Plantation Workshops

Wednesdays from 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.

Plantation, n. plan-ta’-shun. Webster defines “Plantation” as 1. An unusually large group of plants under cultivation; and 2. A settlement in a new country or region.

Unusually large: A new church plant wouldn’t normally start with 150-200 people, but rather maybe a tenth of that. We’ll have some unique challenges and advantages that come with the size we already are.

Under cultivation: A big part of what we’ll be doing on Wednesday nights is the kind of work a farmer would do: weeding, feeding, and the like. What’s healthy? What’s not? What needs pruning to lead to greater growth?

New country or region: We’re venturing into new territory. But we have the same leader – Jesus Christ, and we already know and love many of our traveling companions. So see it as a grand adventure!

If Community of Hope were starting from scratch, as a brand new congregation, where would we begin? What would be our top priorities? How would we approach things?

The reality is, we aren’t starting from scratch. Many of the things a new church plant would be striving for, we already have: a meeting place, a core set of values that are widely accepted, some bridges that have already begun to be built into the community, and so forth. Nevertheless, the perspective of asking questions as if we were starting from zero, can help us refocus and reenergize, and do many of the things we’ve talked about for years but, frankly, have done a better job of talking about than implementing.

Wednesday nights will be the central breeding ground for the ideas God wants to plant, cultivate, germinate, and bear fruit. Each evening will include worship and prayer, teaching, community building, and practical application. Think more “workshop” than “congregational meeting.”

Minutes from the January 16 planning meeting provide additional detail.

November 18, 2007 Sermon: My Call