Church Planting Is For Wimps (Mike McKinley)
Review by Ryan Johnston
Don’t Wimp Out
Ministry is difficult. Even more daunting is ministry in the 21st century as people increasingly come from different backgrounds, life-stages, and socioeconomic and educational classes. These differences result in a myriad of attitudes, personalities, and family connections. Despite these challenges, many pastors have taken up the mantle to faithfully call people to godliness. However, ministry does not always mean being a senior pastor at an established, well-organized, and structured church. Sometimes it means planting a church where there is no church. Sometimes it means revitalizing and reforming an already self-sufficient, almost dead, local congregation to display and reflect the glory of almighty God. This is precisely the ministry that Mike McKinley describes in his book, Church Planting Is for Wimps: How God Uses Messed-up People to Plant Ordinary Churches That Do Extraordinary Things, for the would-be church planter, and more specifically for the church revitalizer.
Mike McKinley
Mike McKinley is a church planter and revitalizer. A graduate of Westminster Seminary, he served under the leadership of Mark Dever at Capital Hill Baptist Church in Washington, DC for approximately a year. While at Capital Hill, McKinley was called to revitalize the Guilford Fellowship Church in Sterling, Virginia, better known today as Guilford Baptist Church. It was there that he revitalized an established, nearly dead church from virtually nothing.
McKinley is no great theologian, nor does he even boast of being a great church planter or revitalizer. In fact, in the chapter devoted to his background, he describes himself as one who fits in with the “punk rock” crowd, with all their music and tattoos, primarily because they see “the stupidity of the world pretty clearly without trying to give meaningful answers” [1]. In stark contrast to this background, throughout the book McKinley describes what it looks like to strengthen and grow a church using biblical methods and under the leadership of God. He is uniquely able to make the book whimsical and light-hearted while speaking to the importance of reformation within churches today.
Summary
Upon reading the title of this book one may assume that it is just about church planting. The first chapter is even called, “Church Planting, Slightly Preferable to Unemployment” [2]. One may also assume from the title of this book that church planting is for the “brave, courageous, and adventurous type” rather than the wimp. McKinley renders this rather amusing title, however, because he believes that revitalizing a church may be more difficult than planting one. He even devotes much of a chapter to the advantages and disadvantages of the planting and revitalizing of churches.
Throughout this book, McKinley does something different than other church planting books (or even church growth or revitalizing books I have seen). He doesn’t try to offer a special formula or strategy. He doesn’t describe how he has the best method or program for doing anything. He simply informs the reader of the importance of preaching God’s Word effectively and correctly to God’s people, while disciplining and loving them in accordance with the commands of Christ. In so doing, he paints scenarios for the reader to better understand the passion with which McKinley reformed and revitalized this dying church. I realize that this may sound too basic or even too simple for many ministers. Even McKinley discusses how he was more critical of himself than were many other ministers after regarding this approach. However, McKinley backs up his argument with examples, stories, and (most importantly) Scripture.
The journey McKinley takes the reader on through the planting, revitalizing, reforming, and growing of Guilford Baptist Church is a pleasure to read. The chapter make-up of the book addresses things from “How to Ruin Everything” (ego, pride, fear, marriage and family problems) and “Cleaning Out the Sheaves” (membership and discipline), to “God Always Gets His Way” (Godly direction). He also includes two appendices that are helpful in understanding his personal journey better. Throughout this book McKinley proficiently describes the critical nature of a church being founded on Scripture and a pastor preaching the Word of God clearly, correctly, and concisely. He also addresses the essentials of prayer, the importance of disciple making, and the effectiveness of clear statements of faith, membership roles, and church covenants. It is because of those things and the important stance that McKinley takes on them that Guilford Baptist Church has become revitalized, reformed, renewed, and revived.
Thoughts
Church Planting is for Wimps is truly an excellent first work by Mike McKinley. It is written in an easy-to-read format. It reads in a conversational rather than a wordy style. It is even humorous in some places. McKinley does a good job of presenting the reader with the facts and principles used in his church’s revitalization efforts. The arguments and general theme of the book are organized, well supported, and persuasive to the reader—especially those who desire to start something from an almost (if not already) dead church. The evidence for McKinley’s findings are personal to him, however they may be relevant to anyone looking to reform a church where they may be serving. While the book is intended for ministers, particularly church planters or church revitalizers, I believe the average church member would benefit greatly from reading this work. The book ended almost too soon.
Although a quick read, Church Planting is for Wimps leaves the reader desiring more from McKinley concerning revitalization. The humorous yet serious overtones discussed throughout the book encourage the reader in spiritual growth and consideration, while challenging the reader to learn from his victories and mistakes. There are countless great and brilliant qualities about this book, especially if you have a heart and passion much like his, to revitalize, reform, or plant a God honoring work for Him and His glory. May God use this book to challenge more ministers to awaken and revitalize our churches.
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1 P. 13
2 P. 15
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