Nathan and Sharnele’s hearts are for church planting.
So much so that Nathan came on staff at Port Kells Church in Surrey, BC this past winter to apprentice as a church planter.
(Which, by the way – isn’t that a great job title? Apprentice Church Planter!)
Nathan and Sharnele have a similar philosophy of ministry as the pastors there – Ben and Dan.
Their ideas around community, apprenticeship, and spiritual renewal align so they’re on the same page.
They want to learn and prepare for planting a new church in New Westminster sometime in the next few years.
When I asked Nathan, why church planting?
He said that church plants are one of the best methods of seeing new people come to know life in Jesus.
There’s lots of people who don’t know Jesus and Canada needs more gospel-centered churches.
And growing and multiplying as the church is central to God’s vision.
They’re praying and trusting that they are coming alongside whatever God is doing in the Surrey area.
They’re continually asking – what do you want to do here, God?
It’s not something they’re doing for God – they want to participate with God.
It’s so easy to rely on best practices or whatever the latest podcast says.
It’s fun to take the initiative and plan things according to whatever we think is best.
But God’s ways are sometimes different.
It takes patience to wait and trust that God is at work.
It takes wisdom to discern how the Spirit is moving and how to cooperate.
This is their heart – to keep in step with the Spirit and to see more people fully alive in Jesus.
Let’s pray that God will do good things – through them and with them!