Trinity Community | Hinckley, UK

• Stuart Dean
• Mar 21, 2011
• Series: Church Profiles
• Categories: Church Planting Articles, Latest News

Briefly describe your story of your call to plant a church

Having spent some time on staff of an established traditional evangelical church I became convinced that bold missional initiatives are required to follow Jesus in reaching different and unchurched communities. My experience was that such initiatives were restricted by established evangelical churches but enabled and encouraged by church planting. Over a couple of years I felt a growing passion for planting churches among people cut off from Christianity. Church leaders encouraged me to go for it and God gave me extraordinary opportunities to go ahead and plant. God has raised up a small core team, gifted us resources and sent us on mission. I’m well out of my depth but easily in His and we’re praying that God will do big things for His glory through small people like us.

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

By prayer, by loving people, by calling people to attempt great and risky things for the cause of the gospel. Advice? Do what Jesus did - be clear with people about what you expect from them and be clear about the cost. Call people to give up lukewarm faith and be radical for Jesus.

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

Devotion to God's glory, not my own.
Devotion to other people, not myself.
Devotion to prayer, not busyness.

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

As I grew in passion to plant churches I knew I would need all the help I could get! I was really impressed with the theological depth and missional ethos of Acts 29 and with their fruit in planting churches and reaching the lost. I wanted to be a part of that network and learn what I could from those guys. Acts 29 has grown because men have given their time to both their churches and to seeing other churches started. I wanted to do the same thing. Tyler led me through the application process in time for an assessment at the first London ‘boot camp’. At that same boot camp Steve Timmis was introduced as A29 Western Europe director, so I’ve been involved with A29 Western Europe since the very beginning.

It was great to wrestle through my church planting call and convictions with experienced men gifted at assessing other men for the task. Now I’m involved with A29 it’s great to know that I’m part of a network with other guys who are going through the joys and frustrations I’m going through, who have been through the experiences and struggles I’m having and who are so generous in sharing the benefits of their experience and resources with others.

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

It’s much tougher than you think. Pray lots. Be humble. Be servant hearted. Don’t rush in alone. Get in touch with A29 and get their input. Don’t overestimate your abilities. Don’t do it because you think you can build your perfect church, you can’t. Love Jesus, love the lost, love the local church, love your family. Pray some more.

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

God builds churches, not us. Love him, pray to him, preach about him, patiently wait on him.

How do you pastor your family?

Rachel and I are seeking to apply the gospel to all of life all of the time and to teach the kids to do the same. We’re wanting to live out Deut 6 as best as we can in the patterns of everyday life. We read the Bible and pray together. We talk about the bible teaching from the past Sunday. We memorise bible verses and catechism questions together. We want to dazzle our kids with the glory of God, his power, his awesome deeds and the wonders he has done - Psalm 78 style. We want to set an example to one another of laying down our lives for the best cause, Jesus Christ and his gospel.

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

The instances, the evil nature and the dangerous tendency of delay in the concerns of religion; A sermon preached by Andrew Fuller at a Ministers' Meeting, April 27, 1791

Church Profile: Trinity Community Church
Launch Date: January 2011
Location: Hinckley, UK

Mission, Vision, Values of Church 

The mission of TCC is to make disciples and plant churches. That’s the mission Jesus left with his disciples. That’s what we want to do in our town. We want to see lives changed by God’s transforming grace, and we want Jesus to get all the glory because it’s all about him.

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

Too much answered prayer to mention!

How can we pray for you?

That Rachel & I, and the core team, would have a heart for the glory of God above all things & a heart of mercy for the lost in our town. That we'd live in such a way that we desperately need the help of the Spirit. That Rachel would be in good health.