Church Planting Is for Wimps: How God Uses Messed-Up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things

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By Mike McKinley

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This book tells the story of the revitalization of Guilford Baptist Church in northern Virginia. Weaving together scripture and biblical principles with humor and personal anecdotes, author Michael McKinley asserts that a pastor's faithful exposition of God's Word, passion for sharing the gospel, and care in the training of other godly leaders are more important than the size of his church.

McKinley honestly shares his own fears and rookie mistakes, along with encouraging stories of how God moved at Guilford Baptist. We are reminded that God uses weak and fearful pastors in plants and revitalizations; church planting is indeed for "wimps." For pastors and seminarians considering a church plant and those already struggling in their own fledgling congregations, this book is a thoughtful and encouraging resource.


Author:

Mike McKinley

Mike McKinley (MDiv, Westminster Theological Seminary) is senior pastor of Sterling Park Baptist Church in Sterling, Virginia. He is the author of a number of books, including Am I Really a Christian? and Church Planting Is for Wimps. He and his wife, Karen, have five children and live in Northern Virginia. 

Product Details

Category: Church Ministry
Format: Paperback
Page Count: 128
Size: 5.25 in x 8.25 in
Weight: 9.41 ounces
ISBN-10: 1-4335-5704-5
ISBN-13: 978-1-4335-5704-0
ISBN-UPC: 9781433557040
Case Quantity: 92
Published: November 30, 2016

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments
Introduction: Justify Your Existence

  1. Church Planting—Slightly Preferable to Unemployment
  2. So, How Exactly Does One Plant a Church?
  3. One Thing Is Necessary 
  4. Cleaning Out the Sheaves
  5. God Always Gets His Way
  6. How to Ruin Everything
  7. No Offense, but You’re Doing Everything Wrong 
  8. Redefine Extraordinary

Appendix 1: Church Planting Memo Prepared by Mark Dever for the Elders at CHBC
Appendix 2: Men’s Discipleship Training Syllabus: Grace Community Church (Ashburn, Virginia)

Endorsements

“I love Mike McKinley's writing. Church Planting is For Wimps is an engaging book that weaves together personal story, theological reflection, practical suggestion, and great humor. This is a book that will be of great benefit to pastors who are thinking of giving up on their churches.”
J. D. Greear, Pastor, The Summit Church, Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina

“Mike knows a lot about the ups and downs of church planting, and he writes about it with all the honesty and humor necessary for laboring in God’s grace. There’s no airbrushing of difficulties. And there are no oppressive ‘be wonderful like me’ gimmicks. If you want to think, learn, and laugh all at once, read this book. Whether you’re a church planter, on a church-planting team, or an established pastor whose church wants to be more involved in church planting, you’ll find this book a refreshing, grace-filled, hopeful, and useful excursion into the sometimes dizzying world of church planting.”
Thabiti Anyabwile, Pastor, Anacostia River Church, Washington, DC; author, What Is a Healthy Church Member?