The RPCNA Home Mission Board has noticed in the past few years a trend toward more seasoned pastors going into church planting. We decided to explore this idea with three men who have been involved in church planting and see what insight they could share. They are: Pastor Bob Hemphill (Laramie, Wyo.), Pastor Frank Smith (Atlanta, Ga.), and Pastor Bill Roberts (Terre Haute, Ind.).  

1. What made you decide you wanted to try this form of ministry (besides the Holy Spirit, of course)?

Bob Hemphill: Two things led me to take on this church plant. One was that our church in Denver, Colo., had some contacts with students in Laramie, Wyo. I had begun to see it as a strategic opportunity to see RP churches begin to be planted in Wyoming. Second, I was at a point where I desired to be more involved in ministry to non-Christians. As a pastor of an established congregation, I was giving almost all my time to the members of the church, which was good and necessary; but I was ready for an opportunity to reach out in a greater way.

Frank Smith: I have long believed in the importance of establishing new congregations, particularly in the “destitute parts of the church.” The Presbyterian Church in America (PCA), in which I was ordained, has a strong emphasis on church planting, especially in the belief that, percentage-wise, more converts come from new churches than from those that are more established.

Bill Roberts: First, the conviction that my ministry in Bloomington was completed. By God’s grace, I felt I had accomplished what God desired me to do there. Also, there was a gifted man there (Rich Holdeman) to continue moving the congregation forward.

Second, the conviction that one of the key ways that the RP Church and, more importantly, the kingdom of God advances is through the starting of new, healthy congregations in key locations. Terre Haute, Ind., a medium-sized city with three universities and no Reformed church, is such a location.

Third, the conviction that pastors (and quite often congregations) need a break in the normal routine to avoid stagnation and getting into a rut. This could take place through a sabbatical, but, after 27 years in Bloomington, I felt a need for a different challenge.

Fourth, the conviction that elders need to lead by being examples of faith. This means, at times, “stepping out in faith,” trusting that the Lord blesses a commitment to His kingdom. Fifth, the conviction that as a pastor an outward call by a group of believers carries much weight in choosing a direction. Such a call came from the Terre Haute Commission to be a church planter in Terre Haute. This was supported by an inward call of loving and being concerned for the people there, and vice versa.

2. What personality traits do you think God has used particularly in you for this ministry?

Bob Hemphill: A particular personality trait that my wife and I have discovered we share is that of enjoying getting to know new people. We both have interests and hobbies that put us in contact with people who are not necessarily Christians. We like to find ways to get involved in whatever community we find ourselves. This has been very beneficial as we moved to Laramie. Cheryl teaches piano lessons, takes aerobic classes and enjoys attending local events. I love sports, refereeing basketball, like to hike and canoe and enjoy repairing things. We try to use these activities as a way to get to know people in our community. Cheryl has developed her love of hospitality, so we often invite people we are getting to know into our home for meals or other events. Neither of us feels very comfortable buttonholing a person in order to witness to them, but we have found some of our best opportunities to speak to people about our faith have come when people have spent time with us in our home.

Frank Smith: I suppose that I have been given an attitude of “stick-to-itiveness”—or is it stubbornness? Although it is easy to get discouraged, I have enough faith to believe that the sowing of the seed will result in a harvest—even if it takes years or decades for that to be manifest.

Bill Roberts: Over the years, I believe that God has built into me the following traits: * Patience/steadfastness * Love for the lost * Balanced perspective on ministry and church life * Ability to teach and the desire to see Christians growing in their faith * Faithfulness/commitment over the long haul * Desire to see people functioning as part of a healthy church body * Faith

3. What advantages do you see in waiting until this point in your life?

Bob Hemphill: There are at least three advantages we have found in doing church planting in our “middle years.” First, we are empty nesters, meaning we have more money, time and space to minister to others than we once did. Of course, we also miss the opportunities our children once gave us to reach others when they were growing up in our home and had friends and activities. We sometimes have to work harder at finding ways of connecting with people.

Second, the maturity of having been through many ups and downs in ministry has helped us to take the long view of church growth and not become easily discouraged when things are not moving as fast as we think they should. Third, we find people trust and have confidence in us because they know of our past experiences in ministry and the strong connections we have with others in the denomination.

