March 18, 2011 by
Sarah Lewis
Categories: Church planting
This spring, John Butler will plant Sovereign Grace Church near Dayton, Ohio, joining a group who have been waiting several years to see a Sovereign Grace church planted there.
In part 1 of our interview, John explained how his own unusual story intersected with the story of the group in Dayton. Today, he talks about what it's like to plant a church with Sovereign Grace Ministries and how to learn more about the church.
The group in Dayton has been waiting for a church planter for a while. What principles did you find helpful as you and they navigated this unconventional situation?
When I became involved, a number of these folks had already walked through their personal decisions. I found that those who had been involved in other churches were careful to leave in ways that would not bring distress or cause problems for these churches. These folks completed service in the areas they had committed to serving at their previous churches.
I think the guiding principles were to do our best not to disrupt any local church, and to pursue dialogue as the changes took place. We didn’t want any local pastors to be blindsided by someone leaving or being interested in something different.
Additionally, Brad Sanders took the approach in assembling the group to carefully avoid creating any positions for the people in the group, so that in coming I would not have to undo anything in order to start again. This took great humility on the part of the team to wait to establish structures after my arrival. This is so helpful because a main job description for those on the initial team is “servant.” We all have to do what is necessary.
What’s the next step for the church plant?
Right now we’re building together as a team. We meet weekly to review the essentials for our church—beginning with the centrality and primacy of the gospel.
I am doing my best to identify the main needs we will have to start the church and to position people to take those responsibilities to allow us to launch. Two simple examples are children’s ministry and worship. I continue to pray that the Lord will bring all those who are to be part of our team. It is exciting to watch this happen.
Our current plan is to start public meetings in May. We haven’t firmly identified a location, although we currently meet in Waynesville. I am endeavoring to get to know the area better and see if there is a more ideal location. We will make an informed decision later this spring.
As a pastor and a church planter, what do you find helpful about partnering with Sovereign Grace Ministries?
I really couldn’t imagine going on my own to plant a church. Our church-planting mission has been on my heart, part of my DNA, since I got saved. It’s been exciting over the years to watch God bless and expand the initial efforts of Sovereign Grace Ministries. I think church planting is consistent with what I understand to be the gospel’s “fruit-producing nature”—as we see in Colossians 1 and Mark 4 and elsewhere. The gospel is bearing fruit all over the world and always producing. It seems we ought to make as much room as possible for that production of gospel-fruit.
That’s why I say I wouldn’t want to do this alone. Church planting is meant to be done in a company of friends. I’ve been very encouraged by the Sovereign Grace pastors in Ohio. They’ve helped us in many ways—they’ve served the group with their teaching and have offered to help me in any way they can. I’ve also been encouraged by some of my friends who pastor in established churches. I am the beneficiary of their cumulative wisdom and the tangible support of the Sovereign Grace leadership team. The ministry has faced the broad range of challenges for building and growing healthy churches and offers a well-thought-out plan for moving forward. We are able to anticipate many common pitfalls and avoid them.
It’s encouraging to see the Plant! conference coming up with a number of different church-planting ministries making contributions. We will be able to mutually encourage each other. I’m attending as a learner. I also should get some kind of senior discount as I think the crowd may trend a bit younger.
How can we pray for you and the team in Dayton?
Please pray for us! Here’s how you can pray:
- that we would have unity and friendship laboring with the team
- that we will identify the exact location where the Lord would have us concentrate our efforts
- that our house in Charlotte (NC) will sell
- that we would adjust quickly to living in a new area
- that God would build friendship and gospel partnership with like-minded pastors in the area; this is already happening, and I want it to happen more
- for the right people to be added at the right time so we will lack nothing by way of gifts
- that the gospel will prosper, and that we will reach the lost and provide care for believers who have lost their way
How can interested folks find out more?
Email me at jbutler@sgcdayton.org. Our website (www.sgcdayton.org) should be finished soon. Or our Facebook page is here.
For more about Sovereign Grace Church in Dayton, see our interview with Brad and Paula Sanders, who are part of the church-planting team (part 1, part 2).