Ripe for Harvest

S ESSION 2: P REPARE • 209

Charting Your Own Course

Depending on the particular call you have in planting your church, you may alter your “preparation” much, following a track quite different from others whose expressions and models differ from your own. Think through this material with your own unique call in mind, and see how and in what ways your vision may allow you to modify your approach. For instance, if you already have a good, working knowledge of the receiving culture you are planting a church in, your responsibilities will demand more attention to re-learning and re-emphasizing certain cultural norms and elements as you go. If you understand how the culture uses language, norms, mores, and styles to communicate messages, you will be in a better place to communicate the Good News with them in ways that feel more natural and amenable to your neighbors. Use the exercise time to carefully consider how you can best culturally relate within the community as a team together, taking advantage of your knowledge of the people group for the sake of effective mission.

Context Values/Vision Prepare Launch Assemble Nurture Transition Schedule/Charter