They say that church planters are the Marines of Church World:
- everything on the line
- heaving their guts into the work
- burdened with a holy desire to reach people far from God
- making huge asks and taking massive risks to advance
- always dodging incoming fire.
But you know what?
4th Century Church Planting was Hardcore.
It was common in the fourth and fifth centuries for wealthy patrons to pay for new churches and to give saintly relics to the monks who staffed them.
"Saintly Relics" is code for human bones.
That's right, if you wanted to plant a church back in the day, you had to not only fundraise for ministry, but also dig up some bible-bones:
National Geographic just announced the discovery of what's believed to be John the Baptist's bones. Buried and inscribed underneath a fourth century church plant.
Can you imagine the pressure of being a church planter back in the day:
"Let's see, we got our core team, we've raised our funding, secured our location, and, oh wait. Schucks. Did anyone remember to dig up St. Peter's bones? C'mon, people!"
Fortunately in the 21st Century, church planters don't appeal for saints' bones.
We just ask for help with start-up costs.
Please consider making a one-time or on-going donations to Life Church Michigan.
Every dollar gets doubled thanks to a generous matching grant from our friends at Converge.
No bones, just bucks. Thanks.
