Help With Name and Slogan for new Church Plant (VANITY)

We are in the process of planning a new church plant in the eastern Tennesse/western North Carolina area in the near future.

Our target group will be young families with children and youth (i.e., teens), as well as the 18 - 35 age group, known as the "emerging church."

If you are already familiar with the emerging church generation, then you know that they are basically resistant to the status quo of what has wrongly been called "church" (i.e., heirarchial structure organizations, non-relational, etc.) and instead are looking for real, authentic truth and relationships.

What I am asking of you are ideas for a name that will appeal to that younger crowd. We really don't want something with the word "church" in it but rather more of a description of what the Christian life is all about. For example, we are currently looking at descriptive names such as "The Quest" and "The Journey," both signifying that our life is a quest or journey of faith that will ultimately end in heaven. Our focus will be on encouraging an environment where life-long relationships can be created that will help each of us on our personal and corporate walk of faith.

Also, if you could include some ideas for a slogan as well, that would be a great help.

Thanks for all of your help. I have a great deal of respect for the FR crowd and look forward to seeing God's creativity at work.

I would also say that people are looking for the Church, not something that calls itself something else. I think there is a hunger for something other-worldly. But instead of providing this, ministries and churches decide to make themselves look like the world, as if to say 'see, we are like you, our music is just like yours, our manners, our message is just what you like - your way, right away". This is not church, call it what you will, but it's not church.
There is a book out called "The New Faithful", written by a Catholic. There are many young people looking for the ancient traditions found in the Catholic Church. In the Mass, we are reminded of Christ's Sacrifice, our sins, His Body and Blood, His suffering, and our redemption. Isn't that what it's all about? What can you add to this?

Jack suggested, "The Righteous Faithful Narrow Road" as in ...

Matthew 7:13-14

Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.

That choice would at least be intriguing to young people, and would be a realistic "paradigm" to help them know that choosing a new way of life is challenging and demanding. It has been helpful to me to remember, the following quote,

"Evangelism is neither to convert people, nor to win them, nor to bring them to Christ, though this is indeed the first goal of evangelism. Evangelism is to preach the gospel."
The Rev. John R.W. Stott

I can't read New Testament Greek, or Hebrew. I don't have years to spend studying Church history and where doctrine came from. I can't spend twenty hours a week studying a passage. My pastor can do all those things, and does, and then explains it to me. If I had to struggle on my own, or only with other people who know as little about the Bible as I do, how would I ever grow?

My experience with this kind of group has shown me that they tend to reject, resent, and distrust even conservative Christian scholarship.

I grew up in a group not unlike this, complete with the distrust of Christian scholarship. I just graduated college, and was debating between seminary and law school (I was accepted to both). When I was investigating seminary, I was flat-out told by a preacher that I could learn whatever I needed for ministry from the local assembly. That was the general spirit of the feedback I got from most people in that church, although there were some exceptions. To them, the idea of a seminary-educated church leader borders on heretical, because all you need is your trusty King James and a Strongs.

what prevents the group from being dominated by one person with very strong, but entirely wrong, convictions?

Absolutely nothing. I believe it may be happening already, although nothing major.

The group means well, and they're seeking to apply what they derive from the Scriptures to their everyday lives. They honestly seek to derive their doctrines from Scripture, and not tradition. They really encourage lay involvement better than any other group I am familiar with. The church I grew up in had some very solid elders that did their very best to keep things under control, and some of them are impressively self-educated.

Most of the opposition to me going to seminary was in fact due to the teachings of one guy in particular. He's really influenced the group to the point that they believe it compromises the priesthood of all believers to have educated church leaders leading the church.

Which did you choose, by the way?

I find that point of view interesting. I mean, the Bible clearly says that some people are called to be teachers and preachers. Does that viewpoint say that each teacher has to start over at square one? That he can't read what others think, and compare against scripture? Or are they just against formal training/education?

I've heard seminary-trained preachers who didn't know what they were talking about. But I've also heard men who know more about the Bible than I do, who I trust, and who I know would never just blindly accept a doctrine because of tradition.

Pastors are supposed to be shepherds, right? Aren't shepherds supposed to know a bit more than their sheep? Or do the blind lead the blind?

Which did you choose, by the way?

