Who Will Go To Scranton?
Multi-site, Parent Church Stories, Philosphy of Church Multiplication, Church Planters | Email This Post November 10th, 2008At least once a week I receive a call from an aspiring planter that includes a some variation of the following question…”where is the best place in America to plant a church?” When I probe to make sure I understand the question, almost without exception I discover that by “the best place to plant a church” they mean a “fast growing” typically suburban community where the time and money investment will be quickly recovered. Such reasoning certainly makes sense if the only consideration is going after the “low hanging fruit.”
A major problem with this approach is that everyone is doing it. Go to any fast growing suburban community and you will find a bunch of new church start ups. Typically, these new start ups are pursuing a similar strategy… good marketing, excellence in presentation, relevance in message, cool brand… And so, in the “best place to plant in America” you end up with a group of planters playing a game of “our church is better than the other churches.” And only the very best survive. And as I’ve pointed out in other blogs, David Olson’s research indicates that when the dust settles they’ve mostly succeeded in playing a good game of musical pews.
So maybe a better question to guide our planting efforts is “where will I find the right place to plant a church?” Since there are unreached/disconnected people everywhere and God loves them all then it stands to reason that He’s not just calling multipliers to the fastest growing suburbs. He also cares about rural America, tough urban places and communities that aren’t fast growing. Places like Scranton. I have a feeling that God is calling people to the harder places, but His still small voice is being drowned out by the stampede scrambling to the fast growing suburbs.
It’s time to stop. And listen. Maybe He is calling you to a fast growing place. But it’s actually more likely He’s calling you to a place like Scranton. God loves people there too.
November 10th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
As one who was born, raised and has now based my evangelistic ministry out of Scranton for over the last 14 years, I find your comments very interesting. In my opinion, the author has struck a cord with my own feelings. It just seems that many of the new church planters do go to the growing suburbs and they all seem to have that slick, modern approach. Perhaps it’s my upbringing or perhaps it’s the exposure that my ministry gives me to the more rural and depressed areas, but that slick, modern approach is not a “one size fits all”. The people in those areas need to know Jesus too and they deserve a church that meets their needs.
November 10th, 2008 at 1:20 pm
I agree the writer Steve Pike & with Gayle. As pastor to a rural church, I know the beauty and horror (or pleasure & pain) of minisitry. Many rural areas seem to be full of quick start up church groups with big plans but they all too soon fade into obscurity when the “new” ways don’t have the desired effect quickly enough. Many small town and rural churches struggle for survival but Jesus loves their passion and care for each other as they make their mark on their communities. Only a man/woman of patience/passion willing to die to personal dreams of success defined as “bigger”, “trendier”, “fab facility” type church AND fearlessly unafraid of failure (think about it) will discover the longevity required to settle in (like missionaries) and create relationships that foster the privilege of sharing our “religion.” Jaded people don’t need more hi-tech, media centered, flash & splash… they hunger for truth that proves itself by love and longevity. People say, “If you (& by proxy “God”) love me you’ll SHOW me in practical ways (which takes time & opportunity) and then stick around in good/bad times to become part of us.” They’ve seen the “cool” stuff but hunger for substance. Even if some think that the numbers/finances/stats aren’t growing fast enough (whatever that’s suppose to mean), if Jesus is showing up and people are changing… God is working! Maybe we need to redefine “success” to have vision for the long term (5+ years to start) vs. the flash in the pan start-ups that gets the press and accolades, hmmm? Success is obedience and faith to our Precious Jesus. He builds the Church and so we labor with Him. Jesus was never in much of hurry. We need planters willing to settle in, settle down, and get involved in building relationships and changing lives in the process… Especially in the least likely, less popular places. That’s a standard of true ministry success!
November 10th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
This guy stole my notes! Over a year ago, I was asked by Presbyter James Rugg to address a section meeting in which we were determining whether we as the northeast section of pastors should start a new church plant in a suburban, growing paradise or help a struggling work in a Scranton suburb called Elmhurst.
I shared with fervor the same sentiments as Steve Pike…we ended up working with Elmhurst. Talk to Pastor Liples; see if he thinks we made the right decision.
November 10th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
I have spent most of my ministry working in churches that most pastors would overlook. I feel strongly that God wants to reach these areas as much as fast growing communities, or places where the reward outweighs the risk. I agree with Steve that we need people in places where most wouldn’t consider. God has a heart for all the people, and we must be willing to do what it takes to reach them all.
November 10th, 2008 at 8:20 pm
Can any good thing come out of Scranton?
November 10th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
If we attempt to gather roses we will have to edure some thorns along the way… This thought has followed me today. Fasting and prayer proceded pentecost (10 days of it). Could we focus some time for Scranton?
