit :: This is the very heartbeat of the desire of New Wave Network. Their intention is far more than to simply plant some churches. They are seeking to follow the Holy Spirit into Florida and reap the harvest that He has already prepared into a movement of multiplying churches that reproduce.

Specific Prayer Needs ::

• I will be having a conversation with Chan Kilgore of CrossPointe Church Orlando tomorrow (2011-04-05 – Tuesday). Sandy and I would greatly desire that he would become a mentor and coach for the apprenticeship.
• Unlike other ministry opportunities that we have considered, church planting in Florida would likely require a great deal of fundraising. I have had a few unsolicited conversations with encouraging partners in the gospel that have already volunteered to join us in this manner. We need to have a clear sense of peace that God would have us move in this direction. We do not want to presume upon God’s faithfulness where He never promised to provide. But if God confirms through prayer and the counsel of our partners we will trust in this reality, “[Never have I] seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread.”
• I am traveling to the Exponential Church Planting Conference along with the other planters from the New Wave Network on April 25. Our prayer is that this week in Florida will confirm whether or not we should make the move to Florida.
• We have a couple other ministry opportunities with whom we have had conversations recently. We desire to be both transparent and discerning with them as we seriously consider church planting in Florida.

Sandy and I sense a climax to years of prayer and preparation and we believe it is a defining moment in our life together. We thank God for your kindness, your listening, your faithful prayer and your partnership in the gospel.

The Lord Bless You & Keep You,

Jeremiah (on behalf of the Fyffe family)