Law school. Right as I was making the decision, two events affected me. One was the Masachusetts Supreme Court decision, which cemented in my mind how much we need Christian lawyers. The other was how I found myself defending my interest in seminary to people from my denomination. I knew there wouldnt be support for a pastoral ministry for me there, and I wasn't yet fully involved in another denomination. (I've since gotten involved in a Baptist church.)

Or are they just against formal training/education?

They distrust it.

According to their model, I should be establishing myself in a career, and studying the Bible on my own and being mentored by older men in the church. That should be sufficient to prepare me for the ministry, because God didn't establish seminaries in the New Testament church, he established the local church.

Needless to say, I did not and do not agree.

Name - New Family Fellowship

Slogan (based on what you have written) Helping you find the answers.

You might note that the model you are planning to follow is no longer considered "cutting edge" in more urbanized areas, but given your market, it may still be a viable niche.

If you are going to follow this model, go all out. Have your meetings on Friday or Saturday evening instead of Sunday morning. Your target audience of unchurched 18 -35 year olds will want to sleep in on Sunday morning, and it will seem less like church. Sing happy-clappy praise choruses instead of old hymns with possibly disconcerting theological themes.

Don't do expository preaching. Have inspirational talks with life application. Don't pass the plate-have boxes by the exit doors.

Your flock can the be happily led astray.

I take no offense when I see that none is intended. I do not presume to know what is in your heart or to judge whether you are being led by the Holy Spirit or the Devil, himself. I know that God sees all and knows all and that's good enough for me. Nevertheless, I believe that God calls us all to be discerning of good and evil in this worldly life of ours. I also know that we are cautioned by St. Paul and St. Peter to beware of false prophets and teachers who promote a Gospel that is not the truth.

You asked:
If Jesus would walk into your church today, would He be pleased at what He saw and heard? Or would He chase you all out of His presence with a whip?

I am certain that Jesus would be pleased at what he sees. You see, I and the other members of our orthodox, traditional, liturgical, Anglican church are the "called out ones" from the Episcopal Church, which has turned its back on the great Triune God and fallen into apostasy. The Episcopal Church's descent into Hell can, at least in my mind, be traced back to self-proclaimed Godly individuals who (like you) believed that the Church could become more "relevant" by: reinterpreting scripture, denying its divine authorship, and presuming that they know the mind of God better than all the apostles and prophets who came before them. I pray that you have not fallen for the Devil's lies as they men and women have.

The bottom line is, you and I would probably never agree on what constitutes the body of believers that we refer to as a "church," nor would we agree regarding the real purpose for its existence. It is, fundamentally, a theological debate. Let us set aside, for a moment, Jesus' "Great Commission" to us as his disciples, and solely focus on the reason why you or I attend "church" services at all. From your writings, I am left with the impression that you believe that the corporate "church" is obligated to hold services that panders to the fleshly needs of the individual to be seen as inherently wise, good, and gifted. Church services are about approving, reaffirming, uplifting, and entertaining the individual without regard to their unrepentant and perpetually sinful lives. It's all about the veneration of the individual. For me, attending "church" is all about the worship and adoration of my Father, God, thanking Him for the most precious sacrifice of His only son for my sake, and humbling myself before Him to seek His forgiveness for my disobedience, and to ask His Grace and His help to live righteously. For me, attending church is not about me, but about God, and what is pleasing to Him.

Try telling the millions of converts to traditional Anglican worship in Africa, Asia, and South America that the ancient church is "not relevant." There are today, right now, traditionalist Christians in Africa (especially)who are being persecuted, tortured, and murdered while defending their Faith and their Church. No question in my mind that they believe the Church is not just relevant, but essential to their life her on Earth.

>>the support should be completely from love offerings and not taught as the tithe, which is NOT a New Testament principle<<

Now, I think I understand...you carry a Bible that begins with the Gospel of Matthew - the Reader's Digest version of God's Word and Christian teaching. Do you not recall Jesus words, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets: I have not come not to abolish them but to fulfill them." Read the whole of Matthew 5:17-20 and then convince me that Jesus intended for you to ignore the Word of God as passed down to us through the Law and the Prophets of the Old Testament. So you don't like that O.T. concept of tithe? How do you feel about the 10 Commandments? Just another one of those irrelevant principles from the Old Testament that you feel free to challenge or ignore?

