Author Archives: clintclifton

Quantico Parents Night Out

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Quantico Parents Night out is a free, three hour, no -strings-attached, service to the families of active duty military and first responders living in the Quantico area.

Our screened and loving childcare workers have planned an excellent program for your children that will keep them engaged and learning through the whole event. The kids program is for ages 0-12 years and includes dinner, Basic martial arts instruction, music, games, stories and a great closing show.

Each couple participating will receive a $25 gift card to the local restaurant when you drop off your children at the QPNO event. All this to express our thanks to you for your selfless service to our community and country.

The event is sponsored by Pillar Church of Dumfries conveniently located just a few miles north of Quantico’s main gate.

visit the website: www.QuanticoParentsNightOut.com

The Church’s Response to the Plight of Orphans

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Since our teenage romance my wife and I have imagined ourselves being adoptive parents. We’ve been changed by the gospel and compelled by the plight of orphans in Haiti and around the world. We’ve discussed the possibility many times but for one reason or another we’ve never acted on it. It could be because we we started pumping out kids as soon as the honey moon was over, or perhaps it had something to do with the fact that our occupation and our stupidity has kept us near the poverty line.

But in 2010 when we got our personal finances in order and learned we could have no more children naturally. We decided to visit a friend who runs an small orphanage in Haiti and ask the Lord if He’d  allow us to be apart of his plan to realize the desire he’d given us so long ago.

While in Haiti we met two orphans that thawed our hesitations. We came home, with no clue how to pay for the adoption but an resolve do whatever it what it took. Within a few months nearly all of the money was in hand and our adoption proceedings were well under way.

Ever day we think about these two children, we pray for them continually and just like it was with pregnancy, we love them already. This week a worker at the orphanage sent us the following descriptions of their personalities and it made our week.

Betchina is sweet. I may even say that she’s the sweetest kid here. Her little giggle is just the best. She never, and I mean NEVER forgets to say thank you. Just recently, she had a bad cough (all the kids had it) and I would bring her medicine every night when she crawled into bed. Even though it didn’t taste good, she would always say “thank you!” with a sweet smile on her face. She’s such a lovely little girl! I’m really excited that you guys are homeschooling her because I think that it will be a good fit for her especially. She’s very shy. We just got report cards from her school and they told us that she knows the lessons, the problem is that she doesn’t like to talk in class very much. I guess the teachers will ask her questions but she won’t answer all the time. Sue and I were talking about it and how we think she will do really good doing school at home.

Jean is funny. He is literally the biggest three year old I have ever seen. He LOVES to be held. I feel bad for the poor kid because he’s so big that it takes more effort to hold him. I really think he would be happy if I just held him all day long. He’s so big that I can’t walk around holding him so he has to wait until I have time to just sit and be with him. He’ll walk up to me and mumble my name with his big puppy-dog eyes open wide and his arms up. When I pick him up, he just melts. It’s sweet. I think Sue needs to hire a worker just to hold him all day! He also has the best language skills out of any three year old I’ve ever met. He speaks so clearly and knows so many words. I’m amazed whenever I talk to him.

Jean literally will eat everything and anything. After everyone eats we always catch him licking off the trays of the highchairs and eating scraps off the floor. One time I gave him some lotion on his hands and I caught him licking it off. He cracks me up. So, to prepare for him to come home, put up all toxic substances where he can’t find them! Most of his spilled tears are over food. A lot of it comes from his personality I’m sure but he’s not the only kid here obsessed with food. All the kids here can eat more in one sitting than any American kid ever could. I’m discovering that it’s part of growing up in a third world country. Food is so important to these kids. Before they came to here it was a matter of life and death. While kids in the US are complaining about crusts, a lot of kids in Haiti are worried that they might not even get a next meal. I am sure that worrying about food is a habit that a kid doesn’t easily get over.

Our hearts are full of gratitude and joy about what the Lord is allowing us to participate in… but we see something that makes us sad… The American church gives special attention to the sanctity of human life each January but other than that it seems as a whole we don’t take much responsibility for the care of orphans. Meanwhile, our culture is snuffing out human life at a pace that is mind boggling. We are becoming increasingly aware that it’s the privileged and joy of the church to Display the Glory of Christ by responding in force to the plight of orphans.

Maybe you’ve considered adoption at one point or another but have been discouraged by the obstacles. I want to encourage you to do a few things in order to explore the issue further:

  • Read Orphanology or spend a few days studying what the Scripture has to say about orphan care.
  • Contact me or another adoptive family and learn about the process. (Clint@pillarchurchsbc.com)
  • Volunteer to provide foster care in your community.
  • Visit an orphanage like THIS ONE.

