Outward Church

• Matthew Porter
• Aug 23, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

For years I had worked in young adult ministry but increasingly began to see the people we ministered to drop out of the local church. As this continued to see this happen I began to feel the call to plant more and more until I finally couldn't put it off any longer. I either needed to start a new church or find something else to do. Finally we set a date, leased an old theater and got the word out that this was happening in just a couple weeks. Our goal would be to plant a church that represented all generations, young and old. On August 19th of 2007 we had our first service and it has been a crazy ride ever since.

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

The biggest challenge that we face today and that affects all other issues in our church is: Getting our people to understand that the gospel is not religion or irreligion but something different all together. At the root of every problem is a gospel misunderstanding on some level.

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

The only advice that I can give is based on all of my many mistakes in planting but here they are in short: Dual leadership does not work, Do not empower elders right away; rather, gather an Advisory Team to help advise and maintain accounatability, Make sure your motivation for planting is not based negatively on everything you don't want to be. These are the biggest issues we encountered.

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

After we planted someone told me about Driscoll's book "Confessions" and I read it. I began podcasting A29, Mars Hill and other guys in the network and found that these guys are a lot like me. One of the biggest benefits with A29 involvement has been that there are days when it can feel like your church is going to implode at any minute and on those days I need encouragement to stick with it because this is what I've been called to. Essentially A29 provides rescources for these moments whether it is a personal conversation with a brother, a blog, an article, a podcast, our online social network The City. A29 as a whole is really an incredible rescource any way you look at it.

How do you pastor your family? 

I've been married four years now with two kids under three years of age and we're about to have our third child. We are working on what that looks like everyday. But in the meantime we read bible stories and pray together. More importantly I must be attentive to my wife. I need to make sure that she has the time with me that she needs and I also need to check in with her on how the stress of church planting is affecting her. When issues are found we talk about how to apply the scriptures in those areas. Most of all this is a process.

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

Spurgeon's Lectures to my Students

Church Profile: Outward Church
Launch Date: August, 2007
Location: Salem, OR

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

We are believing the Gospel to Transform our Hearts, our Life, our City, our World.

Our Four Hills We'll Die On: To be a church that is Gospel Centered, with a Missional Mindset, that Engages Culture, while focused on truly Making Disciples.

What is your biblical perspective on authentic community, and evangelism? How is this practically seen in your church? 

In Acts 2 it shows us how the early church lived life. We see three things that stand out to us: They met in the temple courts. They met in individual homes. And they were engaged in meeting the needs of their community. The result was a unified spirit, favor among outsiders, and the Lord adding to their numbers daily.

How does this play out today? The gospel is preached in the large gathering or temple courts. That message is then applied to individual lives in the home at the smaller gatherings. Finally it is put into action by meeting the needs of our communtiy (inside and out) through the gospel centered life that is resulting from the teaching and application.

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

I just baptized a couple who both were saved at our church and I'll be marrying them soon. A year ago the Lord provided about 30k in chairs and furniture before we even had a building. We continue to see the gospel change lives in our midst. There's so much more.

Please add any additional information that you would like to communicate to those that would be reading this on the Acts 29 website.

How can we pray for you?

You can be praying for continued progress in evangelism. We are looking forward to seeing more and more conversions as our lives are also changed by the gospel.