to start a church

[BLovejoy]

I am faced with a delima you see I have been leading a home bible study and it has grown. any way many of the attenders want to branch off and begin a fellowship with the focus of outreach to the poor and the gang community in Tracy. however my pastor who is a close friend of mine conciders this sheep stealing and i can see where he is comeing from, but is I don't see how one can start a church without leaving one and do it with a staff without taking some people who share the vision along, I mean it is not anything he is doing wrong we just want to be obediant to God and birth this ministry. I really do see God leading us in this direction and I dont know how to handle this situation I fear causing division and hurting my friend.

Am I acting unbiblically?

How should I handle this?

[Bishop Randy Salley]

look for doors,if God is opening doors proceed with prayer, if doors are closed look for his will in another way

[RootedInGod]

The Key element to any movement in Gods service is prayer first.
Fellowshipping is a natural process and is where all Christians should strive to succeed at.

We recently moved our Church 3 miles to the opposite side of town we bought the Old Moose Lodge property here so was perfect. We moved right next a Church that had this corner pretty much covered.
Now why we needed the property it presented a dilemma as our church has about 900-1200 ppl and the one we moved next two had about 75-100 Our church is new and modern their is not. Moving the there the fear is ppl will see us as sheep stealer's.
So what did we do?
We opened our hearts and friendship and actually invited their pastor to minister as well once.
And have worked hard to help their own church grow.

You can't though, damage one body of Christ to support your own.
That isn't to say you can't have your own, its to say have open hands across the table
and open hearts in the community. After all we are all part of one huge body of Christ
( Praise God)

And as I had said prayer, prayer for his will to be seen and to guide and you will be amazed.

I am at UCFM ministry as, a Pastor and Recently appointed a Local Elder, my decisions were nearly 100% prayer first and foremost and My family was the only deciding factor. I took this route of service because IT was where God was leading me, and continues to. Its funny how prayer will open the correct doors and faith will guide you. If tommorow God said I was done I would stop and follow his will.

In that you can count 100% that what ever will happen will be Gods will  with Prayer.


I wish all the best .

God Bless

Paul Cordell

[Jacquie44uk]

Hi there,

It does sound like a great idea.. how about, discussing it with your pastor friend and putting it forward as a church plant, rather than him seeing it as a split. That is the way home churches and cell groups are supposed to work, with new fellowships growing out of the first one, God will raise up leaders to take over the new groups along the way. If you think about it, that's how the early church grew, disciples were made, nurtured and taught and then sent out, realistically that's what it sounds like this group would like to do.

Whatever God leads you to do, I pray you'll be blessed...

Many Blessings
Jacquie

[Carl Sousa]

It's amazing how some Pastors worry so much about the numbers in their church. We just had a church plant and our Pastor blessed the Pastor of that plant and the people that went with him. But you see, this Pastor understands that it isn't about him or his church. He will tell you in a hurry, that is not his church, it is JESUS church. The numbers we need to concentrate on is the numbers coming into HIS Kingdom. We tell newly saved people that the one of the first things they need to do is get rooted in a good Bible preaching church. It doesn't have to be ours. Many Pastors need to remember that it isn't about them or their church. GOD bless

[Besodeiah]

Amen to what Carl said.

I think the best thing is to really sit down with him again and truly advise where your heart is, making it perfectly clear that "sheep stealing" is the furthest thing from your mind, and you are only trying to follow God's leading.

If he is unreasonable after you come to him in love and humility, you have done all you could. You know what your reasons are, and if they are true, and truly from God, you must follow them though.

Peace and blessings be upon you.

[Evangelist]

Amen to that Brothers Broadus and Carl. I totally stand in agreement with you both on this.

[Gene Voss]

Your Pastor should be proud that he had raised his flock from milk to the meat of the word and that they want to venture out. We have numerous churches here that encourage the out reach of sister churches and encourages their growth. We're told to be fruitful and multiple; somethimes you can't have multiplication with out a little bit of division. (hope that makes sense to everyone.)

[tskyler]

Pray! Pray! Pray! I encourage you to pray. You don't want to leave after a big rift. Do your best to make your case to your pastor. Take your fellow supporters along to voice it in unanimity, and pray dearly before you go. I would even be so bold as to ask him to support it, so he can share an inheritance in your Godly endeavorers. Praise God for you and God bless you.
Terry

[logusman]

Please you must Pray. You must get your Pastor friend to see reasons with you as much as possible. People understand things differently and have different temperaments. God wired them all and through prayers you will get God to push the right buttons. Check that your motive is right and go ahead. I am usually careful when people say that God is leading them. God will make a way for you.
However, every open door is not an opportunity. Paul could have broken out of jail when the angel of the lord released him, but he stayed back and saved the life of the jailer and this brought about the salvation of the jailers family. Again I say, Pray.

[Winddancer]

My suggestion is... When he asks about sheep stealing... Ask this..."Sheep wander off...Would you rather them find good nourishing pasture elsewhere or wander into the "street" to fill their bellies?"  Sorry...I shoot from the hip...  You can't sugar coat everything in life...  If they don't get the truth somewhere...they will get the lies elsewhere...  *hugs* 

[RootedInGod]

We are to go out and help others,
I agree with Windancers take on this as well.
my own is,
Competition is for a sports arena, not a ministry.

A question to ask if you are a Pastor and a better person came along to serve
a flock. Would you encourage them to take your position or be selve serving and
make the better person go else where?

We had that situation in our church 15 years ago a guy named Mike was a Assit Pastor for
10 years since they first started he was in the church. but 10 years later the main pastor left.
And they were left with no pastor. Mike assumed he would be next in line.

They chose a great guy Steve he was a doctor and had a doctorate in theology and ministry
worked in south california for 10 years as a main pastor at a huge church and was a dedicated Christian.
Mike while a great guy did not have the knowledge that Steve did. They both equally had the same heart.

So whom would serve the Body best ?

[robb1ns]

I grew up in a ministry family.  My father was a pastor and I saw things happen.  I think the most important thing is to know exactly how God is leading you and ask for wisdom in all things.  You are the only one who knows in your heart how God is leading you.   Just be sensitive to your spirit.  Listen carefully...The spirit will not mislead you!

[Michael Mooney]

Amen to Carl's comments.   

The sheep belong to Jesus not any particular pastor.  We are all called to times and places for seasons.  I have never known a believer who was called to God and became a Christian then walked out their entire Christian journey at one single church location.  My perception has been that God leads us from place to place so that we may grow and help others grow.  It has to be a point in life when we move on to new ventures (or seasons.)  This is not sheep stealing because the sheep belong to God, but rather a part of the growth process.  Every pastor's goal should be to bring the people up their maturational level.  If that is ever to be accomplished then they must expect that people will one day move on.

I hope that this is encouraging   

[doctrellor]

however my pastor who is a close friend of mine conciders this sheep stealing

It ALL starts with PRAYER!!!!!!!!!!!! and listening to him when he tells you to do what you have to do!

BUT from what I can see...

He is using this as a career and he sees you taking his paycheck...And do ya notice one this.. he didn't say 'Great, feed the sheep!' .. no he said in essence, 'your stealing my money!'

He is already got a hardened heart and he is distrustful of you in this.. sad to say but I see a hireling and not a shepard.

It is up to you.. give him his sheep back so his can keep his paycheck and a (imho) fair-weather freind, or do what God wants and feed his sheep

Why do I say to feed his sheep, well, God put these people in front of you, not your friend. They are listening to you and your studies, not your friend ... So for that I would say God is telling you something...