David Jackson

By David Jackson, BCM/D Missionary for Church Multiplication

The last five years have seen the emergence of a new phenomenon in church methodology, known commonly as the “multisite church.” Defined simply as “one church in more than one location,” the multisite church is really a variation on a methodology begun almost 40 or so years ago under the name “satellite church.” While that emphasis never really “caught on,” the modern movement has quickly gained steam and has ardent supporters throughout North America, including here in Maryland/Delaware. Last year alone, the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware saw more multisite congregations start than in the rest of the decade combined.

The goal of the multisite strategy is to reach unreached people with the Good News of Jesus Christ. This, of course, is also the objective of all outreach/evangelism efforts and the goal of church planting, too. So is multisite an evangelism strategy? Almost all would agree it can be (and probably should be), since the multisite—a congregation of the church now meeting elsewhere—is (hopefully) seeking to reach those apart from Christ with the Gospel message. Is multisite a church planting strategy? Some of its advocates suggest this, and eventually over the life of the multisite congregation, I suspect that it will be in many instances. Most, though, see it as a church growth strategy “by extension;” that is, it grows the church not in the same place, but by moving to new locations in order to do so (i.e., thus it “extends” out into the world to share the Good News).

Regardless, many churches should consider this option, especially those who:
•    Have a desire to reach lost people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ
•    Are seeking to grow in order to maximize their impact on a lost and dying world
•    Have many members who commute from great distances to their facilities
•    Are landlocked and can’t build where they are OR can’t afford to go into a building project…yet
•    Are considering closing the doors because they are unsure they can continue in the future

If any (or all) of these characteristics describe your church and you are mulling the multisite option, then ask yourself the following:

1.    Is our church willing to meet in separate locations in order to reach more people for Jesus? This may mean locating your multisite in a more distant community where a number of your members currently live. By doing so they will have the ability to reach their friends and neighbors more effectively, since the new location will be in their own community (a place where unchurched people are more likely to attend and get involved).

2.    Is our church willing to consider a merger with a struggling church, through which the struggling church becomes a multisite congregation of our stronger, healthier church? Such a decision could keep the more feeble church from dying, but only you and the church will be able to determine “at what cost” this merger could potentially take place.

3.    Is our church considering a future relocation for ministry to another town or community? If so, starting a multisite congregation in that community may serve as a bridge to the future, a future in which you are able ultimately down the road to make the multisite become the beachhead to a new permanent location, while the former site you leave behind remains as a multisite congregation.

4.    Is our church willing to share its resources (people and funds), in order to make a greater impact for the Kingdom? While multisite options usually don’t cost as much as church planting in terms of money, it may require a larger investment of people resources…at least at first. Churches that go this route have many options on the “preaching strategies” employed, but all require adequate volunteers to assist in the other areas of ministry for the congregation, as well.

The multisite option for churches offers greater flexibility at lower costs for those who are willing to go this route. Moreover, it affords any church a quicker return on their investment and more control over the congregation than church planting. If these things are important to your outreach and extension strategies, perhaps multisite is for you.

We on the BCM/D Church Multiplication Team stand ready to assist you in seeing God’s dream become reality.

For more information about multisite churches, contact David Jackson, missionary for church multiplication, at (410) 977-9867 or by email at djackson@bcmd.org.

By Shannon Baker, BCM/D National Correspondent

COLUMBIA, Md.—The North American Mission Board recently recognized the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware with an award at the 2009 Summer State Leadership Meeting.

In this meeting, NAMB’s church planting group recognized several state conventions for outstanding church planting in 2008: Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware (first in enlistment); Illinois Baptist State Association (first in readiness/awareness); Georgia Baptist Convention (first in equipping); and the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina (first in multiplication).

Presented on July 29, 2009, the award recognizes “excellence in enlisting planters and churches for a commitment to church planting among every people group in North America.”

“I am proud to be part of a team so committed to church planters and church planting churches. I’ve never known an organization so passionate, so dedicated to the church planting enterprise as the BCM/D,” shared David Jackson, BCM/D missionary for church multiplication. “Thanks, everyone, for letting me be a part of this journey.”

