When Cheree and I first moved to South Africa, our plan was to go and help others plant churches. It was not too long before there was a small group started in a three-bedroom apartment that housed four families close to the inner city where we were working. We faithfully met with new believers and existing believers each week. One of the main people to help get this going was a man named Sam from the nation of Cameroon. We would go out together in the evenings and find people to pray for and share the gospel with. Soon the group was too big and too loud (we had many wonderful worship times at the top of our lungs) for the small apartment. Suddenly a church was planted.

Honestly, we were only planning to be there for one year. I was not really trying to pastor a church; my main focus was to help others plant churches. I was willing to help but only if I could do it with other people. My main desire was to help others discover the leadership that was inside of them. People continued to be added to the group, while others moved to other regions or fell away, and before I knew it a church was planted. I thought that we would be leading that church for a few months until other leaders were raised up and we moved on. This was not God’s plan. Our initial one-year commitment turned into eleven years. This is why sometimes my wife says we were tricked by God into planting a church.

When I read about people in the book of Acts who had churches meeting in their homes, I wonder if they felt the same way. They were going about their business, responding to the gospel to become followers of Jesus. As more people did the same, people started to gather, and they found themselves with a church in their home. There are many different ways to plant churches today. Some are very sophisticated and expensive, but one thing that is a constant is this: a love to see other people develop into the leaders God has called them to be.

Maybe you have never considered yourself as a potential church planter. But if you love Jesus and you love helping others grow in their walk with the Lord to discover their gifts, you most definitely could be. Look to encourage others around you to grow in the leadership potential that God has placed inside of them. Who knows what God will do? Whatever it is, it will be good! You might even wind up with a church being planted.