David Jackson is a Christ-follower, happily married husband to Joyce, father of Sarah, Jonathan and Rebekah and a missionary coordinating the ministry of church planting and multiplication with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware for the past seven years. Previously, he was a church planter himself, planting three churches in New England, and assisting in various capacities in 22 others. Under his leadership, the BCM/D has planted over two hundred churches this decade.
Moving at the Speed of God
Sharing the Thoughts and Adventures of David Jackson, Church Multiplication Missionary with the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware
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I just stumbled across your blog. I pastor a small church in a small town in Southern Oregon. I’d be interested in your assessment of planting churches in rural Northeast America. Our association of churches is considering beginning some church plants and we need all the education we can get. Our state denomination is in the midst of a hugely controversial reorganization that will likely focus most of our limited resources in and around major population centers (i.e. not rural, small towns, etc….)
Steve, Thanks for the comment. Rural or small town churches are common in the Northeast, a region which de-emphasizes size of congregation (with one or two major exceptions). Most rural or small town churches, though, are bi-vocational situations and emphasize relationships above all else. An excellent resource on this is “Big Dreams in Small Places,” by Tom Nebel, about church planting in smaller communities. I’d encourage you to check it out. In the meantime, I’ll keep you and your state denomination in my prayers.
David,
I stumbled across your blog, as well, and looked all over for a RSS XML Feeds button where I can add you to my “Feeds” so that I can automatically get your updated posts. I do not see one here at all. I saw that you have one for “Twitter” but I do not do Twitter.
Please email me to let me know how I can “add” you.
Thanks!
Blessings,
~Amy
Thanks, Amy, for pointing this out. The RSS feed is now up and on the sidebar to the right. Hopefully, others of you will subscribe as well.
Wishing you God’s best,
David
what is the most important thing in your life family or the church????
Wow that’s a tough question, Dan! I think every man who is dedicated to his life work has to ask himself that one on occasion. While I’m sure there are times that my priorities are skewed, I try to take my cues from God who made His priorities pretty clear when He created family first, and then much later, the church. While I try to keep my family’s well-being uppermost in my mind and heart, it is simultaneously true that when I take care of my “church work” I am taking care of my family’s needs both financially and spiritually. My family depends on my work for physical support but they also need the church to remain in a healthy environment spiritually.
There is an even larger step of faith though that bears mentioning. If I dedicate myself to serving God faithfully then I can trust that God will be faithful to provide for my family’s needs. So I guess the answer is that sometimes I may get “tunnel vision” when needs are pressing, and for those times I trust that God and my family are forgiving. I am simply an imperfect man trying to be faithful to God and to my family. Those two priorities aren’t mutually exclusive, but together they provide a beneficial synergy in my life. Thanks for asking!
no,thank you for answering was a big help and just so you know i think were all imperfect except in the eyes of our spouses at times….thanks again
Hello,
I very accidentally found you on twitter recently. I am/was a bored catholic who in the last year has realized I really love Jesus and love the christian faith so much more. I guess I finally found it! I have been fortunate to find a few freinds who have led me by the hand and helped me thru some trials in my life.
The whole Christain church scene seems overwhelmingly complicated to me. Some of my older lady freinds are setting up a womens group worship service and represent several differnet faiths. They asked me to be part of it, although I have never even been to a christian shurch of any kind. I am flattered.
Do you have any advice for someone like me, on how to “get with it” without investing endless hours? Im a ft college student at 46. I feel like I will never catch up! Im from Baltimore too, and miss it down there!
Clare,
Thanks so much for your comment! You made my day. It blessed me to hear of your discovery that you “really love Jesus and love the christian faith.” Please remember that Jesus wanted His life and message to be a part of a relationship you have with Him, not just a bunch of rules and regulations. So seek to grow in your “relationship” with Him!
How do you do that? I’d suggest the following: 1. Talk to Him. If it’s a relationship, then He’s listening. What’s I’m suggesting is “prayer” but without all the preconceptions that often accompany that word. (You don’t have to close your eyes, kneel, bow your head, etc.). Just share with Him what’s going on inside…your needs, your hopes and dreams, your fears, anything and everything. 2. Listen to Him. if it’s a relationship, it is a two-way connection. He talks to you and me most often through the Bible, so get a copy in modern English (do you have one? if not, I’ll send you one if you provide an address). Then start by reading the book called John. Read it at your own pace (one verse at a time is okay if something said “grabs you.”) Think about it as though God was sharing something with you personally. Ask, how does what He says connect with my life? Then apply this truth to your life and “relationship” accordingly. 3. Repeat the process over and over.
While not knowing enough about your lady friends and the worship service they’re starting, I feel inadequate to comment on that directly, but I do personally believe followers of Christ should find a church family that enables them to grow in relationship with God and provides support in following what is written in the Bible. Good luck with that, and keep in touch; I would love to hear how things progress in the days ahead.
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David,
If you want to add Facebook or email sharing buttons to your blog posts, there’s a plugin that does it for you: http://tinyurl.com/sharebuttons
Hope you find it helpful!
Cheers,
Brody
Hey Brody,
Thanks for the “assist!” I’m sure it will come in handy, not only to me, but others who blog, too.
Best wishes,
David
David, got your Twitter DT . . . couldn’t respond, so I’m writing here . . . Yes, we are GLAD to FINALLY be in Maryland . . . not exactly in the situation we had hoped for, but God is still in control. I would love to hook up and get together as soon as you can. My phone number is on my facebook info. Please call!
wishing to partner with your ministry in church planting,outreaches,evangelism and expansion.