The Church in DeKalb | DeKalb, IL

• Jamie Page
• Sep 26, 2011
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

Everything that I learned over all of my years of seminary I believed that I would take back to the small church that I came to Christ in (as an adult) and help that dead church come back to life by turning the corner and reaching a new generation. In my very last class in seminary, a missions elective, I took a class on church planting. Having not grown up in the church I honestly had no idea what church planting was. I though missions was for the nations - I had little idea how needy for churches my home was.

The story of the demoniac in Mark 5 was the point where my calling to church planting crystalized. This man, once out of his mind, bloody, in the tombs set free because of Jesus willingness to be nailed to a cross: out of his mind, bloody, and going to the tomb. This man becomes so impressed with what Jesus has done in his life that with one foot in Jesus' boat says, "I will go anywhere for you" hears Jesus say, "Good, go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how He has had mercy on you." God made a way for us to come home, to Chicagoland, and to begin telling all that He has done for us in the gospel.

That call has manifested, even after three years in seeing lives changed in our city because of Jesus and His story.

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

We built up our core by having a clear, God-given vision that we were anxious to share with people in our city. We took as many opportunities as we could find in local markets, coffee shops, and public places to meet people, share our vision for a new gospel-centered church.

Our advice would be to spend less time in an office and less time with your earbuds in to be sure that you're seeing and hearing the conversations around you and to take the risk of inviting yourself into those conversations to share how your new church, through proclaiming the gospel, will intersect their lives, circumstances, and home.

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

Faithfulness: Honestly, my own. I must continually wrestle, talk to myself, and remember my union with Christ, my call to plant in this city, and His promises to provide.

Developing Leaders: God has been sweet in providing us good leaders and we have been excited to develop them. It takes a lot of work though - keeping everyone pointed towards turning vision into reality.

Complacency: There are so many stages of a new church that I'm pulled to believe "We've arrived! I can take a rest now. We don't need to grow for awhile." God is good to remind us to take rest, though the work of the church must advance. Not in any sense of idolatry. But in the truth that Jesus has promised to be with us to do His work, that the harvest truly is vast.

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

Before planting The church in DeKalb we were members at Redeemer Fellowship, pastored by Acts 29 pastor Joe Thorn.

The benefits that we have most enjoyed by being a part of the network have been brotherhood, accountability, coaching, and encouragement.

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

I used to say, "Be like Gideon" - see what doors God opens and then faithfully walk through them (because my faith is very much like Gideon's (Judges 6).

I'd rather say, "Be like Jesus." I think Paul's words in Romans 12 are fitting to understand what I mean. First (Romans 1-11) know who you are in Christ. Then, and only then, find ways to be Jesus to others (Romans 12). If that means planting a church, and through a renewed mind, testing, and prayer that means church planting, then do it with confidence. Yet, let part of that testing be the encouragement from the church and other godly people. Let them support, direct, and counsel you too.

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

Get the gospel right! Get the gospel fully!

The story of Jesus needs to sink in to every part of your life. Not only your spiritual life, but your emotional, physical, and relational life. And not just your life but also into the relationships that you have with others: your marriage, your parenting, your neighborhood, your sheepherding.

You must see the fullness of your sin becoming Jesus'. And you must see His full righteousness becoming yours. And you must grow in seeing this everyday.

How do you pastor your family?

It has been a sweet blessing that our children have been around almost as long as our church has been around. I pastor our family through the home by seeing the grace of the gospel. But I pastor our family through the church too. Kingdom principles are perpetually discussed in our home as a family and as a family that often has our church-mates in our home. Themes of mercy, grace, love, sacrifice, failure, obedience, disappointment...everything reconciled by the story of Jesus.

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

Church Planter by Darrin Patrick

Church Profile: The Church in DeKalb
Launch Date: April 2009
Location: DeKalb, IL

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

Our vision is to see people come to New Life (worship) through the Gospel, to become a Community (Love) by the Gospel, and to do Life Together (Mission) for the Gospel.

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

God's patience. God's forgiveness to me at the expense of forgiving Jesus. God's providential, perfect, provision. God's wisdom in discipline. God reconciling me, my sin, my failures, and using me and my story to tell His story of the gospel.

How can we pray for you?

Our city is highly churched but highly absent from church-goers. Pray that even as God has sent us into this harvest that we would see many come to know Jesus and His story personally. Pray also that God would send even more laborers into our city.