by Dan Lamb
Start … Stop … Reset was the theme for the National Fellowship meeting in Springfield. In my life I have many times done exactly that: started, stopped, and reset. I am sure you can relate.
The National Church Planting Office has been in existence since 2005. More than 100 church planters have gone through the church planting candidate school. I believe that the NCPO and each aspect of it is vital to the Baptist Bible Fellowship. As with any organization, there are times when it is necessary to make adjustments. This is precisely what the NCPO has done. We started with a great burden to help establish new churches. We stopped to reevaluate. We are excited to reset and continue being a part of establishing new churches. I want to invite you to join us. Our reset includes:
- The operations of the NCPO will now be under the oversight of the BBFI Mission Office.
- We will no longer be involved in financing church buildings.
- We will be enlisting: empowering men to follow God’s call.
- We will be networking: connecting cities with men.
- We will be assessing: what are the potential church planters’ strengths and weaknesses?
- We will be coaching: experienced pastors sharing their experience and wisdom with newly planted churches.
- We will continue a partnership with BBF Builders, the ministry of contractors coming alongside a church to help with the physical building.
- We will continue reaching out to ethnic groups with the Gateway program.
- We will conduct a candidate school: equipping church planters.
As you can see, we have really reset. We are serious about enabling church planters and new churches to reach our world for our Lord. We cannot achieve these goals without you.
We ask you to make the NCPO a part of your daily prayers. And we want you to make NCPO a part of your financial plans. In the months of July and August we want to raise $75,000 for church planting. Would you prayerfully consider giving a reset offering to enable church planting? You can send your offering through your church.
Finally, as this Tribune goes to press, I am pleased to announce that John Gross, former pastor and NCPO Co-Director, has accepted an interim appointment as NCPO Director. John has a solid pastoral background (he was pastor of North Park Baptist Church in Houston, TX 36 years), and he was instrumental when NCPO was just getting started, serving as a co-director from 2002-2004. Let us give him all the support we can for the future of church planting.
For more information contact the BBFI National Church Planting Office at 334 E. Kearney St., #184, Springfield, MO 65803, or phone (417) 536-8826, or email office@bbfincpo.com.