November 11th, 2008 at 7:27 am
What a refreshing thought! God might call someone TO Scranton, in a season when the popular position is to be FROM Scranton. I’m glad the idea is being circulated that people in every place need the gospel. Scranton area may not be a easy place to grow a church but it’s not impossible. I’m reminded of Pastor James Morris’s illustration to the 1969 graduating class of NBC, “The job is never too hard, the tools are just too soft”. Thank God for the previous responders, They know what being tough is all about.
November 11th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Coming from Scranton’s little sister to the south… I whole heartedly agree. Two years ago at a District Council a presbyter came to me and asked me how things were going in Wilkes Barre. I couldn’t keep back my excitement as I shared what the Lord was doing. The presbyter then made the statement, “don’t get too comfortable in Wilkes Barre, God has better things in store for you.” I was dumbfounded! Too dumbfounded to even respond… dumbfoundedness soon grew into anger and frustration. I can only sum up my frustration with this vision God gave me…
The Wilkes-Barre’s and the Scranton’s of America too many outsiders look more like junk yards than prime real estate. However when you invest in a place where others have looked down upon, God gives you the tools to start to clean up the place. It’s a different work than suburbia… but it’s noble work. What I have found is that underneath the “stuff” that keeps so many away is very fertile soil, willing to accept the seed. You just have to work a while to get to the soil. If anyone wants to talk more about growing a church in a “forgotten city” give me a call… God is awesome!
November 11th, 2008 at 3:51 pm
How awesome it is to hear so much passion about Scranton (and Wilkes-Barre too). You know, anyone can serve in an “easy” area. It’s great that there are those who are willing to answer the call when the field isn’t the easiest, nor the most “rewarding” in todays fleshly standards.
Do you know that in the tomato industry, the best tasting tomatoes in the US come from Lackawanna County. Now, you can plow a parking lot in Florida and grow incredible tomatoes… they’ll grow quickly and you’ll make alot of money… but the taste is very substandard. Here in the northeast, it takes real work to grow them, but the taste… you can check with the tomato dealers in NYC and they’ll verify this… it’s the best! It has something to do with our climate, acidic soil, etc.
Hey Gayle, Che, Kevin, Ed, Laurie, Glenn, and Chad… we may not have the “results” that others have, but I think our “fruit” is the sweetest! God bless each of you for your tenacity to serve here! Scranton does have a reputation for being tough. I relayed this story to Nick Piscitelli when he received the call to pastor our church. Back in Vaudeville days, when an act played New York and couldn’t quite make it, they would send them to Scranton. We were sort of the minor league for NYC in Vaudeville. They were told “If you can play Scranton, you can play anywhere!” We who serve in “Scranton” are a committed group of the called who have followed the Master’s voice and have forsaken the ease and comforts of serving in places where “better things are in store for us”.
As well, I believe that the tide is turning. I believe that what we are seeing in the realm of things like the Healing Rain services have shown that God can do great things through those who are willing, regardless of geography and economics. We are willing to dream and do together, which is not common in many other places. Perhaps the “difficulty” of the field has allowed us to think a little more “Kingdom Minded”, at least on the surface.
In addition, is it just me, or doesn’t it seem like every national politician that is running for any office wants to come to Scranton. We think it’s funny, but I think that there’s a truth to it. What about the “coolness” of Scranton as a result of the hit show “The Office?” Go figure… I grew up with a couple of Dwight Schrutes and Michael Scotts!
There’s no prettier place to live than in the Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys and the surrounding areas. We are blessed. Our people through the years were abused by the politicians and coal companies and garment industries. We have lost our manufacturing jobs to somewhere else. We have lost many of our best and brightest youth to Allentown, Philadelphia, and New York. We have been written off by growing, thriving, suburbia, and those from warmer climates. Our hopes didn’t die when the mines collapsed under the Susquehanna River. But these things do make for a harder “crust” to break through, but it is not impossible, as is witnessed by each of you who have responded. God’s kingdom is advancing in the “Scrantons” of the world. And we are in awe that our Lord would use us to fulfill His great love for these people. And, if the Lord would call you to a “Scranton”, know that you’re not alone… you’re part of a great group! You guys inspire me!
November 11th, 2008 at 7:06 pm
Hey Scranton fans!
I appreciate your passion and commitment to be faithful where God has called you. I’m hopeful that the Church Multiplication Network can be a blessing and a partner with you and all the other Scranton’s in America. Great solid American towns filled with folks that need Jesus. I’m encouraging planters that I connect with to listen to God not just demographics when they consider the place to which they are called. And I believe when they do, we will see a fresh crop of new churches spring up in the “harder places” and join with you in the task of reaping a great harvest!
November 13th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
ouch…this is painful to read, but i love the uncomfortable truth. i frankly don’t know if i could have gone to the poorest area of san antonio to plant a church. it was an option. it would have been difficult, intimitating, challenging, and hard on my family. my hope is that we will leverage our resources and new disciples to plant a church there in the next few years. i don’t know if i can live with myself if we don’t. what if the “easy” places to plant were challenged to multiply and plant in the “scranton” places?