Reflection: Two Years as a Planting Pastor

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Without doing much editing or polishing, I will take a few minutes to "spill" a reflection on serving at RCW as Planting Pastor for now a little more than two years.   Faith and I are leaving in the morning on a 2 night trip to see Ben Rector with the Nashville Symphony, and so I am cleaning up my "office list" and now feel free to write a few things. 

 In tribute to a good friend's method (thanks, Jay) I will post a non-exhaustive list of lessons I've learned. 




1.  Lostness matters - It's all about relationships.  I am grateful for the opportunity to care for God's people.  I have never been more aware of His love for his children, and I've never been more heartbroken over those who are lost.   Come, Lord Jesus.  

2.  Keep it Cross-centered - I often feel under-qualified and under-informed.  The pace of life of our modern world are impossible to keep up with.  Learning to lean into my limitations keeps me humble and in my Bible.  Theologically I am grateful for the Gospel-centered movement in the evangelicalism of the 2000's and 2010's.  I don't need to be informed to be relevant in my preaching... the Gospel is informative and relevant to our lives.

3. Focusing is difficult - Many friends of our family know that I love good brainstorm or problem to fix.  Or, to look ahead 5 or 10 years and dream.  Shepherding (God's word for my servant role as an elder) isn't something that can be done with a scattered heart, and so I've had to learn tricks to focus and simplify my life.  I've had some wonderful training through the Great Commission Collective and SEND network in this regard.

4. Passing off ministry is ministry - Being "addicted to do" (the words of my counselor in 2021) means I love to be in the mix and get my hands dirty.  As I've done that from time to time, I've likely robbed people from RCW of a blessing - a chance to give their life away the same way that I enjoy giving mine away.  And so, to pass things off to people who are ready and called... that is a way to love them.   At other times, folks are not in a season to take the "pass off" which is a healthy choice, and I celebrate it.   That's another way to love them.

5. Other churches love to help - This is obvious, but worth stating.  I am beyond grateful for the major generosity that has allowed us to replace 8000s/f of flooring, paint the entire interior, update the bathrooms, renovate a kids wing, restore the wood floors, replace the pews with padded chairs,  upgrade the sound system to modern specs, add proper signage throughout the building, and furnish each room for its specific purpose.   And for those that helped... we know you're praying.  Thank you, friends. 

6. Planting a church means Sunday morning adjustments - this isn't a complaint.  But we do miss the "togetherness" we had before we planted and often do things throughout the week or weekend to capture that important family time.  My family has been gracious and accommodating at every turn and our RCW family makes TONS of efforts to give us breaks, ease any burdens, and to keep my coffee cup filled, literally (thank you Dawn and Rebecca!)

7. Give people a break... most people are quite happy to get to church on a Sunday alive and fully clothed.  Well done, friends.  Me too... me too. God's mercy is new each day.  And He will keep us.

8.  Congregational worship matters - Biblically to make a case for this isn't too controversial. But on a practical sense whether its a smaller home church, a "normal" church, or a "mega" (great coffee/fog machine) church, it matters to be with other Christians.  We've grown as a family just being next to others over the years.  I've grown personally at RCW.  Thank you, Jesus.

9. Welch is the best - even though we are more "contemporary" than most congregations, and we take up way too much parking somedays, we've not faced any backlash or public dissent.  Private dissent? maybe.  Because... why not?  We aren't perfect and could use being "kept in check" in love.  But more to the point, I am so happy with how loving our other churches and neighbors have treated us.  Thank you!  We feel at home.

10.  It is late, and so I'll save more reflections for another time. 

In His Grip

- Paul 

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