Lee Profile

1) Describe your call to plant a church?

Jeanette and I came to the idea of planting a church as part of our long term planning. We saw it as being part of our not going to ever retire plan. Sometimes God uses circumstance to guide or in this case accelerate our plans. The church in which we were serving went through some serious troubles and downsizing staff became one of the actions needed for recovery. We saw this as an opportunity to learn the ins and outs of church planting while still in a community in which we had some connections. Our plan is still to relocate for the purpose of planting a church in a less evangelized part of the country, but in the meantime we are building striving to build a replicating church here in Texas.

2) Describe the community where you are planting?

We are planting in a suburban community largely made up of young professions. 65% of the people within 6 miles of our site do not have any church affiliation. There are Christians in the area who for various reasons have dropped out of church and that group makes up about half of our attendees.

3) How are you developing your core group?

We used a 3 point strategy to get our launch team on board. Personal interviews of families we knew were interested, developing a detailed ministry vision and while testing plan in a house church setting. Now our focus with the core group is a combination of community contact events and small groups. We are making connections with existing community based agencies, holding public worship events which we advertize through local businesses and using the small groups to train and encourage our folks to share their faith.

4) What is the church's vision, mission, and values?

 Mission: Transforming minds by proclaiming God’s Word and demonstrating Christ’s love.

Ministry: Worship God,observe the ordinances, make disciples, win the lost and plant other churches.

Vision: Plant a healthy reproducing church that evangelizes the lost, makes disciples, trains leaders and sends missionaries.

Values: Above all Christ – it is not about us, rather it is centered on proclaiming Him! (Col 1:28)

Biblically Based – Uncompromising stand on the truth (1 Timothy 3:15)

Community Oriented – Building from the community into the church (Titus 3:1-8)

Deploying the Saints – Equipping believers to fulfill their God given destiny (Eph 2:10)

Motto: Making Disciples who make Disciples

5) What does community life look like in your church?

Home and community based small groups are a key aspect of our church life. We are also engaged in serving the special needs of our church family and friends by delivering meals and services as needs arise. We have regular church family dinners after church which have proved to be a lot of fun for everyone. Church in the Park Sundays are well attended, we hold a worship service in a public park and follow up with a cook out and fun activities.

6) How can we pray for you?

Pray God will grant us wisdom and boldness in our outreach to our community.

EFCA Start Churches