Why more churches in Dearborn?
I met with Jerry on a clear day this week at the Dearborn City Hall’s leafy picnic area. He described to me and another brother from Christ Community Church the plans to start a new PCA church here in Dearborn. They are working with other PCA churches to plant 35 churches in Metro Detroit in the next 12 years.
But, should we be planting more churches in Dearborn? I’ve heard this pointed question a few times since I arrived 6 months ago to take the pastorate of an eight year old church. Churches in Dearborn are by-and-large small and struggling. There are some hold-outs meeting in huge buildings with just a few people. Shouldn’t we band together to strengthen the churches that remain? Wouldn’t one church of 100 be better than three thee churches of 33?
To answer this question let me give first my answer and then “an answer from the grave”.
My answer: We must have a full idea of why any local church exists. Let me give you three foundational reasons for the existence of our church or any other:
#1. Worship- The church, the gathering of believers, exists to worship her Savior. When we gather to sing we are gathering to worship. In the purity of the song of redemption rising from the voices joined together in every gathering, Jesus receives the glory that is due his name. Where more gatherings are, more worship is being offered up to Christ. Whether that crowd is in a house church in North Africa where we planted for ten years or in a church building here in the West, may the person and work of Christ be glorified in every place! More churches means more worship.
#2. Theological Eduction- Christians gather to “continue in the apostle’s doctrine”, to teach people about the one true God for His glory and their salvation. The church is the pillar and ground of the truth. It is the one gathering on the planet commissioned by Jesus to “teach all things whatsoever Christ has commanded”. Our city is full of idols and false theology maybe as much or more than any other city in the United States. When we have more churches we are seeing more people employed in the effort of teaching God’s Word. Funds are being given often from the outside to support these teachers who wouldn’t be here otherwise. Sure, they could come listen to me preach but if they are gifted by God and equipped for ministry isn’t it better that they be fully employed in the effort of teaching. May more “centers of true theology” (churches) multiply in our city!
#3. Evangelism- Who will they teach? The responsibility falls on them to “go out to the highways and the hedges and compel them to come in”. Jerry has estimated that 650 people are gathering in Gospel teaching and preaching churches in Dearborn on any given Sunday… out of 108,420 people and among them more than 20,000 university students. Is this ok? Jerry and I say no way! The work of helping people to understand the gospel requires thousands of man hours of teaching and disciple making. New churches will mobilize new people to come and employ themselves in the effort of evangelism. I’ve spent this semester on the campus on Henry Ford College and I can tell you this: this place is NOT YET saturated with the Gospel.
An answer from the grave: This question has at least one answer whose voice still cries from the grave. Tim Keller, the PCA’s most influential preacher of our generation, passed on to glory last Friday.
Gospel lovers all over the world mourned our loss. What would this effective and gifted church planter say about this question, “Do we really need new churches in Dearborn?”
In Center Church, Keller gives compelling evidence that new, small church plants tend to reach new people and more people than their established and larger counterparts. To give an example: a church that runs 200 people might expect to see the same number of conversions that a new church of 20 would see in the same year. Why is this? There are many reasons. In large churches inertia sets in. The majority of the church is often distracted and complacent. There is a lack of the feeling of the need to grow when a critical mass is reached. More could be said. But suffice it to say, the best way I could honor the life and legacy of Tim Keller, who has impacted my life deeply, is to encourage more church planters.
May worship, theological education, and evangelism increase and multiply in Dearborn! Thank you Jerry and may God give you strength and fruit!