Life at MABTS

a glimpse into daily life at mid-america baptist seminary

Posts Tagged church planting

English

Mar 8

Posted by Ryan in life at mabts | No Comments

María is one of the sweetest people we have met since we started church planting in Memphis. She is around 30-years- old and is struggling to raise Arlette on her own. Arlette just turned two, but is significantly behind where she should be developmentally. She doesn’t speak much. Also, she cannot use her arms or legs. She goes in regularly for therapy and has been undergoing a series of surgeries to help her begin to gain use of her limbs. It has been humbling to see Arlette begin to warm to us. She, at first, didn’t want anything to do with me. This probably had to do with the fact that she was suddenly separated from her father by something very much beyond their control.


(María babysits the girl in the photo during the day.)

María is one of the sweetest people we have met since we started church planting in Memphis. She is around 30-years- old and is struggling to raise Arlette on her own. Arlette just turned two, but is significantly behind where she should be developmentally. She doesn’t speak much. Also, she cannot use her arms or legs. She goes in regularly for therapy and has been undergoing a series of surgeries to help her begin to gain use of her limbs. It has been humbling to see Arlette begin to warm to us. She, at first, didn’t want anything to do with me. This probably had to do with the fact that she was suddenly separated from her father by something very much beyond their control.

Amanda has begun to meet with María at least once a week to study English. María is a very diligent worker and has a strong desire to better her English. She wants to understand what the doctors are telling her about her daughter.

María and Amanda aren’t only studying English, but they are becoming friends. Please pray that Amanda is able to share with María the reason that we love her. Please pray that María will open her heart to the One who turns ashes into beauty.

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[ to be filled ]

Feb 11

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My life feels like a process of losing myself, so I can find myself. Losing my life in order to find it . . .

I am giving up my rights, dreams, preferences, ambitions. Not just to be willing to surrender those things, but to actually do it.

Funny thing is when I empty myself of me I find myself being filled with what really matters.

Above all I am giving control of my life to God. He has ransomed me and has every right to move me, transform me, discipline me. Giving myself to him occupies the highest priority in my life.

I am also giving myself to my family. God has placed Amanda, Sophia, and Samuel under my watchcare. It is with them that I experience life, the simple and profound, the mundane and extraordinary. My whole life is completely wrapped up in them. Taking care of them is second only to walking with Jesus. The two aren’t mutually exclusive. They go hand in hand.

I am pouring myself out for my neighbor. In this stage in my life my neighbor lives 10 minutes away and speaks mostly Spanish. God has placed compulsion and call in my heart to make myself available to him to plant a Hispanic church.

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Neighbors

Feb 1

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People . . .

My new assignment has placed me smack-dab in their path. Yeah, I know. People are everywhere. But, what I do now puts me in an uncomfortable position. I engage.

I step onto a porch, knock on a door, look someone right in the eye, and engage. It’s exhausting and exhilirating.

Before, most strangers that crossed my path stayed at a safe and comfortable distance. Now, I seek out complete strangers to talk to (usually in Spanish).

It’s scary. “If knocking on a stranger’s door doesn’t scare you, then you’re not human.” a wise sage once said.

It is good. It’s good because it is a part of the journey that God has called us to live. Also, it’s good because I am learning to stop relying on myself and start walking in His Spirit.

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[ Forward ]

Jan 27

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I am a church planter.

I get a bit unnerved just saying that, but it’s true.

It’s not true because I decided that I should be one. It’s not true because an organization gave me that title. It’s not even true because I have planted a church before.

It’s true because that’s the job God has set before me. A church planter is what God has called me.

So, I’m learning to call myself that. It’s getting less and less strange to say because I am slowly becoming more and more confident in Him.

Needless to say, if I were depending upon myself to do this, I’d be in a hot mess.

This summer God used two experiences to begin a revolution in my heart and mind. I began to see myself fitting into God’s activity on earth in a whole new light. I felt compelled to get out in the community, start knocking on doors, walk with people through the truths of Scripture, and fold them into a congregation. I wanted to work with Latinos, but I didn’t know where or when or if I even should. But, this compulsion wouldn’t go away. I didn’t really want it to.

So, I started. I climbed into our 1994 Ford Aerostar and started driving. I had no idea where to go, but I couldn’t sit around any longer. I said “God if you want me to do this, you’ve got to show me where.”

He did.

I went down a street and came upon a small house that had a gaggle of kids playing in the front yard. They were Hispanic. It seemed like there were hundreds. It was like God said, “Start here.” I was 5 minutes from the front door of my apartment.

That was back in early September. Since then I have mapped over 100 Latino homes and visited more than 30. I have started two Bible studies in homes. And, I’ve learned a ton. The most important lesson? That I am completely and utterly dependent upon the power of the Spirit. Jesus is my sufficiency and motivation.

I am a church planter.

It’s been a long time since I have felt like this. God has asked me to do something and I feel completely inadequate and overwhelmed. Yet, I feel completely confident and hopeful. God doesn’t just call, he sustains and guides and empowers.

You’ll be hearing a lot more about this adventure. Feel free to email me if you have any questions about it.

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Last Act

Jan 21

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I spent last week traversing Memphis suburbs hanging posters. This is for an event called Soul Mate Live that Bellevue does every few months.

Hanging posters is one of my last acts as an intern at Bellevue.

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Mapping

Jan 18

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I have to keep track of where people are, who they are, what I know about them. It’s just a part of church planting. That takes a lot of organizational energy. One of the ways I stay on top of the game is by mapping Latino households. It helps me keep track of who is where and what contact has been made. It also helps me get an overview of the flow of people and response.

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Dr. Brawner

Sep 23

Posted by Ryan in life at mabts | 1 Comment

Dr. Jeff Brawner served in Brazil for six years with the International Mission Board. He is a church planter.

Recently, I presented in a class on Indigenous Church Planting and asked Dr. Brawner if he would share some his experiences in Brazil as they related to Indigenous Church Planting. I recorded the interview to incorporate into my presentation.

I feel growing within me a passion and compulsion towards this type of work.

Going into a community. Praying. Surveying. Planning.

Sharing the truths of Scripture with homes.

Beginning Bible studies in open homes.

Folding new believers into a family.

I’m asking God if he’ll let me try my hand at it while I’m still in school.

If you have time and the slightest pull towards it, you should check out Indigenous Church Planting by Charles Brock. It’s a practical and down-to-earth guide to starting churches. Brock writes from years of experience on the field. He’s done it. And, the cool thing is, we can too.

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Independent Study

Jun 30

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I’m currently reading The Planting and Development of Missionary Churches by John L. Nevius. Granted, the title doesn’t exactly cause goose bumps. But, what he did does. Nevuis completely revolutionized the way people engaged other cultures with the Gospel. It was kind of a big deal. And it still is . . . seeing as how all that went down in 1885 and I’m reading his book in 2009.

I’m reading Nevius’ book as part of an independent study I’m doing this summer with Dr. May. The name of the class is “Indigenous Church Planting Using Chronological Bible Storying”. I have four books to work through (Hodges, Brock, Nevius, Terry) and then a 20+ page paper. It’s good stuff.

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