There's Got to Be a Better Church Planting Conference Out There

In May of 2020, the church I planted will celebrate her 5th birthday (if that's an appropriate way to say that). Most church planters, if they are like me, have been to more than a few conferences focused on church planting. Much like many of the books written on the same topic coming to the end of a church-planting conference is often disappointing, maybe even discouraging. Why?  

It's great to fellowship with other planters. Swag is usually good. Networking is fruitful. So what's the problem? I think it's because most church planting conferences and church planting books focus on best practices. If you've been to a church planting conference, you know what I mean. 

It starts with the speakers. No conference is going to find some guy who planted a church that took two years to grow to 60 and then went along like that for 15 years. No. What the conference wants (as do the planters if they are honest) is a big-name planter who was surprisingly blessed to plant one church that ended up tremendously well attended, really fast, and stayed huge with ease. It doesn’t hurt if were branded well and the lead pastor is cool. The same is true for the breakout session speakers. Then the conference assigns these speakers topics that hinge not only on best church planting practices of the past, but subjects in which the speakers have excelled beyond what most planters can ever experience.  

After hearing all these best practices, the planters leave feeling inadequate to do the work the Lord called them to do. I've left a few conferences feeling like any story I could tell would be the "What Not to Do" breakout and the "How to be a Mediocre Church Planter" book.  

But what if there was a different way?  What if there was a different conference?

I would be interested in the church planter conference that didn't require every speaker to be a successful, popular church planter. One where experts in actual tools for ministry could share the tool, and then the planter (who should be more than capable of thinking and processing) could apply the tool and the training as needed, if at all.   

I'm thinking about breakouts that offer instructions for sermon preparation with limited time. Maybe biblical counseling tools. Church administration help. How about a lawyer to discuss the changing issues brought by cultural shifts? What about discipleship tools that create more than future church planters, but instead faithful saints who love Jesus and bring Him glory? Could the main sessions be more like T4G sessions that bring instruction from God's Word rather than best practice success stories that, even if repeated perfectly, won't likely produce the same results? After five years, that's the conference this church planter is looking for.  

Allow me to provide an example. Imagine if Dr. Wilson were a breakout speaker on the topic of theological reflection. (Most young church planters probably don't know who Dr. Wilson is unless they did seminary work at Gateway Seminary, but that doesn't matter.) Dr. Wilson has recently written a book called A Guide to Theological Reflection: A Fresh Approach for Practical Ministry Courses and Theological Field Education  (Grand Rapids, Mich: Zondervan Academic, 2020). He has taught doctoral candidates theological reflection for years. I've sat under his instruction and found it extremely helpful, especially in church planting. 

Watch the following sample video of Dr. Wilson discussing what theological reflection is and how it's a helpful ministry tool. (He is a dynamic speaker and teacher in the classroom environment, so please overlook that lack of back-and-forth engagement because it's a video format rather than a breakout.) While you watch this video, notice that it doesn't require his story. It requires his expertise. And he appeals to Scripture before he appeals to practice. That's what church-planters need! (Also, you may notice that I selected an example that just so happens to pit best practices against theological reflection. Yes. That was intentional. You’re welcome.)  

Maybe I'm alone in this. Perhaps I'm the only church planter who is growing tired of the nearly-impossible best practices church planting conferences. Could I be the single church planter who has left a church planting conference feeling inadequate? I don't think so.  

Therefore, I'm on the lookout for something different. If you know about a conference like I'm suggesting, please let me know.  There’s got to be a better church planting conference out there, right?