And the verdict is?

Last night we engaged in the most significant step in seeking God’s call on our lives to leave the home we love to start a new church in a new city far away from our home and family.  Together with the elders we processed how God was leading us and Faith Community Church and came to a conclusion.  More on that in a second.  I certainly don’t mean to minimize any of the steps that have been taken or the final step in the process.  What has happened so far has been challenging, meaningful, and encouraging.

In the late summer/early fall of last year, I began to sense God calling me to plant a church in an urban center.  It is challenging to discern if God is calling you to take a step like that.  Martin Lloyd Jones said that “a man should only enter the Christian ministry if he cannot stay out of it.”  While this isn’t the only indication in the discernment process, it is a key one.  And for me, for the past year, I have had a hard time envisioning myself doing anything else other than planting a church in an urban center. 

The next step I took was researching cities with a population of more than 500,000 people.  My main criterion for evaluation was to see which cities had the least number of gospel-centered churches per capita.  That led me to take a closer look at San Diego, Portland, Phoenix, and Milwaukee.  We also gave some consideration to a few cities overseas, but decided that wouldn’t be a wise move given our current family situation, i.e. three intense little Polish kids!   

In the end, it seems as though Milwaukee has as much need, if not more, for a movement of gospel-centered churches that are for the city as anywhere else in the country.  Further, Milwaukee seems to be the most natural fit.  If we moved to any of the other cities, I will have a steep cultural learning curve.  But if we move to Milwaukee, it will take no work for me to cheer for the Brewers and enjoy Miller High Life! 

With my research pointing us in the direction of Milwaukee, the elders then directed us to take a sabbatical in Milwaukee to see first-hand if we’re cut out for urban ministry in general and Milwaukee specifically.  If you want to see how the sabbatical went, just keep scrolling downJ  After the sabbatical I submitted a report to the elders detailing our experience. 

As you might imagine, over the course of the past year, we took many more steps.  We’ve read several books, attended a seminar, watched other seminars online, have had many conversations, and spent much time in prayer.  All of this as well as other details I’m sure I’m forgetting brings us to our conversation last night with the elders. 

Having already read our reports, they were well prepared to dive more deeply into specific issues.  They asked what our draw was to the city, rightly expressed concern about my about my inability to slow down, and most importantly, asked if we are sensing God’s call to plant a church in Milwaukee specifically.  To this, we both answered yes. 

The elders then, each in turn, expressed their sense as to what God is doing with us in this situation.  They unanimously affirmed what we believe, that God is sending us to plant a gospel-centered church in Milwaukee. 

In painful but joyful unity with the leaders of our church, we are now going to take the last step in the process.  On Tuesday, September 11^th, Kristy and I will go through the church planter assessment procedure required by our denomination.  The elders have determined that if the assessors give us a green light, then on September 12^th, we will begin the process of preparing to leave the town and church family that we love, to plant a new church in a city that we are falling in love with. 

Thank you for supporting us in this process.  Your words and actions of encouragement have carried us.  Your prayers have protected and directed us.  Your love has inspired us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!