"I want to address a myth about church parenting: the myth of attendance. It is the idea that only churches of certain sizes are able to parent churches. All churches need to be open to the opportunities to parent. It is not so much the size of the church as it is the size of the church’s heart. It is more about health than size. In fact, healthy churches naturally reproduce. Christian Schwartz in his book, Natural Church Development, states, "Hardly anything demonstrates the health of a congregation as much as the willingness--and ability--to give birth to new congregations."
Check your health, not your attendance sheet. Check your heart, not your numbers. Nothing can grow indefinitely. An elephant gets to a certain size and stops. A mouse grows and it stops. They are not the same size, but they are healthy. The only hope for the continuation of a species is not for a few to grow large, but for all to multiply. The same is true of churches. A few growing larger will not meet the need, but all multiplying can help sustain the species."
I am positive that Phil Stevenson is right! In Lutheran Churches in particular, there is this notion that big churches should plant churches. The truth is not many of them do either. I am thankful though, that more and more of churches, both large and small, in the Texas District, Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod are praying and pondering about when God might lead them to plant or partner to plant one or more new churches. Healthy organisms reproduce! The norm for Christ-centered, healthy churches is also to reproduce.
What ideas do you have for how this new surge in church planting energy might become a church planting movement in the Texas District? Please share any thoughts, no matter how random with us!
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