The North American Mission Board’s Church Planting Process’s four key components, readiness, enlistment, equipping and multiplication, are guided by both theological and missiological truths, and each has unique functions.

Defining the stages and components helps association directors of missions, state conventions, missionary staff, national missionaries, church planter missionaries, church planters, pastors, and laypeople understand their roles in each stage of development.

According to the North American Mission Board, the Readiness component builds awareness of lostness and the need to plant churches contextualized for each specific people group with our partners. Readiness includes items such as spiritual preparation, understanding the place or context of the plant, a discovery of people groups, climate building, and measuring and developing receptivity among the identified audience for the gospel.

The Enlistment component of the Church Planting Process engages individuals and churches through church planting activity. The enlistment focus is around discovering individuals, developing church planting teams, sponsoring churches who plant churches, and other partners such as associations and conventions.

The Equipping component of the Church Planting Process provides training, skill development, and nurture needed by churches, planters, planting teams, and other partners who work with them. Equipping includes items such as development of personal character, expansion of church planting knowledge, new skill development, and evaluation of missionary giftedness.

The final component of the Church Planting Process, Multiplication, is designed to foster church health, life, and growth in the newly planted churches. Multiplication includes items such as gospel saturation in new areas in order to plant churches, development of new disciples, creation of small groups with the emphasis towards them becoming a new church, leadership identification and discovery, and the birthing of healthy, New Testament churches.

Jackson explained that the Enlistment Award was given to the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware for 2008 because of multiple factors, including the strength of its indigenous recruitment, the use of BaptistLIFE, the Strategic Focus Cities efforts of EMBRACE Baltimore, church multiplication’s social media presence and its video recruitment tools on e-quip.net.

“We are convinced that it is important to communicate with potential church planters in the most up to date, innovative ways possible—in ways which are natural for them and their world,” says Jackson. “We attempt to help potential planters learn about what God is doing here in Maryland and Delaware through ‘24/7’ methods whenever possible, so that it is always accessible to them as they may need it. As a result, we have three blogs, two podcasts and two websites, along with multiple other online venues for potential planters to explore God’s calling to church planting.”

He adds, “Who knows when the Holy Spirit may prompt someone to consider partnering with us in the ministry of church planting? BCM/D can’t call them; we can only inform them. Being good stewards of this ministry requires we do what we can to allow the Spirit of God to do what only He can do.”

Under the leadership of Jackson, BCM/D’s Mid-Atlantic Church Multiplication specifically follows a seven-step process to help potential church planters:

First, there is preparation. This includes prayer efforts and site location, which is usually determined by Associational Directors of Missions or Parent Churches.

The second step is partnership, where a parent church, along with the association and even potentially other congregations or organizations, joins the new church planting efforts.

Third, there is recruitment of potential church planters, through the use of e-quip.net, Discovery Days and more of the above. Assessments help evaluate potential planters.

Fourth, the BCM/D provides comprehensive training, beginning with Focused Living and a basic training experiences for planters and their spouses.

The fifth step is nurture and support for the planter and his family.  This includes a coach and mentor, peer learning clusters known as “New Church Incubators,” one-on-one and group interactions for spouses along with joint fellowship opportunities.

Sixth, the BCM/D focuses on evaluation through “pediatric check ups” over the course of the foundational development of the new church.

Finally, there is reproduction, in which church plants are prepared to become “parent churches” themselves.

For more information, contact Jackson at (800) 466-5290, ext. 225, djackson@bcmd.org, or visit online at  www.bcmddavid.wordpress.com; www.plantchurches.com; or www.bcmd.org/churchmultiplication.

David Jackson

By David Jackson, BCM/D missionary for church multiplication

My cousin celebrated the birth of newborn Gabrielle Grace Jackson last week. We, along with all the family, rejoiced in this wondrous occasion. New life is one of the greatest miracles of all and with it should come the recognition of God creative work. Each of us is “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14).

Unfortunately with Gabbi, she had some physical complications that made her health precarious. Doctors and technicians watched over her 24/7, but more than that, our Heavenly Father and an army of believers watched over her spiritually. Many of you prayed for her and for that, our family is eternally grateful.

