ARC Church Planters Discuss Navigating the Journey of Church Planting

Planting a new church isn’t always a straightforward journey. Even when you do so with the help, support, and guidance of the Association of Related Churches (ARC), the road can be winding.

That was the case for Aaron and Adrian Lindsey, pastors of Believe LA. Even though both Aaron and Adrian had pastoring in their blood, neither believed they would be pastors themselves.

Yet when they moved to Los Angeles in 2015, that’s exactly what happened. They were called to do more for their community. And so eight years later, they officially launched aa church of their own with the support of ARC.

Here are some ways the Lindseys navigated the journey—and some information on how other planters of ARC churches can do the same.

Career and Calling Can Work Together

One of the early challenges the Lindseys faced in launching their own ARC church was something that prospective church leaders often face. As Aaron says, “Your career and your calling begin to sit in tension with each other.”

Aaron Lindsey was a professional musician. Prior to becoming a pastor, he had won Grammys, Dove Awards, and Star Awards. He toured professionally for 30 years while Adrian was able to focus on raising their kids.

He wondered, sometimes aloud, how he could go about giving up his career to give himself fully to what God was calling him to do. He recalled: “God looked at me, and basically, in my heart, I heard Him say, ‘You don’t have to choose. You can sit fully in who I’ve made you and function in both spaces.’ My career is what I do that helps us fund our lives so that I can walk fully in my calling. My career and calling: they sit together, but they’re not the same.”

“Follow the Play”

When Aaron and Adrian Lindsey first started working with the Association of Related Churches, they both experienced a battle brewing within themselves. This feeling is quite common for new pastors of ARC churches.

Adrian said that, despite all the great systems in place at the Association of Related Churches and all the great support the organization provides, she and her husband still struggled with their own values, perspectives, and deliverables.

But then they received some great advice. Adrian said that a mentor told them to just “follow the play.” If they could do that, things would work out. “God will call you to an area, and He is going to bring those voices and those people to you,” she added.

For the Lindseys, that area was the Calabasas community near Los Angeles.

Believe in God’s Power to Heal

There are many different ways God heals, and Aaron and Adrian Lindsey say it’s important for leaders of ARC churches to never forget that as they’re launching a new ministry. “We cannot call ourselves Believe LA and not believe in God’s power to heal,” Aaron says.

In various aspects of life, God’s healing power can be witnessed if you trust in Him and believe. Remembering this is essential as you’re navigating the journey of church planting with the Association of Related Churches. After all, you will likely face many obstacles along the way, so you need to have hope.

About ARC (Association of Related Churches)

The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches globally.