Established Churches and Church Plants Need Each Other

I’ve been tracking with Brad Somers, a church planter in Halifax, for a few years now. Last year I interviewed him, and Brad said:

In the last five years of church planting this is the greatest struggle for me: to constantly die to self and allow for the mission of God to move beyond my own personality and be owned fully by His people. To plan for that, to coach for that, to disciple for that — this is what equipping the saints looks like for me.

Last week I finally had the opportunity to visit PAXnorth, the church that Brad has helped to plant. It’s one thing to read about a ministry; it’s another thing to see firsthand what’s happening.

I was encouraged to meet a guy named Irish, whose life has been transformed through the gospel. I kept hearing stories of lives and families that have been turned upside-down through the ministry of this new church.

It was especially helpful for me to see a church plant a few years ahead of us. It reminded me of what’s important, and it gave me hope.

PAXnorth hosted a conference last week for the Fellowship Baptist churches in the region. I was reminded of how church plants and established churches can benefit from each other. Brad and PAXnorth have benefited from the infusion of interest and investment in the church plant; the churches in that region have benefited from helping to give birth to a new church. It reminds me of what Tim Keller says: “Vigorous church planting is one of the best ways to renew the existing churches of a city, as well as the best single way to grow the whole Body of Christ in a city.”

If you’re in an established church, look for ways to partner with church plants. It could be one of the most strategic things you do for your church’s growth, as well as the growth of the church in the city.

Check out this video from PAXnorth, and rejoice in what God is doing.