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

Funding for Church Planters (Part 3)

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Here is a list of Church Planting Networks and organizations that operate in the US. The list is by no means exhaustive but it should give you a good sence of what’s out there regarding church planting support. Most of these organizations do not directly fund church planters – but many of them represent a group of churches that do. If you know of any that I’ve missed i’d appriciate you commenting below or emailing me at clint@pillarchurchsbc.com

Funding for Church Planters (Part 2)

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As I mentioned in my last post, if your willing to put in a little effort you will find that there are funding sources available. Here are a few things that you should consider before setting out to raise money for a new church plant.

First, Please for the love of God, before you do anything read this post by Resurgence.

How to ask:

  • People are more likely to give to your project if they are impressed with you. If supporters can see potential in you, they will see potential in your project. If you get a chance to make a presentation before a church or a pastor make sure your presentation is excellent, well thought out and in a simple, esthetically pleasing presentation. Be on time, dress sharp, bring someone else with you (this subtly  communicates that your not alone in this venture). When you can’t sit face to face – find another way to get before people. Here are some good examples – a VIDEO, a written proposal, and a website all to raise funds for a new church.
  • Know this… Guilt doesn’t motivate – avoid using it.
  • Read Ben Arment’s post THE BIG ASK
  • After your presentation, be specific and direct about what you want. “Would it be possible for your church to contribute $500 per month for the next two years to help me plant this new church? never ask, “do you think you could contribute anything?”.. If they say no to $500, ask for $250.
  • Often people will ask, “What can I do to help?” – Be prepared with an answer.. “We’re seeking 20 individuals to contribute $50 per month for the next year, could you join that group?” – “We’re asking people to buy a chair for our new church – they are $65 dollars each.. Could you buy one?”
  • You should be getting positive responses from about 50% of the people you ask directly. If your not getting a response that good, somethings broken about your presentation – go back to the drawing board.

Who to Ask:

  • Your Church – The church you currently attend should be your very first presentation. First, get on the same page with the leadership. Make certain that they support you. If you can’t get past this step you should work to get their support. If you happen to attend an unhealthy church I suggest getting involved in heather one right away. If your not sure if your church is healthy or not, read this.
  • Your Denomination – Nearly every denomination has a church planting budget of some kind. Unless you already have a relationship with denominational leaders take your pastor with you when you approach them. If they have a formal program and application process, do it quickly and completely to give a good impression. If you are an SBC church planter you should read this  document, it does a pretty good job of explaining how SBC funding streams work.
  • Other Churches – Make a list of churches you have some connection to. Your home church, your parents church, other churches you attended in the past, etc. Set up meetings with the pastor or missions pastor from each church (skype works well if they are far).
  • Friends and Family – Individuals friends and family often want to help. Find a way that they can give regularly to your work. Sit with each of them one on one and ask if they can support.
  • Other Possibilities – Your employer, your seminary, church planting networks & mission agencies. In my next post I will provide a list of such agencies.

Doug Murren has a post on the same subject HERE.

Funding for Church Planters (Part 1)

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Perhaps the most frightening part of Church Planting for new church planters is that one pesky detail – the one everyone needs – a paycheck. The funding issue can make church planting seem out of reach. But with a little faith and a good work ethic funding your church planting effort is a goal within reach.

To explain, let’s look at a lil’ case study. We’ll start with our make-believe church planter… we’ll call him Calvin.

  • Calvin has a wife and three children. His wife stays home and takes care of the kids making Calvin is the only breadwinner in this family.
  • Currently, Calvin’s Company  offers him a total salary package of $60K a year for his work as a advertising executive. This includes his health insurance and Retirement. Although his family doesn’t have an extravagant lifestyle, they do have more luxuries than necessary. According to the US Census Bureau the Median Household Income in the US is somewhere around $50k dollars. So after discussing his income with his wife they are confident that they can live on $10K less per year and are glad to make this sacrifice to obey God’s call to plant.
  • Calvin’s Church is positive about his call to start a new church and has supported him as he has taken seminary courses over the last year or so. Calvin is confident that some of the members will support them financially but is not sure if the church itself will make a financial investment.

So here’s some of the advice I’d give Calvin to help him through the process of collecting the funds necessary provide for his family as he dedicates his full attention to the task of starting a new church.

Step 1 – Identifying Funding Sources

  • Sponsoring Churches
  • Denomination or Network
  • Core Group
  • Individual Supporters
  • Part Time Work

These aren’t the only possibilities for funding but these are funding streams that are commonly used by church planters and available to nearly all church planters.

Although it’s impossible to predict exactly how the numbers will work out for Calvin we’ll make a goal (in the form of a pie chart) to put some soild goal numbers to reach for. After talking with Calvin about what we thinks is realistic about his situation, these are the goal numbers we set for the first year – a total salary of 50K including benefits.

