(EDITOR’S NOTE — This issue of the Biblical Recorder continues our coverage of a seven-part series on the “Seven Pillars for Ministry: Biblical Concepts for a Christ-Centered Vision.” These seven pillars are vision statements developed by Milton Hollifield, executive director-treasurer of the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina. I believe these pillars need to be known, understood and embraced so N.C. Baptists can do a better job of fulfilling the Great Commission. It is our hope that this series will be a catalyst to strengthen our churches in fellowship, vision and partnership. For more stories on church planting or to find out about the entire package, please visit here.)

Your idea of a church planter may be a young man in his 30s with a casual, contemporary appearance — maybe even spiked hair. Think again. Stereotypes are common. I don’t suppose this will ever change. Perceptions of church planters are not exempt.  

Church planters are not all young, and not all fit the mold of a student fresh out of seminary. Some look like cowboys, most are not Caucasian — Korean, Vietnamese, Mexican, Turkish, Filipino — you pick the nationality.

Herman T. Stevens was a church planter of a different era in Baptist life. A loyal Southern Baptist and proud graduate of Campbell University, he served as the pastor of churches in North Carolina and Virginia. Each grew under his leadership. And each was a mother church to multiple new church plants. He is responsible for at least 24 new churches in the Tidewater-Peninsula area of Virginia. He planted at least seven churches after he retired in 1948. This was a man of energetic leadership and vision. Church planting was his passion because he believed this would reach the greatest number of people through the limited resources of the local church. He believed that God’s resources were unlimited, so the dollars would always be there for a new mission of the church.

Stevens believed in the “Baptist seven-mile concept.” Under this concept, when a church reaches 250 members, you go seven miles down the road and establish a new congregation. He obviously practiced it. He resisted the use of his name when naming a church. Twenty years after he retired, he finally allowed one of those new churches to use his name. The Richneck Mission became Stevens Memorial Baptist Church. My wife’s family was part of that church planting team, and Stevens was their pastor. Pam and I were married in the church 39 years ago. Such is the influence of this church planter on our lives. Church planting was the norm 60-70 years ago in Baptist life. Ed Stetzer says “As the church became established, it began to protect its establishment. Existing churches began to see a church plant as a competitor.” Church planting became the exception.

When I moved into the county of my most recent pastorate, the newest church plant was 40 years old. Thankfully, the last decade has seen significant change in that statistic.

Every church planting network — denominational or independent — has minimal standards for effective church planters. Although not exhaustive, the following five statements summarize the convictions of most networks:

• He must have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
• He must be fully committed to Biblical authority.
• He must be committed to living the truth of scripture daily.
• He must be committed to his wife and family.
• He must be disciplined in his daily walk with God.

But there is much more. An effective planter has passion. He is not serving himself. He is focused on glorifying God, giving birth to a ministry that produces changed lives. His age, nationality and cultural genre fit no stereotype. His uniqueness was designed by God for a purpose.

We have no reason to be threatened by the work God is doing through new churches.

Our partnership in the gospel leaves no room for competition with fellow Baptist churches. We will be wise to ask God to give us a vision to plant more churches which will reach more people with the life changing message of salvation through Jesus Christ alone. Give Him glory for every new Bible-based congregation in this state.

Editor’s Pillar 4 picks

• Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer, B & H Publishing Group, 2006
• The Multiplying Church: The New Math for Starting New Churches by Bob Roberts Jr., Zondervan, 2008.