This experience got me thinking: what if Gabbi did not have doctors and technicians to assist her in her short journey in life? What if she and her parents did not have so many people in the family of God surrounding them with prayer and support through these days? I can’t help but believe that her situation would have been markedly different.

The most neglected part of the church planting journey for almost every new church start is the time AFTER the plant has had its “birth.” These formative months and years are critical to the health and development of the infant church. And just like a newborn child, there are needful things that should be done to ensure its growth. We at the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware do our best to provide the essentials for an infant church to thrive during this early period in the church’s young life.

Food, Rest and Play. These essentials for life are needed by all human organisms. Proper training provides the nourishment needed to fuel the fledgling church. With it, though, are needed adequate seasons of rest and “play,” found in the focused efforts to streamline “busy-ness” in the plants by helping planters get away for renewal and opportunities to have fun together with each other and as families.

Love and Attention. Crossing the major milestone “of birth” doesn’t end our support for the plant and its leaders. On the contrary, we seek to become a listening ear and a cheerleading advocate to encourage them on as they look to the future. We do our best to “brag on them” and even pull out the pictures and show others, given the chance. We want to be ready and available when they sense a need.

Prayer. We are constantly aware that this is a spiritual endeavor, not a business enterprise. As such, like parents and other loved ones, we recognize there are limitations to our abilities and even our insight into what needs to happen. Because of this we are earnestly and often in deep and passionate prayer for God to work in the plant’s life. We pray for God to reveal more of Himself to that new child in His kingdom work and for Him to do for His new church what only God can do.

Check-ups. At regular intervals in the life of the new church, we evaluate the health and development of the fledging congregation. Our attempt is to be prescriptive in our diagnosis, in order to keep the “child” healthy while very young, when it is often most vulnerable. These check-ups are an attempt to help the new church value the process of reflection and evaluation and learn how to make the adjustments necessary to keep growing, qualitatively as well as quantitatively.

Booster “Shots.” As the new work grows in a healthy manner, we initiate contact with those who need these injections to (1) protect it from outside threats and/or (2) to catalyze it so that it can grow faster and stronger. Like all injections, there is a process to follow for one’s safety and strength, but when followed, it can result in meaningful and significant development beyond whatever level the plant currently is experiencing.

Parental Support. Babies don’t come into this world alone; they have parents who also need support and encouragement on the journey. Churches who parent new works finds coaches and trainers to assist them in knowing what and how they should go about helping this new church plant grow and develop, as it should. Cautions against over-protectiveness and negligence are both addressed. More than anything, though, parent churches find friends for life, who will celebrate and serve them in whatever way possible to make the parenting experience a joyful one that will be repeated often.

Ultimately, Gabbi’s eternal well-being rested in the hands of our Lord; the same is true of every church plant. But like any good parent and friend, we seek to be good stewards over the gift of life that God has shared with us in these new “children.” Our hope and dream is that they too will become trophies of His grace and will, in turn, share His love with generations yet to come.

David Jackson serves as the Missionary for Church Multiplication with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. He can be reached at djackson@bcmd.org or (410) 290-5290, extension 225.

David Jackson

By David Jackson, BCM/D Missionary for Church Multiplication

This past weekend brought the tragic news of Michael Jackson’s sudden and untimely death. Like many others from my generation, his music impacted my life. One of the songs that made a marked impression upon me personally was the song “Man in the Mirror.” In that song, which went to number one on the pop music charts in March of 1988, Jackson wrote,

I’m starting with the man in the mirror

I’m asking him to change his ways

And no message could have been any clearer

If you wanna make the world a better place

Take a look at yourself, and then make a change.

In the past few days, we have had three church planting candidates come through our church planting assessment process. This is an opportunity for us as a partnering entity to get to know them and look for evidence of calling, character and competency for church planting in their lives. For the candidates, it is an opportunity for self-discovery, confirmation and clarification in atheir life regarding their future in church planting.

Why is this so important?