  • Sponsoring Churches – $15,000
  • Denomination or Network – $15,000
  • Core Group – $5,000
  • Individual Supporters – $10,000
  • Part Time Work – $5,000

It’s important to note that – In other cases all sorts of unique situations arise with Church Planters. Here are a few examples that I have personally experienced.

  • One of our Planters had 6, count them, 6 sponsoring churches. Each was giving between $100 per month to $1500 per month. His pie chart had only two categories. Sponsoring Churches and Denominational support.
  • Another planter is a former Marine and has a pretty significant amount of funding coming from the government for his military service. This fact lowered the total amount he needed to raise.
  • Yet another guy, lived debt free for years knowing he would plant, saved a boatload of money and was able to accept a much lower salary.

In the next post we’ll look a little closer at each of these funding sources and I’ll share some ideas about how to approach each one.

65 Church Planting Books

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People often ask me for recommendations of church planting books so I’ve decided to keep a list on hand. This list, although not exactly exhaustive does represent the vast majority of what’s in print on the subject today. I have not personally read all of these books, nor do I have plans to so please don’t view the entire list as a recommendation. The books that I have actually read are colored in red with my recommendation notated on a scale of 1-10. (1 being not recommended, 10 being highly Recommended) The books are listed in no particular order. If you know of a church planting book on the list please let me know.

  1. Planting for the Gospel – Beynn
  2. Church Planter – Patrick (7) 
  3. Ten Most Common Mistakes Made by Church Starts – Griffith (7)
  4. How to Multiply Your Church – Ralph More
  5. Total Church – Chester & Timmis (8) 
  6. Planting, Watering Growing – Hyde
  7. Church Planting is for Wimps – McKinnley (10) 
  8. Launch – Searcey (2) 
  9. Discovering Church Planting – Payne
  10. Planting Missional Churches – Stetzer (7)
  11. Planting Growing Churches – Malphrus (4) 
  12. The Nuts and Bolts of Church Planting
  13. Viral Churches – Stetzer
  14. What is the Mission of the Church – DeYoung, Gilbert
  15. Starting a New Church – Moore
  16. Gathered and Scatterd – Halter & Smay
  17. The Forgotten Ways – Hursh (6) 
  18. Exponential – Ferguson
  19. Marks of a Messenger – Styles (10)
  20. Planting Churches in a Postmodern Age – Stetzer (7) 
  21. Lessons for New Churches – Fopp
  22. Planting Churches that Reproduce – Comiskey
  23. Church in the Making – Arment (6)
  24. Church Planting Movements – Garrison (7) 
  25. Global Church Planting – Ott & Wilson
  26. Planting Churches in the 21st Centuary – Murray
  27. Planting Churches Cross Culturally – Hesseigrave
  28. Keys to Church Planting Movements – Sutter
  29. Planting and Growing Urban Churches – Conn
  30. Church Planting – Murray
  31. Planting Churches in Muslim Cities – Livingston
  32. Planting a Family Integrated Church – Fox
  33. There’s a sheep in the Bathtub – Hogan
  34. God’s Passon – Calvert
  35. Street Crossers – Shrout
  36. Church Planting from the Ground Up – Jones (3)
  37. The YBH Handbook of Church Planting – McNamara
  38. Church Planting for a Greater Harvest – Wagner (3) 
  39. Churches that Multiply – Towns
  40. Reaching a Nation Through Church Planting – Harris
  41. Vision of the Possible – Sinclair
  42. A Biblical Church Planting Manual – Mull
  43. A Legacy of Church Planting – Miller (3)
  44. Indigenous Church Planting – Brock
  45. For the City – Carter, Patrick
  46. Be Fruitful and Multiply – Logan
  47. Church Multiplication Guide – Patterson
  48. Church Planting Landmines – Nebel (9) 
  49. The Purpose Driven Church – Warren (6) 
  50. The Master Plan of Evangelism – Coleman (10)
  51. Multi Site Revolution – Surratt
  52. Rediscovering Church – Hybles
  53. Church for the Unchurched – Hunter
  54. Confessions of a Reformissional Rev – Driscoll (8) 
  55. Branding for Church Planters – Dalman
  56. Extraordinary Leaders in Extraordinary Times – Wood
  57. The Art of the Start – Kawasaki
  58. Starting a New Church from Scratch – Searcy
  59. Doing Church As a Team – Wayne Cordeiro
  60. Church Next – Coffey, Gibbs
  61. The church planter’s toolkit – Logan
  62. The Missional Church – Guder, Darrell
  63. Missionary Methods: St. Paul’s or Ours? –Alllen
  64. Creating Communities of the Kingdom – Shenk, Stutzman
  65. 44 Questions for Church Planters – Schaller