Walls Down | Placing, Not Replacing
Dear brothers and sisters,
Today I want to share the final sphere of work we do at ROOM: planting people in churches. Evangelism, Discipleship, and now Service.
What is clear is this: ROOM makes much of the Church and its necessity in the Christian life. We exist to place people into churches, not to replace the Church.
What is often less clear is what that looks like.
I have placed five people into churches where they are now growing and serving their local communities. The details differ each time, but the process is always the same. It begins with a desire to conform to God’s Word.
We walk through God’s established order in Scripture, particularly in Acts and the Old Testament. We look at the Sabbath, what changed after Christ’s resurrection, with Lord’s Day and what remains consistent in the life of the Church based on Scripture. We talk through church membership, the roles of elders and deacons, and how believers work together to build up the Church in holiness and piety.
When men begin to understand the strength and beauty of a body united under shared conviction, bound by vows, and ordered under Christ’s authority, many discover it is exactly what they have been craving. Christ is King; God has ordered us to worship Him, we submit to His authority.
While teaching through these things, I am also searching for local churches.
Sometimes finding a church is simple. Other times it is incredibly complicated. I usually begin with the PCA and OPC, since both have clear directories and books of church order that hold their churches accountable. Once I have a person’s location, I go through Churches listening to sermons, reading statements of faith, reviewing worship, and checking for consistency in doctrine and practice.
Why PCA and OPC first? Because their agreement on worship, doctrine, and the Westminster Confession gives a shared foundation. Even when the setting changes, the order and theology should not. If questions arise, they can usually be resolved with a conversation or careful review.
If no suitable PCA or OPC church is available, I look next to CREC or Reformed Baptist churches, applying the same level of scrutiny. If no Reformed church exists, I broaden the search to more general evangelical churches, still carefully evaluating doctrine and practice. In rare cases where no church is available, I contact missions organizations and continue working closely with the individual until a solution emerges.
Once a church is identified, I contact them directly. I introduce myself, explain the situation, and ask clarifying questions based on what I have observed. If there is no response after follow up, I move on. When a church does respond, the response usually confirms whether it is a good fit.
The final step is bringing the person and the church together. I explain what to expect, offer to arrange a call with an elder, and help facilitate that connection. Afterward, I continue checking in, asking how church life is going and how they are serving.
That is the process: search, cultivate hunger, connect, place, and follow up.
Call Beyond The Screen
Brothers and Sisters,
I have seen and experienced deep hurt in and around the Church. I have been betrayed, many times by Christians. I have also sinned far more against God than anyone has sinned against me. I could never repay my debt. I must forgive my brother. (Colossians 3:13)
We do not attend a physical church because we are perfect. We attend because we love God. And for reasons I cannot fully explain, God loves these sinners around us. We are called to love them too.
God has said the Church is good, so I believe Him.
I walk into church every Sunday because I love what God loves, even when I don’t like it. When my heart hates what is good, I pray that God would change me, and I go anyway. I walk by faith, not by sight.
These are the believers I am seeking to build. Men and women who will take a licking and keep on ticking. Those who trust God, even when it hurts.
“So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.” — 2 Corinthians 5:6-9 (ESV)
Peace be with you,
Matthew Boyer