Acts 29 Network: Seattle, WA

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Prism Church | Pasadena, CA

Chuck Ryor
Jun 14, 2011
Series: Church Profiles
Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

I had gone through a difficult season of ministry subsequent to planting my first church in Tallahassee, Florida. My family and I had moved to Pasadena to pastor an existing church, and I was the wrong guy for the job. After struggling, failing miserably, and resigning, my wife and I reassessed my ministry call and determined that church planting was the best fit for my gifts and temperament. We used the Acts 29 Bootcamp & Assessment to determine whether or not to stay in southern California to plant again, and was counseled to take a brief sabbatical and do just that. We now believe that we were providentially led by God to establish a church full of missionaries reaching our part of the country with God's gospel of grace.

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

We (my wife and I) unexpectedly found ourselves at the helm of a scratch plant. My first plant was a hive off of the megachurch where I was a youth pastor for ten years previous. This wasn't the same thing. My advice is not to scratch plant if you can help it. :-)

Seriously, we built up our core through prayer and by launching a worship service. Why? Because my gifts are in preaching as opposed to small group/mission community leadership. My advice is to plant according to your strengths and convictions and do your best to not try to morph into a style or methodology that isn't a good fit for your gifts or personality.

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

Our biggest challenge was getting traction. We finally turned a corner two months ago and have been gathering at a much faster pace. God has been particularly kind to us financially, providing for our needs during my 2009 sabbatical from pastoral work and meeting our financial needs this year as we build a core. But funding is going to be a continual challenge as our church is full of young people, young Christians and broke college students.

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

I was reading material from men in the Acts 29 Network previous to going through Assessment in Seattle. My wife and I were relatively sure we wanted to leave the denomination we were part of for 20 years, but it wasn't until we went to Boot Camp and were assessed that we sensed we were finally "home."

I say this in all sincerity - I've always felt like the odd man out in church associations. But not in Acts 29. Not only am I not the only bald guy with a goatee, I am someone who has little or no tolerance for church politics interrupting the forward advancement of God's Kingdom.

I was hoping for - and receive in Acts 29 - personal and theological accountability without the encumbrances of a denominational extra-Biblical set of rules.

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

Make sure your wife, your best friends and your kids (if they're high schoolers) are on board with it. If possible, raise enough monthly support for your salary before you start so you can use monthly offerings for ministry progress. I've found that people respect that commitment from a planter and they are excited to see their offerings go toward tangible things.

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

Stay in the Vine (John 15). Fruit is a by-product of time in the presence of Jesus. C.H. Spurgeon says, “We know of no cure for the love of evil in a Christian like abundant intercourse with the Lord Jesus. Dwell much with him, and it is impossible for you to be at peace with sin."

When you're staring down the idol of success, serving God is in His kingdom regardless of the results, no voice but Jesus' can reassure us of our value

How do you pastor your family?

I spend time with them. As much they want to (I have teenagers, so that isn't very much these days). By working out of my house I'm able to drop whatever I'm doing in the uncommon event that my sons want to hang out or my daughter wants to go get coffee. If you're on the schedule and Holly asks for time at Starbucks, you're pretty much getting bumped.

My wife and I are adjusting to - and quite liking - the amount of free time and freedom we have now that our kids are driving. While we're paying a fortune for gas in California, we're at least happy to be done buying diapers or paying for baby sitters.

Prayer is my main ministry for my children - that and coaching my youth minister, whom they love and respect. I pray with them whenever I can and pray for them daily.

My wife and I are best friends (married 21 years) and in a purely "Driscollian" sense, we pastor one another through prayer and encouragement.

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

"Counterfeit Gods" by Tim Keller.

Church Profile: Prism Church of Los Angeles
Launch Date: October 2010
Location: Pasadena, CA

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

Prism Church exists to shine the light of God's grace and love to Los Angeles' San Gabriel Valley and the World!

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

Three months before we launched we hired a man to lead our worship. Four weeks before launch he unexpectedly quit and moved away. Two weeks before our launch I met a young man from the L.A. Music Academy who had put together a praise band of professional musicians who were playing at camps and churches around the southwest. They were from our area but had decided they wanted to find a church where they could work out of and worship together. They led the next two weeks for our Installation and Launch Service. They've been leading our worship ever since and have become great friends.