Seven Mile Church | Philly

• Ajay Thomas
• Jul 2, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

I actually started out against church planting - mostly because I didn't know anything about it. There was nothing in my church background to understand it. I didn't get why someone would be allowed to "start a church." Yet, there was a huge burden in my heart to reach other second generation South Indians. My parents are immigrants from India and we come from an area that is more Christian than the rest - but often nominally so. So my generation is filled with moral, decent, successful, educated, churched people who get religion but don't know Jesus and don't get the Gospel. Every passage where Jesus hammers the Pharisees applies to us.

In 2003, a group of guys with a similar background and burden got together in Philly to pray about what the Lord would have us do to reach our peers for Christ. That began a long, five-year journey of meeting together, prayer, fasting, dialogue, study, dreaming, much counsel, and many conversations. In that same season, I began seminary where I learned theology for the first time and grew in my understanding of the gospel. Simultaneously, I also started attending Seven Mile Road Boston, an Acts 29 church where I learned how the gospel and mission came together. It was a perfect storm and the Lord used the convergence of all this and the encouragement of godly people in my life to birth a call to church planting.

So in August 2008, Seven Mile Road Boston sent my wife, daughter, and me to plant in Northeast Philadelphia to reach second generation Indians and anyone and everyone the Lord would bring.

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

Our journey into church planting was a long road and so we had ample time to share our heart and vision with folks before we landed in Philadelphia. We had a few couples who had been a part of the conversation for 5 years ready to welcome us. Then the core grew mostly through relationships and word of mouth. One encouragement to guys in this stage would be to trust the sovereignty of God. The people you think you need, the Lord may not bring. And the people you're not sure you want, Jesus may add to your numbers. Trust Jesus to build His church.

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

Being missional in the day to day. We talk mission better than we live mission. Many of the folks in our core, myself included, grew up in insular, religious, non-missional, Christian bubbles. Church has always been a Sunday event and evangelism has equaled inviting people to a service. So living on mission daily, being missionaries right where we live, that we're still learning.

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

I was a part of Seven Mile Road Boston for 5 years and got connected to Acts 29 through Matt Kruse. Learning from guys like Matt has been priceless. The network is filled with godly men who love Jesus, are being sanctified, and are committed to His mission. Each guy seems to be genuinely rooting for the other. I've learned so much by just watching.

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

Preach the gospel to your heart so that your identity comes from Christ and not from church planting. Then, hopefully you won't be doing this to be a 'success' and you won't avoid doing this for fear of being a 'failure'. If the Lord lays this desire on your heart, pray and seek counsel. Pay close attention to your wife through the whole thing. You don't want to do this without her. And if all that's a 'go', take the risk. Church planting is just the kind of thing that is so beyond us, only God can pull it off, so that only God deserves the glory.

How do you pastor your family? 

I try to be transparent with the church. I don't have a choice at home! My family sees me - failures, flaws, sins, and all - clearer than anyone else. Because of this, I acknowledge my need for Jesus, and thankfully my family sees that too. We love being together. We pray together often. We talk honestly. We repent of sin. We seek to allow the Gospel to invade every part of our life. And I'm trying by God's grace to lead well in all of this.

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

Redeemer Church Planting Manual

How can we pray for you? 

That the Lord would keep us from sin. (Matthew 6:13) That the Lord would raise co-laborers for the harvest. (Luke 10:2) That the Lord would cause us to proclaim the gospel boldly. (Ephesians 6:19-20) That the Lord would save sinners. (Romans 10:1)

Church Profile: Seven Mile Church | Philly
Launch Date: Sept 13, 2010
Location: Philadelphia, PA

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

Gospel. Mission. Community.

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

Gospel, Community, and Mission are our three big words and the first begets the other two.

Community is not optional but is at the heart of the gospel. Jesus has simultaneously reconciled us to God and to one another. If community is missing, we haven't fully grasped the gospel. So for us, the best way to foster community is to go deeper into the gospel. And doing so frees us from putting on pious pretenses. We can finally admit imperfection. For people who have played religion their whole lives - honesty, humility, vulnerability, transparency - these are all incredibly attractive and create a longing for gospel community. And as our folks taste the gospel in community, it leads to mission as they invite others to participate. We're calling every Christian at our church to see themselves as a missionary to Philadelphia. We're finding the gospel also addresses the fear, unbelief, racism, selfishness, indifference, and other issues that keep us from mission. So we're banking heavy on the gospel to keep leading us deeper into community and mission.

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

• God's grace saves sinners and sanctifies saints. We're seeing people move from religion to the gospel. People are growing in their faith and taking steps towards mission.
• God has graciously surrounded us with great people - my family genuinely loves the people of Seven Mile Road.
• God has graciously given our church a building. We are basically being given a $2 million property by an older church where we now gather.
• We could speak all day about evidences of God's grace. Psalm 145 says, "My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord, and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever." Amen.