Winter 1997 Archive Click Here to return to the current issue.

Plymouth Church Pioneers Newstart Sponsorship
Magnuson and Crowder Lead Church Plant Partnership

Nazarenes everywhere, especially in North America , are discovering that starting new churches is among the most effective ways to evangelize and win new converts for Christ. Pastors, district leaders, and laypersons are accepting the new church challenge in an increasing number of places. General church leaders and district superintendents are leading the way as more local churches are sponsoring a daughter church. "NewStart" and "The College of New Church Knowledge" are part of the new support and training systems for starting strong new churches.

Plymouth Church of the Nazarene on the Eastern Michigan District is a pioneer church in this effort. Soon after Arthur C. Magnuson became senior pastor of the Plymouth church, Jeff Crowder, full-time staff member, shared his increasing sense of a divine calling to plant a church. Magnuson immediately saw this as a God-given outreach opportunity for the Plymouth church. Together Magnuson and Crowder began dreaming of ways the established congregation could sponsor the new church.

For more than a year, the Plymouth church continued Crowder's salary as he served as a staff member while gathering the core group for the new church. His duties were intentionally decreased at the mother church as he gave himself to establishing the core group of the new church. Crowder was encouraged to approach anyone at the Plymouth church regarding becoming part of the new congregation. Details and dates of this unfolding planting are more fully explained in two accompanying first person reports by Pastors Arthur Magnuson and Jeff Crowder.

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The Joy of Helping Birth A New Church
by Pastor Arthur Magnuson

Shortly after my arrival as senior pastor of Plymouth church, in the late summer of 1995, our associate pastor, Jeff Crowder, shared with me his vision to plant a new church. After prayer and study, the idea of planting a church in Chelsea, Michigan, was presented to our church board.

The church had often discussed the possibility of planting a new church, but as is so often the case with active churches, this step of faith always seemed to be one more project away. However, as we considered methods for effective evangelism, it became apparent to our lay leaders and our pastoral staff that during the year of transition of a new pastor, church planting would be our most effective method for reaching new people for Christ.

When the decision to plant Chelsea church was made, we discovered God had providentially positioned us for this task of church planting. Under the previous pastor, Rev. Mark Barnes, the Plymouth church relocated and built the initial phase in a multiple-phase building program debt free. Nazarenes were waiting in Chelsea for a church to be planted. We had visionary young leaders in Plymouth who were ready to relocate to the Chelsea community in order to reach people for Christ. And we had a trusted associate pastor whom we were able to support during the critical core group gathering phase.

On September 17, 1995, we commissioned a core group for the work in Chelsea. Our people were excited about this work. Sunday School classes committed to help canvass the area, and young people distributed flyers announcing the coming of the new church. During the year of church planting, the Plymouth church experienced growth in every measurable department. The Lord confirmed this step of faith.

While we are delighted for the growth of both churches, we are especially grateful for the impact on the mother congregation. Our people have a wider vision for outreach. We celebrate every new victory in Chelsea as an extension of our evangelistic ministry in Plymouth. We give God the glory for opening up this door for effective service for the Savior.

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The Joy of Planting A Church
by Pastor Jeff Crowder

After several months of receiving the gracious support of the Plymouth church, we began Sunday afternoon worship services in October 1995. We had our first Sunday morning service on Easter Sunday, April 7, 1996, with 44 present. Chelsea church was officially organized at the Eastern Michigan District Assembly in July 1996. During a recent month, our worship averaged 42, Sunday School averaged 24, and we are receiving $800 per week in our financial stewardship. In this effort, I have learned four incredibly important lessons about church planting.

  • Mother church support . The best way to plant a church is to have a "mother church" that sponsors the work. The three obvious resources Plymouth church provided for us were people, prayer, and money. But the significant intangible resource was the feeling of strong support. Everything I did was seen as an extension of their ministry. I can't tell you how many people would call, drop a note, or stop by my office to ask, "How are things going?" Their promise of prayer was like a soul injection of energy and excitement. I didn't feel alone. I could see and touch others who were in this work of faith with me.

  • Kingdom building . It's important to remember that we are not called to raise up a congregation, but we are called to add to the kingdom of God. That, of course, builds congregations, districts, and even the denomination. We have received help from other branches of the body of Christ. The Methodists allow us a no-cost use of their chapel at the Methodist Retirement Home. The Chelsea Free Methodist Church gave us free office space, and the pastor introduced me to key people in town. When I asked why he was so interested in helping us, he said, "Twenty years ago when we planted our church in this town, another congregation did much of the same thing for us, and we want to return the favor. We're in Kingdom business, you know!"

  • The Core . A church planter needs a committed core group of laypeople who are as committed to the plant as he/she is. Mature Christians are needed who will support financially and provide lay leadership. A church plant needs "spiritually battle tested" Christians who are fully committed to God, to the planter, and to the new church. I can't imagine trying to plant a church without faithful people who teach classes, disciple new people, lead worship, and organize fellowship activities.

  • God Provides . After nine months following our first service on Easter, we now often have more than 50 persons in attendance and pay two-thirds of our expenses (the Eastern Michigan District continues one-third subsidy for the next few months). In these months of planning and launching the church, God has provided again and again and again. The most important thing I have learned about church planting is that when we are willing to take a risk for God, He provides. He provides when we try something big for Him. He provides when we place our future in His hands. He provides when we willingly give Him credit for every success. He provides when we joyously allow Him to work His plan through us.
I'm a better Christian for what I have experienced in this church planting effort, and there are many more victories ahead.

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