Why I’m Interested In Taking The Gospel To Poinciana Florida
I haven’t always felt the call for church planting, it was a call and interest that grew and grew as time went on. But now, as I reflect on it, I come to my answer in light of 3 main areas. The three main areas are: feeling compelled by the word of God to “Go” be the church and make disciples, understanding the extent of Gospel impact that church plants have in an area, and the burden of longing to see my community of Poinciana reached for the glory of God.
The first reason why I am interested in Church planting is I feel the call in light of the word of God. There are many places in scripture where one can find a reason for church planting. For me, there are three areas in scripture in particular that I feel I derive my call for church planting. The first area is found in Isaiah 6:8 when it says, “Then I heard the voice of the Lord asking: Who will I send? Who will go for us? I said: Here I am. Send me.” The next area is found in Romans 15:20 when it says, “My aim is to preach the gospel where Christ has not been named.” The third area is found in Matthew 28:19-20 when it says, “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” These verses found in the books of Isaiah, Romans, and Matthew are significant verses that stir my desire for church planting. They encourage my desire to be sent out by the Lord in order to be a means of grace that produces disciples and transformation of lives. This is, “A call to GO!”
The next reason why I am interested in church planting is because of the Gospel impact on our cities. It is well documented that a church plant within a city has a unique ability to reach those who are not already connected to a gospel community. Tim Keller in his article Why Plant Churches, tells of the church plant’s unique ability to reach the next generation of our cities and the unchurched/de-churched communities. In regards to the impact on those in the next generation, he writes, “Younger adults have always been disproportionately found in newer congregations. Long-established congregations develop traditions (such as time of worship, length of service, level of emotional responsiveness, sermon topics, leadership style, emotional atmosphere, and thousands of other tiny customs and mores) that reflect the sensibilities of longtime leaders from the older generations who have the influence and money to control church life. The automatic maintenance of such habits does not reach younger generations effectively.” Tim Keller also speaks on what impact church plants have on the unchurched/de-churched communities when he writes, “Dozens of denominational studies have confirmed that the average new church gains most of its new members (60–80%) from the ranks of people who are not attending any worshiping body, while church-es over ten to fifteen years of age gain 80–90 percent of new members by transfer from other congregations. This means the average new congregation will bring six to eight times more new people into he life of the body of Christ than an older congregation of the same size.” So all together, we can see that Church Plants have a unique ability to reach the unreached in our city, and that's what I want to go and do.
My third reason for why I am interested in church planting is because I have a particular burden to reach the people of Poinciana. I don't just feel called to the pastorate, I particularly feel called to reach and plant a church in Poinciana. I feel called to play a small part in bringing forth what God has for this part of South Orlando. Having spent most of my life here, I have grown a longing to see my community redeemed for the glory of God. Most of those who live here have moved in from other places, coming for the idea of a better life and their shot at the American dream. This community is a majority-minority community that believes owning a house and land would provide for them all that they longed for, but what they have come to realize is that what they came for can't truly satisfy their needs. So now, the community feels lost, forgotten, and without hope. Unfortunately, most people cling to the idea that moving somewhere else is what they need to fill that void. Thus, starting the cycle all over again. However, I believe it's only the truth of the gospel and a new life found and rooted in Christ that could truly satisfy their need. I long to see that need met by Jesus in my community, and I believe the way we do that is by planting churches. I long and pray to see Gospel-centered, Christ-exalting churches, that feel so compelled by the truth of the Gospel. As a result, these plants would further the Gospel mission, and reach, care for, and walk with the people of the communities that they are in.
In conclusion, the reason why I am interested in church planting is due to the instruction of the word of God to His people through “A call to GO!”, the overall Gospel impact that church plants have in reaching the unreached, and my unique burden to see this impact my hometown of Poinciana. I believe that church planting in Poinciana is what God has called me to do, and I pray that His will be done.