Early Church Planting Desire

In college (the early 2000s) I took a class on missions and church planting. It was always something that had sparked my interest, but early on it was so closely tied with international missions that I had no idea what church planting looked like domestically. I also felt very much called to work with students. I had seen people in a similar position to mine use their ministry positions as stepping stones to other positions and that was something that I was not okay with doing. One of the statistics that floored me when I started working in student ministry was that the average student pastor lasted only about 18 months at their current positions. I felt an obligation to do everything in my power to shift that statistic. 

One of the things that Heritage Park (my church) has been talking about for the past decade or so is its desire to plant a church. We were planted 40 years ago by a group of people from FBC Friendswood and wanted to continue that legacy. Even from early on, I would dream that one day our church would plant a church and I would be the guy to lead that new church. But, at the same time, I loved doing what I was doing and couldn’t imagine a life not working with students. 

A few years back, maybe 5 or so, Trent, our pastor, approached me about helping us start an adult small group ministry. His reason for me heading it up, “I don’t think you will be in student ministry much longer, and I want to help prepare you to pastor the church. Adults listen to you because you are an expert in their kids, but I want you to learn to lead them without that being the case.” So I started an adult small group ministry at Heritage Park. During this process, I floated the idea of church planting to my wife, Kacee. She was not very thrilled with the idea. So I just left it with her and didn’t bring it up again. I figured that if WE were going to be called to plant, that God would incline her heart as well. About every year or so I would bring it up and she was still very hesitant. I am grateful for her hesitancy because it has allowed me to really clarify my calling.

During our wedding, we spent a few minutes praying together. We would have never thought that 10 years later we would have gone on such a great adventure.