I had been a church planter for about two years and, by all accounts, we were off to a great start. The church was growing and lost people were being reached with the Gospel. But one Monday morning as I reflected upon where our new church was “at,” God revealed to me a startling discovery: this new church plant had become a “mirror-image” of me! My values had become their values, my lifestyle had become their lifestyle, and so on. I remember shuddering at the responsibility and significance of the example of my life daily before them. “The Man in the Mirror” had come to stay.

Three years ago I had the privilege of serving as the interim pastor at Montrose Church in Rockville, Md. That same year, at their Christian school’s commencement the speaker made one of the most profound statements I’ve ever heard at such as event. “You teach what you know,” he said, “but you reproduce who you are.”

How right he is! My research and observation since that personal “light bulb” church planting experience has confirmed that this reality takes place over and over and over again in the life of church planters (and to some degree, in all churches where a pastor has a longer tenure, but that’s another story for another day). It is a telling reminder that who we are impacts what others become. Paul understood this and that’s why he is able to say, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 1:6).

This is why assessment for our church planters is so important. By helping us and planters “see” better who they are, all of us will understand what that church will one day likely become, as well. As a result, it helps all of us plan intentionally to stay healthy, spiritually as well as physically, and to nurture others as we ourselves are nurtured and coached to the extent of our God-given potential.

So the next time you stop and look at the “man in the mirror,” ask yourself this…is what I see reflected back to me the same thing I want to see in the lives of those whom I lead?  And if not, what are you going to do about it?

David Jackson is the Missionary for Church Multiplication with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware. He can be reached at (800) 466-5290, extension 225 or by email at djackson@bcmd.org.

David Jackson, BCM/D Missionary for Church Multiplication
There are many scholars that believe the seeds for all of our foundational Christian theology can be found in the first eleven chapters of the book of Genesis. Within these chapters, you find creation, sin, redemption, the person and work of God, the Trinity, the nature and purpose of man and on and on you could go. If you subscribe to this theory—and I do—then what do you do about the church? After all, the ekklesia is not found here in its most obvious form—it’s a Greek word and a New Testament teaching, right?

To be sure, there is truth in that statement. Yet, one of the basic theological tenets we as Southern Baptists firmly believe is that the church is a living organism; God, who alone is the Creator (Gen. 1:1; Col. 1:16) has brought it into being. This is not a human invention; it is a divine creation! Jesus tells us He will build His church (Matt. 16:18); the Spirit’s presence on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:1-4) “brought it to life!” Its “life” is solely due to God!

Inanimate objects are rarely (if ever) used to refer to the church in the Scripture. True, it is called a “building” by Paul in 1 Cor. 3:9, almost in passing; but Peter later on explains this as organic, too, since we are like “living stones” and make up the material of this building (1 Peter 2:5). Jesus’ primary image was to call the church “a flock” (as with sheep). This image is thought-provoking in many ways; yet, all would agree that one essential characteristic of a “flock” is that it’s alive. Paul’s primary image in referring to the church is “the body” (of Christ). In all of these instances in Scripture and in many more, the church is seen as far more than a man-made organization or a business-run institution. It is alive with Christ as the Head!

The reality of this affects everything we do. We shouldn’t be talking about “what’s our vision for the coming years?” Rather, we should be asking “what’s His vision for the coming years” and then “what’s our part in that vision?” Our vision should only be His vision; our thoughts, His thoughts; our feelings, His feelings, and so on. We talk about being “His hands and feet,” and rightly so. I’m wondering then why our view of being His living Body is not more comprehensive than what we typically suggest.

All living organisms, created by their Lord, have been brought into being to fulfill His mission and to glorify Him. We know this to be true from the teachings of Scripture. We have been given the Great Commission and Great Commandment, and most churches do their best to live out these realities in their own world. But how do we do this? Is there something in our “living” systems that we might be missing?

Back in Genesis, chapter one, we find that God’s fundamental command to man and woman in the Garden of Eden was to “be fruitful and multiply…” (Gen. 1:28). We rightly understand this to mean they are to reproduce offspring. As a living entity, this chapter also teaches that one living organism after another was created by God to reproduce “after their own kind” (Gen. 1:11, 12, 21 twice, 24 twice, 25 three times). The principle seems obvious to me: every living organism created by God is intended to reproduce after its own kind.