I believe you will discover that the writers of the actual Book... The Bible ... where not really interested in conforming to the world in order to gain physical "numbers".

Thank you for your great copy and paste job on the quotes that you posted.

However, according to your statement above, the apostle Paul would be guilty of "conforming to the world in order to gain physical numbers" because of his passion to win as many as possible through his "becoming all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some." (I Corinthians 9:22)

I say again that I am amazed at the amount of poison being spewed my way merely for asking for help in reaching out to the younger generation who are turning away from the traditional, mainline denominations by the droves. If you or others think that reaching out to them in language and methods that they can relate to is diluting the gospel or compromising your view of "church" are the gosepl, then I suppose I'm guilty.

To me however, to stand on the sidelines and complain is akin to people watching a building burning to the ground and criticizing the firemen for not doing more to save those trapped inside.

The apostle Paul's passion for seeing people saved drove him to find a common denominator with people and cultures in order to introduce Jesus to them. Do you remember his sermon while in Athens (Acts 17), how he took a cultural icon, an altar to "The Unknown God," and preached Christ to them? If Paul were on this forum today, he would be subject to the copy and paste job of those who believe that unless "church" is done the way they, or their seminary-trained leaders, say it's supposed to be, then it's pandering to the world.

To me, such an idea, an idea that I also espoused for years before a clearer understanding of the grace and love of God began opening my eyes, it is the epitomy of arrogance and pride.

I would also say that people are looking for the Church, not something that calls itself something else. I think there is a hunger for something other-worldly.

I would say that people aren't looking for the Church more than they are looking for authentic people who are not afraid to live the life in their everyday lives as husbands, wives, employers and employees.

And what they've seen behind the walls of "churches" all too closely resemble what they see everyday on their jobs: politics, fighting, hypocrisy, etc. Therefore, there is no attraction for them to become involved in another venture where there are no signs of life, THE life.

What I'm saying is that when we meet people where they're at and introduce them to other believers in a real relational way, the lost will, in time and with little preaching SEE the CHURCH in action and want to join, as did thousands in Jerusalem and the surrounding regions of the Early Church.

This is not church, call it what you will, but it's not church.

What is your definition of "church?"

we are a 3 yr old plant project targeting the same demographic. We started with 4, and now have about 45. Probably our biggest wall was the necessity of a child / youth Sunday School program. I would suggest that you make allowances for the implementation of same - despite an initial lack of numbers.

We found it better to have the infrastructure in place, than to install it as we grew.

Most importantly you need a core group of tithing faithful witnesses who posess a deep deep love of the Lord.

Having that allowed us to grow from a living room to a warehouse, and ultimately grow to a point where we were asked to recover a split - which meant we also inherited a huge building, almost for nothing

Best wishes to you

Needless to say, I did not and do not agree.

Well, the lack of a seminary degree seemed to work quite well for the disciples on their way to turning the world upside down.

I have no problem with seeking and/or receiving more education but, from what I've seen and heard, seminaries put out more disciples of the denominations that created them than genuine, Christ-like diciples.

In addition, don't be deceived in thinking that a "formal education" is of more benefit than a "normal education" (i.e., as in life) because it's interesting that the Jewish council took note of the lack of formal education that Peter, et al, had and were stumped as to the impact they were making. However, the same council also realized that the disciples had "been with Jesus" (Acts 4:13), that is "normal education."

Mentoring worked for the disciples then and it works even today.

Don't do expository preaching. Have inspirational talks with life application.

I greatly value expository preaching and teaching but unless it has a practical application, most people walk away with "head knowledge," which only leads to arrogance and no change.

Sneer if you like but life application has far more real impact in a person's life.

Don't pass the plate-have boxes by the exit doors.

Your flock can the be happily led astray.

We were already planning to just have boxes at the door for people to give FREELY and not be duped into believing that tithing is a New Testament principle, which it is not. Hopefully, they will not be led astray at all but come to love and embrace the truth, applying it in their lives and, in turn, changing their world for Christ.

Thanks for the ideas.

Best wishes to you

Thanks alot.

Our heart is to provide a place that resembles what most people think a "church" is in order to forge a common denominator with them, with the intent through teaching and life-experiencing application of the Word, bring them to the reality of what the Church really is.

We fully realize the need for a vibrant children/youth focus, which is a definite "drawing card" for young families.

Again, thanks very much.

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