Comments on Christians in Context: from orthodoxy to orthopraxy.: The 10 Reasons to Plant a Church in the Bay Area

Hi, actually I work as a church planter strategist...

2008-10-16T16:32:46.587-04:00

Hi, actually I work as a church planter strategist in the Bay Area and we are planting churches right now too. Would love to connect and pray! see my prayerblog page on gofishwith.us Check out just a few we are doing right now:
journeysf.com
sfbay.mosaic.org
hopemarin.com
southbaychurch.org
pagestreetcenter.com
newhopesrv.org
livingvinefellowship.com
also many simple churches and language churches
Blessings!

Having lived in the Bay Area for almost 4 years - ...

2008-09-13T00:47:37.911-04:00

Having lived in the Bay Area for almost 4 years - was a Ruling Elder at Redeemer IN new York working with Tim Keeler, I can tell you what he told me when I moved there. SF is the most unchurched, secular city in America and he is right. While there are many good churches in SF/Bay area (many not solely geared to the Asian population), there is a tremendous need for more.

The PCA has a few plants in the Bay area - Berkeley, Marin, and Walnut Creek. City Church left the PCA for the RCA, but is a very strong church in the heart of the city.

I agree with Warren's comments that it is not easy for a church planter in the Bay Area unless you are part of a strong network of churches.

Chris

Carissa - there are definitely good churches in th...

2008-09-12T19:28:58.542-04:00

Carissa - there are definitely good churches in the Bay Area. I just think we need a whole bunch more. The harvest is plentiful, but the workers here are relatively few. As to why the Asian American churches are succeeding, I haven't looked into it that much. I think churches here could benefit from being in much more integrated networks. There aren't a whole lot of Christians to begin with, so it seems wee need to be strategic and have a cohesive game plan.

Warren - cool to hear about the house church network. I'm very interested in starting a house church in the next 5 or so years.

Carrie - tell us when you're coming.

Damien - indeed

The images in this post make me sooo hungry.

2008-09-12T15:33:03.857-04:00

The images in this post make me sooo hungry.

I'm on my way...;)

2008-09-12T01:36:06.920-04:00

I'm on my way...

;)

i'm part of a great little house church network ca...

2008-09-12T00:50:29.738-04:00

i'm part of a great little house church network called haven, based in the south bay.

i would agree that life in the Bay Area is pretty awesome, but at the same time, the life of a church planter is difficult here. people seem to have everything they need and yet are increasingly isolated. i have heard more than once that the Bay Area is a graveyard for church plants.

so buyer beware! don't come here expecting roses and a red carpet!

i'm not called to plant churches in the Bay Area (...

2008-09-11T11:08:12.647-04:00

i'm not called to plant churches in the Bay Area (at least not up to this particular time), but i'm glad you are. i did have one comment/question, though. you mention the lack of good churches up in the Bay. i actually know of many good churches - but they are all either specifically for or heavily populated by Asian Americans. how do you think that factors into the game plan, if at all? (i'm not Asian, by the way, but i know a lot of Christians who are.)