If we build it . .

Will they come?

This is 'the' most intriguing and troubling of questions when considering engaging in a 'Fresh Expression', church plant or whatever you wish to call the founding of a new congregation.

Back in 1988/9, I was asked to support a couple who had voiced a desire to plant a new church in an estate not far from where I lived. They were keen and they had sourced a venue, signed up some visiting speakers and leafleted the area. Everything was in place for the big launch when suddenly they were offered the chance of pastoring in some exotic location abroad.

Next thing I knew I was the pastor a a new community church. Slowly I developed relationships with the people, which was embarrassing at times as I'd been a member of the Anglican church a few hundred yards from where the new church met, and bit by bit the numbers grew. What the people wanted was gentle, natural and common language church. They wanted something that they regarded as theirs and one by one they came. Some were returning to church whilst others were new converts and a few were people who came form other churches because what we were was 'new' or because they lived on the estate and had a burden for it.

In the beginning it was a totally one-man band. I arrived (after having been at at least three services that day) and put out the chairs, filled the urn and put the cups out, set up the audio and OHP (no LCD projectors then :) ) and after the service did the same in reverse! The good news was that the numbers rose to thirty-nine members and eventually I got some help.

The better news (or perhaps not) was that having decided to plant the church, the congregation started to spread the word and also started doing the teas and even helped with the chairs. The central church were happy to number the new congregation as theirs and that's where it ended. they were twelve miles away (and therefore in another land) but that's where it ended - nothing came from them and none from the new church ever went there.

This was church planting on the edge - no experience, no theology, just trying to be the church that the people wanted to be part of. There were many painful moments and more mistakes than you could shake a stick at, but also a number of fond memories and great success stories.

And today? Well, in 1991 the council sold the estate off to a private company and most of the people living there transfered to council houses (for some reason the majority went to margate!) and so, some three years of being later, the church was closed (the hall was knocked down and there was nowhere else to go) and the five remaining members moved on to local fellowships.

A great experience - a learning experience.

Happy daze!