Our Principles
What Principles Govern Our Approach?
Seeing Gospel churches established in New Brunswick in such a way that they can not only survive, but thrive in the long term, means we need to go about our mission in a certain way.
Here are seven principles that govern our approach to church planting and revitalization.
Simplicity
We strive to “keep things simple” in our ministry. By keeping our focus on what is most important, by resisting the urge to multiply ministries or add complexity, it becomes far easier to sustain a work and to duplicate it elsewhere. Simplicity is “simply” wise stewardship, because it uses fewer resources (money, equipment, volunteer hours). Emphasizing simplicity in ministry also has the spiritual benefit of modeling and encouraging contentment.
Depth
In our anti-intellectual, social-media sound-bite culture, it is all too tempting to avoid difficult or controversial theological topics. Impatient hearers and short attention spans discourage churches from taking the time to work through complex topics. However, not only has this left the evangelical church vulnerable to false teaching and distraction from its true mission, but it robs believers of much of the joy of growing in understanding and knowledge. This does not at all mean that the truth should be simply “data-dumped” on hearers or that efforts to make concepts easier to understand are pointless—far from it. In our ministry we strive to make the truth accessible so that its depths can be explored more easily.
Patience
Here in New Brunswick, an attitude like “you’ve got three years to get this plant self-sustaining and then you’re on your own” simply will not cut it. Church planting and strengthening are long-term works anywhere but especially in New Brunswick, where it will take longer than it might elsewhere to gain full acceptance in and earn the trust of the community. A commitment to seeing Gospel churches flourish in the province is a long-term one. Planters, workers, and supporting churches need to be prepared for the “long haul,” the work of years and even whole lifetimes.
Smallness
We serve a God who chooses the weak things of the world to shame the strong (1 Cor. 1:27), who set his love on Israel when they “were the fewest of all peoples” (Deut. 7:7). We fully expect that churches we start, strengthen, and sustain may stay small, especially in rural areas. And that’s ok! That doesn’t mean big is bad by any means; when that happens, it’s God who gives the growth.
Participation
As Protestants committed to the principle of the priesthood of all believers, we emphasize “every-member ministry.” Every Christian has gifts from the Holy Spirit, given for the purpose of building up the church (1 Cor. 14:12), and so it is not only the privilege but the responsibility of every Christian to serve. We want to see every planting team and church member trained, equipped, and empowered to do ministry, not to make much of themselves, but using their creativity and initiative to see the Gospel advance both in their own lives and in their participation in the body life of the church.
Assimilation
New Brunswick is different from other provinces, and even each of its regions has its own distinctives. Largely French-speaking Madawaska County is not the bustling port city of Saint John, or the agricultural heartland of Carleton County, or the academic and government centre of Fredericton. Ministry in New Brunswick will stand or fall on whether Christians imitate Paul: “To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews.…To those outside the law I became as one outside the law…that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some” (1 Cor. 9:20-22). This will take time and humility and a lot of listening and learning, but it’s crucial.
Tentmaking
There is nothing wrong with fully-funded, 100%-supported church planting or pastoral ministries, and where a pastor can be freed up to devote himself full-time to the Word, prayer, and care of the flock it should absolutely be done. That said, tentmaking (or bivocationalism), where a pastor or missionary works a secular job in the community he serves, has its own advantages. Not only does such an approach reduce the financial overhead of a ministry, but it presents unique opportunities for relationships and presence in the community.
