Lament and Hunger – Church Planting

Lament and hunger.
These were two things that caught Matt Pamplin, VMC Church Planting Catalyst, as he attended the Church Planting Canada Conference in Canmore, AB this past fall.

Lament because in all honesty – the church isn’t in a great place. Often the church isn’t really respected or valued in our society. So many people have left the church. It felt like lament but it was good to take a hard look at the reality of the Canadian church – to be honest about where we’re at and where we’re going.

There was a bit of grief that some church planting pastors couldn’t be there.
The bi-vocational pastors have other jobs and it’s not easy to get time off for conferences. There was sadness that the room was missing women church planters. Some women were there but not alot. It’s a question to wrestle with – how do we make sure that women and diaspora church leaders are here?

And there was a bit of trepidation – are we taking imagination and experimentation seriously? Do we trust the Spirit enough to move ahead with new things and new ways of doing things?

Hunger because our culture is hungry for things that matter. Especially post-COVID, there is a spiritual hunger. The pandemic created an opening for spiritual things to surface. People want something more. Does the church realize this?
People are hungry for connection and for healing. Does the church recognize this hunger as hunger for the Divine? That people are seeking God? And how do we be faithful to the gospel and reach people now? In our Canadian context?

Lament and hunger – these can be good things. Especially as they prompt us towards real questions and direct us towards the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Let’s keep on.

Photo credits: Tom Pumford (Unsplash)

Lament and Hunger – Church Planting
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