By now most of you have discovered the logical outcome of this progression in thought. What this means in the living church, as I understand it, is that disciples are to reproduce disciples, leaders are to reproduce leaders, cell groups are to reproduce cell groups…and churches are to reproduce churches. This is God’s plan and intent for His regenerate flock.

A corollary truth to this is that people of character do not live their lives merely for their own survival and comfort. Rather, these people have an innate desire to provide for those who will come after them. The cost is real, but the reward is great. It enables their life to be larger and more meaningful than their own personal capacity or longevity. After all, Christ sacrificed on our behalf; His commission shouts we ought to do the same.

A couple of years ago I served as the interim pastor at one of our churches, which also operates a Christian school. At graduation in the year I arrived, the commencement speaker got up and made a statement to the graduates and their families that I have never forgotten. He reminded everyone, “You teach what you know, but you reproduce who you are.” I think he’s right! And if he is, what does that say about our reticence to reproduce after our own kind? If we are unwilling to model reproduction at the macro level (churches), how can we truly expect disciples to reproduce at the micro level?

God says, “Be fruitful and multiply…” What’s keeping His congregation where you attend from doing what He asks?

David Jackson can be reached at (800) 466-5290, ext. 225 or by email at djackson@bcmd.org.

By Sharon Mager, BCM/D Correspondent

Planting Churches in the Real World by Joel Rainey

COLUMBIA, Md.—“Church planting is not for the easily discouraged,” writes Ed Stetzer, LifeWay missiologist and author of Planting Missional Churches. “I’ve known Joel for years, and he tells the stories from his own journey—telling lessons he learned the hard way. It’s real world church planting and it is worth your time,” he continues as he writes about Joel Rainey’s book, Planting Churches in the Real World.

Rainey’s book is an easy read and touchingly real. The author is transparent, open and honest, revealing how church planting affected him, his churches and even his marriage. Joel Rainey has been personally involved in planting over 25 churches in various types of leadership approaches.

He shared the rejection he felt from others when his idea for a new church was different from theirs. He candidly relates how he responded when asked how people in this new church he proposed would dress for worship.

“I will tell them that they should not come to church naked.”

Rainey goes on to say it was a juvenile answer, but at the same time it was a juvenile question. He is candid throughout the book about how he became frustrated with people, and with himself. He lets you inside his head as he grapples with the ups and downs and how God answers his prayers and directs his steps.

The book covers building a team, leadership styles, systems and structures, financial struggles, disappointments, time management and handling opposition. Rainey gives clear advise backed up by his own experiences.

Planting Churches in the Real World is informative and entertaining. It holds your interest. Three seminaries have now placed the book on their required reading lists.

PlantLIFE by David Jackson

COLUMBIA, Md.—This book is a wealth of information about church planting from the ground troops, compiled by David Jackson, BCM/D church multiplication missionary. Maryland/Delaware folks will recognize a lot of names, from the church planters who write the stories, to the mentors and pastors who helped along the way.

It’s an inspiring book allowing planters to share from their hearts some of their stories in an attempt to encourage others. The book is also hands-on helpful to planters with ideas and suggestions even seasoned established pastors can use.

Topics include: reasons why church planting is needed; mistakes church plants make; different approaches to church; ethnic church planting; partnering; appreciating parent churches; measuring success and much, much more. There are also articles by church planters’ spouses, including Joye Jackson, David Jackson’s wife.

PlantLIFE is designed for those contemplating starting churches, or those who want to understand the church planting culture. It’s an uplifting, energizing book and gives a personal glimpse into the soul of these men and women. It also moves one to prayer for these bold adventurers.

On the cover of PlantLIFE, Joel Rainey, Mid-Maryland director of missions and author of Planting Churches in the Real World, endorses the book writing, “Rare are those books that combine the conceptual with the practical—the universal with the contextual…”

Both books are available from Missional Press, www.missional-press.com or from Amazon at www.amazon.com.