The Source Church | Oswego, IL

• Robert Livingston
• Apr 15, 2010
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church 

For several years I have thought and prayed about church planting, but the conditions did not seem right and the Spirit of God seemed to be saying "Wait for now."

In the Fall of 2009 all the conditions were right and a team of people were coming together for a church plant. As I prayed about interviewing with 2-3 existing churches that were looking for a pastor I had a strong sense that God was not leading me that direction. As I talked and prayed with my wife about my convictions that God was calling us to plant a different kind of church, she agreed and said that she was feeling led in the same way. We went to the A29 boot camp in Louisville in November of 2009 and began the process of planting a gospel-centered, missional church.

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

We began with prayer asking God to help us see more than outside appearance, but the heart of people who He was calling to be church planters with us. As we prayed and shared the vision with curious folks, God affirmed 12 key couples who needed to be with us in the process of core group building. From there we hosted coffees to cast the vision of our church and the core spent 12 weeks going through The Gospel Centered Life before launch.

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

Impatience is the greatest challenge we have faced. I have wanted to see more life change, more money, and more people participating in our church at each step of the way. God has been reminding me of the providence of God in the wilderness for the children of Israel. Each day we have had what we needed when we have needed just has they learned daily dependence on Him for food.

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

I was having lunch with a friend who is a missions pastor at another church and he mentioned A29 with great respect. That was about 4 years ago and I prayed about church planting ever since. I checked out the website and inquired about the theological differences I might have with A29 as a DTS grad.

The greatest benefit has been my relationship with Jon Bricker my coach who assessed me in Louisville. He has inspired me to be a more humble pastor and to be gospel centered as a church planter. Not for my church, but for myself and my wife during the church plant process. This really is harder than I thought it would be and I have been lifted weekly by phone calls from Jon.

Also, i have not been exposed to gospel-centrality before and A29 has inspired me to preach Christ crucified in every message. We are looking/praying to start 5 churches in the next 10 years and God is already giving us young men who I think will be church planters.

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

Wait on the Holy Spirit to say "Yes" before moving forward. God will affirm His call on your life if He wants you to plant a church. Listen well to your assessors because God will use them to show you things you don't see in yourself, both strengths and weaknesses that you can't see. In the meantime go serve in an A29 church to see what God is doing.

How do you pastor your family? 

I pray for them daily and pray with them daily. As simple as it sounds it is good time management that really allows me to shepherd my family. I have to be strong about protecting time with my God, my wife, and my daughters or I fail at pastoring them.

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

Total Church - Steve Timmis

How can we pray for you? 

We need a house in Oswego to open up for us soon. Pray for us to plant 5 churches in the next 10 years. Also, for our faith in God to grow stronger as we lead a gospel-centered, missional church which none of us have ever participated in before now.

Church Profile: The Source Church
Launch Date: April, 2010
Location: Oswego, IL 

Mission, Vision, Values of Church

THE MISSION

We are a gospel-centered church that seeks to know and LOVE God : LIVE out the gospel and : SERVE God with our lives.

THE VISION

There are 3 questions that outline a simple process and goal: LOVE : LIVE : SERVE.

The process is the goal, and the goal is the process to experience the gospel resulting in a life of worship.

The 3 questions are:

Do you know and love God? - LOVE

• We believe this is the place to start when asking what a church is all about. When Jesus was ask what

the greatest commandment was, He responded by saying, “You shall love the Lord your God with all

your heart, all with all your soul, and with all your mind.” (Matt. 22:37, & Deut. 6:5).

• Those who know and love God will serve Him from a heart of gratitude rather than fear and religious

duty.

Therefore, it is our prayer that people will not only attend church but know and love the God who

created them; He provided a means for reconciliation through Jesus' sacrifice of blood on the cross.

• Our weekly corporate gathering will focus on the good news that God has made a way for all who

have sinned to be redeemed, to know and love Him.

Who really knows you? - LIVE

• When you read the prayers of Daniel or David, you can hear the heart of men who have an authentic

relationship with God. This authenticity with God is appealing because God intended us to be real

and unvarnished with Him.

• Authenticity with God leads to and promotes authenticity with others who know and love God.

• Many people live busy lives of deep loneliness and longing. God desires for us to live in real, hearty,

vigorous relationships with each other (Eph. 4:25-32).

• Our Life Groups are regular meetings of 3-5 individuals (or couples) where life's joys and struggles

are shared, prayer for each other and friends takes place, and the Bible is studied and applied.

Are you doing what you were born to do? - SERVE

• Ephesians 2:10 says we were born in Christ with specific tasks designed for us before the

foundation of the world. This divine partnership is an unspeakable gift of grace.

• God wants us to discover our spiritual gifts and employ them as good stewards of His generosity

(I Pet. 4:10). In doing so, the Lord is glorified, Christians are fulfilled and energized, and those who

do not know the Lord are attracted to Him.

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

Our Life Groups are set up to build relationships with each other two times a month by discussing the sermons. On the alternating weeks they will serve together in the community by seeking projects together to serve the city or neighbors. And also they will reach out to their sphere of influence for relationship building on the off weeks.

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

Timing is the big one. I look back at the extraordinary events of the last 6-8 months and realize that God has not given me things, $, people, or buildings until we needed them. He let me and the team struggle with unbelief and fear so that we could face those things and watch Him resolve those issues at the moment of our need.