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Love & Justice Church | Oklahoma City, OK

Andrew Burkhart
Mar 15, 2011
Series: Church Profiles
Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

When I was fourteen years old, the Lord gripped my heart to give my life for His service. When I turned nineteen, I had started a small bible study for college students to have a way of growing deeper in the faith. This was initially a temporary bible study as I was planning to go to Africa as a missionary. I couldn't wait to get out of Oklahoma and get as far away as possible.

It was when I was nineteen that the Lord came to me (in an unexplainable fashion) and called me to stay in Oklahoma for the rest of my life and turn this small bible study into a church. Though my heart was bent on foreign missions, Jesus gave me a new heart that desired to see the gospel go forth in Oklahoma.

How did you build up your core? What advice would you give to guys in the core-stage?

Since I didn't initially mean to start a church, building up the core came about more supernaturally than by my efforts. Therefore, I am limited on providing sustainable wisdom to guys working towards gathering a core.

But when Jesus called me to start Love & Justice Church, I had to labor hard to mobilize the small group of people we had into a "church-planting core" mindset. We had a core group of people that didn't realize they were the core group of a new church.

Therefore, my primary advice for guys in the core-stage would be to spend tons of time with the Holy Spirit getting filled up with His vision for gospel-ministry, study the book of Acts and the Pastorals, and then humbly (but boldly) open up your mouth to proclaim the need for a new gospel church to christians, non-christians, friends, family, co-workers, etc. As people sense God's hand on you, they will become more thirsty for more of God's truth. And the more we faithfully unpack the scriptures, the more God is pleased to bless our core gathering efforts.

As He sends them, just be faithful to serve them and mobilize them for ministry. And love the people you have more than the people you want to have.

What were the biggest challenges you faced in planting your church (and/or currently facing)?

The biggest challenges I faced (and continue to face) have come about because of my many mistakes. In short, the biggest challenge in church planting is myself. Furthermore, church planting is just plain difficult! Often times, nothing is more difficult, nothing is more rewarding. People sin. People struggle. People hurt and get hurt.

In addition, church planting is a messy business and most people don't immediately see the beauty of a messy church. In my context, there are hundreds of established churches. Starting from nothing is difficult because you lack in almost every area that established churches have an abundance in.

But God's grace is more than sufficient. He has been constantly faithful and used my terrible mistakes for His glory and as a means of growing me into a better man, husband, and pastor. Church planting teaches you that all you need to make church work is a godly man who preaches the truth of the gospel with power and love. And that is a valuable lesson.

How did you become involved with Acts 29? What have been the biggest benefits of being in the network?

I got involved with Acts 29 by listen to the sermons of Mark Driscoll. I had never heard of someone who shared our same theological convictions (reformed, charismatic, missional), and when I found out that he had started a network of like-minded churches, I wanted to do anything possible to be a part.

The biggest benefits of being in the network are having constant access to hundreds of men who are laboring hard at church planting. I am able to be discipled, counseled, rebuked, and encouraged from men who have been through a variety of different stages in church life. Knowing I am not alone provides more encouragement to my soul than words could ever explain.

What advice do you have for men who are wrestling with the decision to plant?

Examine your life and doctrine. Examine your motives. If your life and doctrine match what the scriptures clearly teach, and if you have pure motives (ultimately God's glory and not your own), then ask yourself if there is a need.

The other piece of the puzzle is to surround yourself with godly men (older and wiser men) who are not afraid of hurting your feelings. Pour out your heart to them and plead with them to speak into your life. Ultimately, seek your wife on the possibility. Carefully, gently, explain your heart. Lead her graciously through your decision.

Finally, be sure Jesus called you to do it. Its far too easy to quit if He didn't tell you that you better do it!

What’s the most important thing you’d want to share with a new church planter?

Find your identity in the gospel alone, not in how well you preach or how big your church grows (or doesn't grow) to be. Never assume the gospel in your life and sermons but faithfully unpack it to yourself and the people week in and week out. In the wise words of C.H. Spurgeon, "Be much with the Holy Spirit, and the Holy Spirit will be much with you."

And more than everything else on this earth (including ministry), love, serve, and care for your wife more than anything else God has given you to cultivate, lead, and pastor.

How do you pastor your family?

The most obvious way I seek to pastor my family is first and foremost by my life. If my wife doesn't see me live out the Christian life well, she won't respect me at home or in the pulpit. But as she witnesses me live a life shaped by the gospel, she is given a living example to imitate.

In addition, I lead my wife in family worship five of the seven days of the week (excluding Saturday and Sunday). This is a relatively new discipline (a little older than a month) but the fruit of doing this is incredible.

Finally, I seek to love my wife as Christ loved the church (and fail often!), which means I have a responsibility to care for and nurture her physical, emotional, and spiritual needs. Whether its weekly date nights, asking tough questions, or praying together, I have to always be breathing/living the gospel out practically with her.

We don't have children quite yet, but I look forward to adding another aspect of pastoring my family in the near future.

Outside of the Bible, what is the most helpful book you have read for church planting?

Church Planter by Darrin Patrick

Church Profile: Love & Justice Church
Launch Date: September 2010
Location: Oklahoma City, OK

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

Love & Justice Church exists to bring glory to God and joy to all people.

Our mission as a church is to bring glory to God through treasuring, preaching, and living out the beautiful gospel of Jesus by the power of the Spirit. We are a church devoted to making much of Jesus, bringing people into true community, and extending the love of God to a lost and hurting world.

What are some examples of God's grace that you have seen in your life and/or the life of your church?

The most exciting evidences of God's grace in the life of the church are seeing people who didn't get the gospel come to the place where they grasp it with ferocity. I have had the joy of seeing people who hated God, repent and run to Jesus for grace.

In addition to salvation, seeing people have a desire to engage each other in biblical community while taking the gospel to our nations and neighborhoods is another huge evidence of God's grace working. I am privileged to witness young Christians growing up in the faith, and then discipling other young Christians to grow up in the faith.

For me, the fact that I live in Oklahoma and love it with everything in me is a testimony of God's grace. The fact that I desire to walk intimately with Jesus and have a hatred for my sin is the most ultimate expression of God's grace on my life.