You Ain't The Church By Yourself

In 2013 God called me to leave my home church in Atlanta, where I served as the associate pastor, to come to Spartanburg and plant an inner-city church. He led me to plant in a neighborhood that at the time had a crime rate ranked 5th worst in the nation. As a native New Yorker, born and raised in Harlem, New York City, I was so excited, because I anticipated this journey to be a taste of home. My wife too, born and raised near Lagos, Nigeria wasn't scared either. But, we were both equally ignorant, because we set out without having any family or friends in Spartanburg, without having a guaranteed place to stay, without jobs and with little to no money. We did not know anything about national and international missionary organizations that support missionary efforts like planting churches. That's literally what they do! Duh!!! We decided that if God wanted us to plant this Christian church He needed to prove to us that He was God and God alone.

It wasn't until we got on the road with a packed U-Haul that we received a call from the Spartanburg County Baptist Association saying they had received a call from the Georgia Baptist Association, who had received a call from our home church pastor informing them that two ignorant people were on their way to Spartanburg to plant a church by themselves, without having any family or friends in Spartanburg, without having a guaranteed place to stay, without jobs and with little to no money.

The Spartanburg Association coordinated with the Southern Baptist Convention who then gave me a monthly stipend for the first 3-4 years, so that I could focus solely on planting the church. United Baptist Church, located on a different side of town, allowed us to use their sanctuary and three 15-passenger vans to transport the inner-city residents to church. First Baptist Church Spartanburg, Anderson Mill Road Baptist Church, Grace Baptist Church and Newspring Church all supported us in our effort to plant our church. Then three years in...two Christian real estate brokers deeded us a 20,000 square foot building for the church. And, Bethlehem Baptist Church allowed us to live in their missions house for the first six years, before building us our home where we currently live. There have been countless other business owners, ministries and inner-city residents who have labored and sown into our church plant. Our church exists because of the power of The Holy Spirit and the prayers and support of many. For this we are eternally grateful.

Over the years, we would meet fellow believers who would say "we are the church", referring to themselves. Implying that the church is not in a building, neither is the church an organized body of believers. To this day, I disagree with that statement in the context in which it was used. According to the Bible, which embodies the laws, creed and doctrine of The Church, disciples of Christ should meet together somewhere. Hebrews 10:25 (ESV) says "not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

And, according to the Bible, there is a leadership structure within The Church. Ephesians 4:11-13 (NIV) says "So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

Note:

It doesn't say Christ gave all apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. Rather it says Christ gave some apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. This word some distinguishes between the ones Christ called and the ones who called themselves. Have you ever tried calling yourself? When you get a chance you ought to pull out your cell phone and try it. You'll find that you won't be able to have a conversation with yourself. You won't be able to instruct yourself beyond what you already know. But, when God calls you...you'll find that you will be able to get direct instructions and divine revelation for every situation.

Thank God we ain't The Church by ourselves, but God has called and given us anointed and gifted leaders to equip us, to build us up, to pray for us, to cover and watch over us til we become fully mature in Christ, so that we can stand against our enemies and enjoy the peace only found in Christ. May you prayerfully find a good church home.