River City Church | Fargo, ND

• Brett Moser
• Apr 13, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

God called me to plant River City after 7 years building a youth ministry. I always told myself, "You're never going to be the dude that preaches and teaches every week." I found that God brought me to a cross roads where I was being called out of youth ministry. It was either be an associate pastor for the rest of your life, or plant a church. I felt really uneasy about planting a church as in my mind, it was "not the safest route." I was reminded of a quote by John MacArthur that said, "When presented with two options, always choose the one that requires more faith." Shannon and I did just that as by faith we are pressing on, obediently following what Jesus wants of us to grow and stretch our faith and dependency on Him. By faith in Him alone He will build His church.

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

Through networking and having many intentional conversations with people who currently had no church home. We did bring along 6 families with us from our sending/sponsoring church. 3 of those families have since gone as ministry philosophies, agendas, and moving have all played a part. I would advise people in core stage to be patient, allow yourself to be taught as your faith is stretched during this time. The people that the Lord wants on board with you will come in His timing, and not ours.

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

Passivity in people. We found and are currently finding that many people love to just hang around. When pressed towards commitment people become guarded and passive.

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

Talked briefly a couple of years ago with Tyler Powell @ a Desiring God National Conference in the Twin Cities. Then went to Resurgence Conference in Seattle in 2008 and learned more about planting and networking at that conference.

The biggest benefits of the network are the genuine love, care, and fans that you have in the network. Guys are pulling for one another. No matter your church size, if you've written books, your church has gained recognition or not - it does not matter. This network is filled with dudes who love the Gospel and will fight to care for one another, for the wives and families of each other, and the churches and ministries within this network.

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

Don't bail or tap too early in either direction/decision. Take time to accurately assess your personal call internally and take time to ask others around you for personal external feedback and confirmation.

How do you pastor your family? 

1) Date Night is a priority - my wife and I are part of a date night co-op and have 3 Friday nights a month. We don't miss it! The one time a month were we watch 7 kids 3 and under, we make sure we spend some time together that week connecting and having adult conversation

2) Friday is my day with my girls. My daughters and I go out to lunch together every Friday and spend the rest of the day hanging out, playing, and enjoying one another as we give mommy a break.

3) Nightly prayer and worship together as a family. My kids see my wife and I pray as well as pray with us. We sing and talk about Jesus together. Sometimes a bit crazy, but the foundation of building a time in our days for family worship is super important.

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

Confessions of a Reformission Rev. by Driscoll

How can we pray for you? 

Pray that I would pace myself and would care for my wife and children well. Pray that I would proclaim and live out the Gospel before my wife and kids first.

Church Proflie: River City Church
Launch Date: May, 2010
Location: Fargo, ND

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

Mission:

To make disciples of Jesus who make disciples of Jesus through living out the Gospel. 

Vision:

We desire to bring the redeeming power of Jesus Christ to the people and culture around us by contending for and contextualizing the Gospel. We desire to be known as a local church that seeks the welfare of the city. We desire to birth a movement of reproducing disciples and by extension, reproducing churches.

What is your philosophy of community in your church and what does that look like practically in your church? Of evangelism? 

We have 4 components to our philosophy of community and what a Biblical community looks like as Bob Thune and Coram Deo has helped shape these areas alongside us. A biblical community isn't just one of these things for us, but has components and elements of all 4 working together.

1) We Study Together - disciple one another

2) We pray and encourage one another

3) We hang out together - we like each other

4) We serve and love our city together

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

By God's grace we sold our home last August to move closer to downtown. We rented a home for the last 7 months and recently on March 29th we closed on a home that is in the heart of Fargo, close to our worship gathering space, in a neighborhood that needs Jesus, and is a home that feels warm and provides a sanctuary for me to come home to daily. What provision God has given us. In the life of our church, on Easter Sunday, we got to hear the story of a 22 year old the Lord brought to River City from the start (Sept. 2009) as he shared how he met Jesus in October of 2009, after growing up in a Christian school his whole life. What an example of God's grace to us to hear his story.