I recently shared an Instagram video where I shared that as a parachute church planter, I have moved away from only reading theology books to reading more business and mindset books. 

Of course, this ticked off some of my pastor friends who somehow heard me say, “Only read entrepreneurship books,” or maybe they heard me say, “Theology books are useless.”  

I didn't say that; besides, neither was the point of my statement.

🥵 HOT TAKE INCOMING 🥵

From my experience coaching church planters, I believe what stifles many urban church planters is their limited view of what is creatively possible because they limit their content intake to theology, spirituality, and Christian history. 

For the record, my library is overflowing with biblical, theological, and spiritual growth books. I love that stuff. They serve as the backbone of my library.

But, a big “but”…do not get stuck in a comfortable groove that limits your ability to lead yourself, your church, or your community effectively because you only read from a particular genre. 

As an urban church planter, my journey has been parachuting into a new community where I knew no one, and everything had to be built from the ground up.

This experience has shifted my focus from purely theological readings to more entrepreneurial perspectives.

While valuable, I've discovered that the traditional church conference circuit often doesn't provide the unique insights I need to navigate this complex and rewarding calling.

Embracing Entrepreneurial Spirit

Church planting, especially in an urban context, is akin to launching a start-up.

You're creating a community hub from scratch, which requires innovation, adaptability, and a deep understanding of the local culture and needs.

It's about seeing the mission field with fresh eyes and asking, "How can we meet people where they are in a way that resonates with them?"

Many pastors have the unspoken mentality, “If I preach, they will come.” Others believe a new church hinges on great music and a high-production Sunday event.

I am not against those ways of thinking, but if that's the only way you think, you will be in for a lot of hurt. 

David Kelley once said, “The main tenet of design thinking is empathy for the people you’re trying to design for. Leadership is exactly the same thing – building empathy for the people that you’re entrusted to help.”

Design thinking has helped me in innumerable ways to reframe, iterate, and collaborate to better serve my neighbors here in Baltimore. 

Imma be honest with you: as a Floridian who had newly moved to Baltimore after a year and a-half stint in South Jersey, I needed some tools that would help me to get my mind around this unique Baltimore culture. 

Building Relationships is Key

One of the first challenges I faced was building relationships in a place where I was an outsider.

This task is foundational to church planting. It involves listening to stories, understanding the community's heartbeat, and identifying local needs.

It's about becoming a part of the community fabric, not just someone there to lead a church.

I always laugh about the fact that if you throw a rock at a “cool” coffee shop, you’ll probably hit a church planter. I mentioned in another article, The White-Washing of Black and Brown Church Planters…

“While many black and brown church planters start with street dreams, over time, some find themselves more at ease discussing inner-city issues from the comforts of gentrified spaces while sipping artisanal coffee rather than “pounding the concrete,” as my man David Rosa would say.”

As a church planter, you have got to get out with the people dem!

Listen, I’ve walked around some Baltimore neighborhoods, smiling and waving at folks because that's what you’re supposed to do…WRONG!

They immediately knew I wasn't from there and encouraged me to move along.

But after I built some relationships with people from the city, the neighborhood, and the block, it was like I had a golden ticket and guess what? I was able to learn nuanced insights about the culture of the city. 

Not only that, but I also read books like The Beast Side by D Watkins and Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehasi Coates, which gave me lenses and language for learning and understanding my people.

From the entrepreneurial side, I read Blue Ocean Strategy by W. Chan Kim and Crushing It by Gary Vaynerchuk to get our name in the streets. 

Learning from Diverse Sources

My reading list these days is less about theology and more about entrepreneurial strategies. Why?

Because there are parallels between starting a business and planting a church.

Both require a vision, a strategy to execute that vision, and the ability to adapt and innovate.

Vision

A church planter needs a clear vision for what they want to create. They need to be able to articulate their vision to others in a way that is inspiring and motivating. They also need to be able to create a plan for how they will achieve their vision.

Strategy

Once a church planter has a vision, they must develop a strategy for achieving it. This strategy should include a plan for marketing, outreach, and discipleship. It should also include a plan for financial sustainability.

Adaptability

The church planting landscape is constantly changing. Church planters must be adaptable and willing to change their plans as needed. They need to be able to respond to new opportunities and challenges.

Innovation

Church planters need to be innovative in their approach to ministry. They must be willing to try new things and think outside the box. They need to be creative in their efforts to reach people who are not currently connected to a church.

Books on entrepreneurship, podcasts about start-ups, and articles on community building have become my go-to resources for inspiration and practical guidance.

I find that these resources can help me to think more strategically about my church planting efforts and to develop innovative ways to reach people.

The Limitations of Church Conferences

While church conferences offer valuable theological insights and fellowship opportunities, they often lack practical, on-the-ground advice for urban church planting.

For example, while many conferences will offer sessions on preaching the gospel or strategies for building a seamless worship service, they rarely address the specific challenges of planting a church in an urban setting.

These challenges include:

• Community development: Urban churches need to find ways to connect with their neighbors and build relationships in a diverse and often transient community. This can be a challenge, especially for churches that are new or small.

• Fundraising: Urban churches often operate on tight budgets, and they need to find creative ways to raise money to support their ministries. This can be especially difficult in a city where there are many competing demands for charitable giving.

• Sustainable ministry models: Urban churches need to develop sustainable ministry models that can adapt to the changing needs of their community. This may require churches to be flexible and willing to change their approach as needed.

By offering more practical, on-the-ground advice, conferences can help urban church planters to be more successful in their ministries.

A Call for a New Approach

My experience has led me to advocate for a new approach to supporting urban church planters.

We need platforms where creativity in ministry is not just encouraged but taught. We need spaces where planters can share innovative ideas, learn from each other's successes and failures, and develop practical skills tailored to urban ministry.

At Epiphany, we created a space called “The Lab.” During the COVID-19 pandemic, our city had a strict lockdown policy. While many of my pastor friends in other parts of the country could meet relatively quickly, we were on lockdown for over twelve months.

Instead of wallowing in self-pity, we got creative. We created “The Lab,” which was formerly a Sprint store in a shopping center. We transformed it into a studio to record sermons, a meeting space, and much more. This pivot helped us get through the pandemic.

By making that move, other church planters in other parts of the country did something similar. 

That’s why we need pastors and planters to think creatively and beyond the confines of traditional church practices. 

The Road Ahead

Urban church planting is a journey of faith, resilience, and creativity.

It requires stepping out of traditional molds and embracing new methods and perspectives.

As parachute planters, we are not just ministers but community builders, innovators, and visionaries.

Our task is to bring the timeless message of the gospel to ever-changing urban landscapes in a way that is authentic, relevant, and deeply rooted in the community.

Invitation for Dialogue

I invite fellow urban church planters to join in this conversation.

Share your stories, your challenges, and your innovative approaches to ministry.

Together, let's redefine what it means to plant and grow churches in the heart of our cities.