Hugh Halter and Missional Church Planting

Hugh Halter and Allie Harding of CRM stopped by Community Christian Church for lunch a while back to talk about how to organize movements.  Since writing The Tangible Kingdom, Hugh is getting a lot of demand for training missional church planters and wanted to discuss what we have learned through NewThing about structure and networks.  Currently, NewThing has three networks, but  it looks like very soon we will be doubling and going to six networks.  After I confessed to having not read his book (but I have it with me now!) and he admitted that he'd never seen the list of question e-mailed to me from his people, we got down to business.  I'm not sure how much we helped Hugh and Allie, but it was great to hear Hugh's story and pick his brain  He is clearly a passionate evangelist who loves Jesus.  I hope that our paths continue to cross. 

The most helpful part of our conversation was when Hugh talked about the three main phases of missionary life and church formation.  The three phases are as follows...

1. Cultural engagement - The church planter must think like a missionary and find ways to engage the community in means that are fitting for the context.
2. Community Formation - Once the planter has found the means to serve and love in their context they will begin to function in ways that bring people together to form communities.
3. Structuring congregational forms that stay missional - These missional communities started by the church planter are then structured in a way so that they continue to stay on mission.

Comments

[aaron]

is it to simple of a thought to define what church is first?

[jason salamun]

i would have loved to have been a fly on the wall in your discussions.

the tangible kingdom is a must-read for missional church leaders.

[Dennis Muse]

I agree with the one comment above it really depends on ones definition of church and the goal for that church. If your definition of church is an institution with set programs, professional entertainers to provide song and music, a large building and million-dollar budget. You’re right you need lot of training and education. If the goal is a Meg church complete with a Starbucks and 10,000 attendees. Diffidently must a have a well-defined business plan and lots of money.

But on the other hand if you what to start a real church, a biblical church, that takes very little.

The only plan you really need is the bibles blueprint for church I Cor 14:26 and Acts 2:40-47 and obedience to Christ command to Go and do.

Take Dennis for instants, he shares the gospel with 3 coworkers the Lord is reviling Himself to, they accept God’s call and give their lives to Christ. Every day Dennis and those 3 join two other Christians at work for lunch for one hour a day they gather and brake bread, share a meal, have a time of song and praise to God, study the bible, have time of prayer and fellowship. Guess what? Dennis just planted a church, they have church every day they meet. All the elements are there, all the element we see in Acts 2:40-47. And Jesus said where 2 or more gather in my name I am with them, so where 2 or more and Jesus are, church happens. You see size does not make it church, it only take 2, not 200 or 2000.

And then those 3 coworkers also join Dennis at his house every week where he has a house church with 10 of his neighbors, 8 of which are new followers of Jesus, they have every element we see in Acts 2:40-47 as well as I Cor 14:26. Dennis has now planted two missonal churches, and because he is missional they are missioanl, see how easy it is, and I tell you more real church happens in both of these gatherings than any meg-church.

See how simple it really is, and yes it really is that simple. You see if your definition of Church is Jesus’, Paul’s, God’s. If the goal, vision for it is the biblical one, Acts 2:40-47 and 1Cor 14:26. To make disciples and to send out others to fulfill the great commission, no big building is required, no paid professional staff is needed, no money, no set of programs, no professional entertainers, no seminary education or business plan. Only what Jesus said in Act 1:8, the Spirit of God, to Go as Jesus said to and do what Jesus said, and the blueprint for church found in I Cor 14:26 and Acts 2:40-47.

Take a look at a chart I made on a missional church, you might find it of interest:

http://dennismuse.com/wpblog/?p=80

[phill longmire]

Hey Dave:

I am in the process of assessment to become a planter...depending on how that goes...I will be looking at launching June 2009...

I am looking at some new models of management and structure of the church...just read Tom Bandy s Spirited Leadership and wondering if this is a must read for those looking at the church in a different light.

I do want to thank you for the commitment to planters and the organizations you partner with...a tremendous help

phill
tweet at /plongmire

[Kevin Davis]

Good stuff - thanks for sharing.

[hugh halter]

To Dennis, I appreciate your interest in our story as told in The Tangible Kingdom,and I also appreciate your fervancy to simplify church. I'd push back a bit however, on all your references to church being so simple. As I've traversed the landscape of both simple, house, organic, trad, contemporary, and mega, I don't think church at any level is easy or simple. You speak about your friend who found it so easy to lead three friends to Christ and start singing songs at work together. Then you call that church. First, I think you're sharing the experience of an evangelist. I live this way, albeit, I don't get people to sing songs. Heck, I don't even like to sing! But most of the body does not have stories like this in their history. Most struggle to fight through deep insecurity, failed attempts, distrust, blah, blah, blah and so on. Most who I know travel in the simple church stream speak more of pain, frustration that they have the same darn 6 people in the living room after 3 years and no stories of evangelism. Are those bible studies church? I enjoy trying to simplify the "functions" of a church, but I think the idea of God's body is much more than two dudes singing a hymn in the parking lot of walmart. The idea of church includes issues of leadership, gifting, inclusion, sending, giving, oversight, submission, context, and the timing of the Holy Spirit. Context may be the most important as it will help us all ask, "What and How does the Gospel call us to make a disciple in the culture to which we're called. If we take this question seriously, it may actually allow for more complex and even larger forms and structures of church. On the spiritual side, nothing of the spirit comes easy or "simple." It always goes against our flesh. Someday I'm waiting for the book called, "The Hard as He-- Church."
Peace out
Hugh Halter

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The three phases are as follows...great!!!!!!

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