ReGen Church | Cusick, WA

• Devin Lorraine
• Aug 15, 2011
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

Nine years ago God called my wife Amanda and I into camp ministry in Cusick,Wa. God broke our hearts for the people and we knew we needed to plant a church that would reach the hurting people in our area. We began to get involved in diaconal ministry providing food, clothes, child care for single moms, whatever we could to serve in our community. My wife and I are a team for the Gospel and have pretty relentlessly tilled the soil of our community for around 8 years before we planted. About four years ago God really began to solidify my calling to plant in the area as my heart was just so broken for the lost and desperate people in our little town. The truth is this is a rough little place, way off the beaten path and the only glory to be had here belongs to Jesus and by His grace He has allowed me to shepherd His flock here in this little town, a calling He has prepared me for my whole life.

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

We basically built our core group up with people who knew us from serving in our community and our close friends in the area. We met every week in our home for a year and I took them through the Vintage Church study as well as Soma’s " Story Formed Way: and missional community training. Advice for guys: Talk is cheap, if people see you actively serving in the community, giving your life away, and opening your home, people will want to get on board with Jesus's mission.

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

The biggest challenge we have faced is planting in a rural area. God has called us to plant in the third poorest county in Washington State. People are very poor, drug use is high, and there are many wounds between the culture here and the church. The people here are hard to reach and stuck in their ways, we have the un-churched and the de-churched, probably not a whole lot different than most places, yet still unique in its own way.

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

I heard about Acts 29 network through listening to Driscoll. My wife and I researched the network and decided to attend the Denver boot camp last May. The benefits of being in the network are fellowship with other brothers in Christ that are passionate about the Gospel, training that is available from seasoned church planters, and coaching.

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

The advice I have for men that are wrestling with whether to plant or not you have probably already heard before. " If you can do anything else, do that, but if you can't than plant". Do not romanticize church planting, and be brutally honest with yourself. Get confirmation from other seasoned mature men concerning your calling and allow your wife to speak into your life truthfully, she knows better than anyone if you are the guy or not. In addition, make sure your wife is completely on board or you won't make it.

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

The most important thing I have learned; don't try to do everything yourself, because you will burn out quickly. Make sure you have a solid core group in place so you can delegate authority to others, don't muzzle an ox when it treads out the grain.(1Tim. 5:18). Cast the vision of the church frequently and clearly and set a trajectory for your people and goals for your self "If you aim for nothing you will hit it every time"

How do you pastor your family?

I am the leader of my family and take responsibility of being the pastor of my family. Currently we are working through the one year bible with our kids and they really enjoy it. I love dating my wife, spending time in the evenings with her after we get the kids to bed, and in the Word together, praying for her and with her, and shepherding her heart. I love taking my daughters out on dates, coaching sports with my son, and living on mission with my family. We try to include our kids in the mission as much as possible so they can see God working through them as they serve alongside us.

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

Confessions of a Reformission Rev. [by Mark Driscoll]

Church Profile: ReGen Church
Launch Date: October 2010
Location: Cusick, WA

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

The vision of our church is to love Jesus, live missionally, see families restored, lives transformed, and the community healed by the Gospel. To be a family of God sent on mission to make disciples who make disciples and plant churches. Our core values are, Jesus will be the center of everything, we will have regenerated biblically qualified elders and deacons, we are missional and transparent.

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

God has been exceedingly gracious to us in regards to the church and our personal lives. He has brought people to us to serve alongside us that share the mission and values of the church as well as remove people that hinder the mission. Recently I took a step of faith to go part-time at my tent making job to give more of my time to the church. Shortly after this decision we had someone give us a large check that confirmed my calling to go part time. Also God continues to bring broken un-churched people in the door who are responding to the Gospel and we are seeing families restored and lives changed.

How can we pray for you?

Please pray that I would be faithfull to my calling and that people would continue to give there lives to Christ. Pray for me as I develop leaders and elders and that God would bring me men to pour into.