Frank Smith: I have been involved in church planting efforts since the early days of my ministry. I did a year’s internship in northern New Jersey with Dr. Bill Iverson, mostly in helping him to establish a congregation in Millburn. After that I went home (Westchester County, N.Y.) to be ordained to work with my father, who was one of the early church planters for the PCA. I have throughout my ministry encouraged others in church planting, and made efforts to see if perhaps I could help congregations get established in various places—even at a distance from where I was living. So, this interest is not something new for me, or something which has come only late in life. Having said that, there is tremendous advantage in using seasoned ministers for church planting efforts. Often in these situations, there is not a group of elders in close proximity, which means that the minister must more often rely on his own skills and insights. I will add that, given the amount of energy required in trying to get a church up and running, it is helpful not to have to spend as much time in sermon preparation—whether because of having sermons “in the barrel” or simply because of a level of expertise—as would be the case for a newly ordained man.

Bill Roberts: * Experience, not dismayed by slow growth or the ups and downs of ministry * Having seen God’s faithfulness in difficult situations through the years * Family pressures are fewer; since our children are now adults, Rachel is more able to assist in the work. * Financial stability

4. What disadvantages have you found?

Bob Hemphill: On the negative side, I don’t think I have as much energy or as many creative ideas as I once did. As I said earlier, not having children in the home means we don’t have that natural connection especially with younger families in the community.

Frank Smith: The one disadvantage is that, as we get older, our bodies tire more quickly.   Bill Roberts: * Not having younger children, who form natural contacts in the community * Not having the outgoing personality typical for most church planters * The perception that, since I am older, I cannot relate to or work with college students * Less energy * Health issues, especially my diabetes, impact heavily our financial requirements

5. How would you encourage others to consider being a church planter?

Bob Hemphill: There were at least two times, years ago, when I was asked to consider becoming a church planter. At both of those times, I was deeply committed to the congregations where I was serving. In both places, God was giving fruit and we had many opportunities to reach out. I am confident that I made the right decision in both cases to stay where we were. However, my heart has always been toward the lost and toward seeing Christ’s Church expand. Therefore, I would encourage anyone who has a love for souls and a desire to see God’s kingdom grow to always be willing to consider if God might be calling them to new work, even later in life. It seems that church planting is the context in which God often grows His church. Stepping out in a new work can be invigorating to one’s faith and is often contagious in motivating others to like calling. How much we desire to see God fulfill the 20/20 Vision the Home Mission Board has set before the church! Might He not be doing that by sending out both young and old laborers into the harvest?

Frank Smith: Jesus said to look unto the harvest, for the fields are white unto harvest. Even those who don’t feel called to fulltime church planting can be significantly involved in this enterprise. I believe that there are many opportunities for church planting in one’s immediate and not-too-distant vicinity. A pastor in an established congregation might want to consider, say, a town 30 or 45 minutes away that needs a good witness, where a Bible study or a Lord’s day evening service could be started. There may be other possibilities for broadcasting the seed—especially with today’s electronic media. Do people in your congregation know of some folks in another state who want to hear good preaching? Then encourage a group to gather in a home there and listen to sermons either via CD or the internet, and see if a budding congregation could be formed. If you do believe yourself to be called fulltime to this ministry, make sure that your wife knows that to which you are volunteering, and the costs of loneliness, obstacles, Satanic opposition, and high risk of failure.

Bill Roberts: For pastors, I would have them consider the following questions: Do you have a concern for the lost? Are you willing to step out in faith and do something new? How stable is your family life? Is your wife supportive or would she resent a move away from established friends? How does she handle pressure and change? How do you? Is there a group of believers who need a seasoned pastor to head up the new work?

For elders and other mature Christians: Is God calling you to be a key family in a church planting situation? Are you willing to take a step of faith to see the kingdom of God advance? Is your family willing? Do you see the impact for eternity that such a move might make? For young people: Are you willing to use your career and life strategically for God’s glory by being involved in a new work? Will you make a decision not on the basis of which job offer might pay the most, but which is most helpful to God’s kingdom? Would you consider a career that is more “portable” than others so that you can move strategically for the sake of the kingdom?

—Sue Wilkey is a member of the RPCNA Home Mission Board. An HMB feature appears semiannually in the Witness.