Remedy Church | Jersey Shore, NJ

• Eric Loyer
• May 19, 2011
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

I have felt led to plant a church since shortly after getting saved. I came to know the Lord and began attending a church near the town that I grew up in, and it did not take me long to realize that the people that I had spent my whole life hanging out with were not going to come to my church or any of the churches around me. It also became pretty clear to me that most of the churches that I was exposed to seemed to be pretty ok with the fact that these people were not coming, and seemed more concerned about seasoned Christians from other churches coming than the terribly lost people that I had grown to love my whole life.

So, I desired to plant a church that would connect with these people. In God's sovereignty, He gave me a wife that shared that same desire.

I got some bible education, so that I would be more equipped for this endeavor, and entered the pastoral ministry. While I loved the time I had being on staff at an established church, the desire to plant only grew stronger, despite seeing a degree of success in the position that I was in.

Although I love youth ministry, I did not feel like my time in it had equipped me to step out yet to plant a church. I came along side of an existing planter as a support guy, and God really used that time to shape me and prepare me to step out and plant.

He also used that time to break me for my home town (which was not where I was hoping to plant). I was enjoying a fruitful and restful season at the church in Colorado, when flipping through the channels and coming across the show Jersey Shore. God used that moment to re-engage me for my home town and to begin to move my heart in the direction of returning there to plant a church.

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

Since I was planting in my home town, I built my core through relationships that I had established for several years, and conversations that we have had over the years about potentially planting a church together.

My advice would be, if you are building a core in a similar way, sit down with the people you are talking with and the pastor(s) of the churches that they are coming from together. Do not make it two separate conversations if possible- too much can be lost in translation. We met with and talked with these people's pastors, and encouraged them to do the same- and individually we were assured that they were joyfully sending them, but when it came down to them leaving, we experienced something different entirely- and I am finding that this is not an altogether uncommon story

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

I am planting in my home town, and I have a lot of relationships here, which has been the greatest blessing and challenge for us. I was on staff at a church near my home town, and they did not like the idea of another church being planted 2 towns over, and they have been very difficult and have caused issues in several of my relationships.

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

I was helping a church planter who merged with an Acts 29 church plant, and I was really blessed by the A29 brother. I had already had exposure to Acts 29 and a desire to plant, so when I connected with this dude, it shored up what I was already thinking and how I had already felt led.

The greatest benefits have been the marital accountability. These men honestly care about my marriage and want to see us succeed as a couple. They have shown more concern for our marriage than our plant.

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

Surround yourself with godly men who have planted churches and give them the freedom to speak into your life, and have the humility to listen when they do. Also, if possible, help a lead planter plant a church before stepping out to plant one yourself. You will learn a lot from their victories and mistakes.

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

Deepen your prayer life now. Do not just assume that you will become more dependent and more prayerful once you begin planting the church. Lay a strong foundation of prayerfulness and dependency on God now before beginning planting.

How do you pastor your family?

By continually going back to Philippians 2, and reminding myself of Paul's words to "Have this same attitude in you which also existed in Christ Jesus". When I fall short of this, repenting to my family in specific ways and confessing where my I have not demonstrated the same attitude that was also in Christ Jesus. I try to shepherd my family, by the power of the Holy Spirit, with the example of humility that Christ demonstrated in pastoring us.

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

Reformssion Rev- Driscoll

Church Profile: The Remedy Church
Launch Date: March 2011
Location: Jersey Shore, NJ

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

At Remedy, our mission is to make disciples who make disciples.

Our vision is to multiply missionally minded communities of disciples throughout the Jersey Shore and to see multiple Gospel Centered churches planted throughout the Shore for the glory of God and the good of our cities.

We seek to do this through staying anchored to our 3 Pillars:

1. Remaining Centered on the Gospel

2. Staying Focused on the Mission

3. Continually Growing in Grace

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

Jesus has brought our family, and especially my wife, through some of the most intense trials that I could have ever imagined with a greater love for Him, love for each other and resolve for the call of Christ on our lives.

How can we pray for you?

Please be praying for God to begin to break up the hard north east soil, and that we would find favor and practical ways to get involved in the lives of people that do not know Jesus.