The participation of PCA elders in para-church organizations is nothing new.  One might even argue that the PCA was founded by para-church organizations.  In the panoply of Reformed organizations like these, The Acts 29 Church Planting Network is a newcomer.  Some folks in the PCA connect Acts 29 exclusively with Mark Driscoll.  Others view the organization as a faddish movement of hipster Christians who self-label themselves as young, restless, and Reformed.
After a year and half of studying the organization I saw a much different picture.  I saw an organization dedicated to church planting that I wanted to be a part of.  In August of this year I became a member of the network.  Here are 10 reasons that contributed to that decision.
  1. A good para-church organization is a good thing. Para-church ministries are of tremendous benefit to the church.  They come alongside local churches to help them plant new churches, reach the lost, and grow healthier.  There are so many solid ministries that I have a hard time deciding which to invest in—ACE, CBMW, Ligonier, Desiring God, A29, TGC, T4G, CCEF.  Acts 29 fits the bill for a well run, targeted para-church ministry, designed to be an encouragement to existing churches and church plants.
  2. We need (and I need) Reformed fellowship across denominational bounds. Whatever you think about the young, restless, reformed crowd or the new Calvinism you must admit as a Reformed theolog that you have more friends than you used to. And Reformed folks are waking up to the fact that mutual agreement on issues of soteriology, Christology, and other huge issues allow us greater latitude in working together while at the same time holding in good conscience our specific denominational beliefs.  Acts 29 allows me to be ecumenical and Reformed with specific focus on church planting.
  3. Acts 29 has a well written doctrinal statement. I appreciate precision on major theological issues (closed handed) and important but secondary theological issues (open handed).
  4. Acts 29 places a major emphasis on penal substitutionary atonement. Often PSA is kicked to the curb in favor of fellowship amongst differing denominational contingencies.  But I found the opposite in the Acts 29 Network.  The organization is crystal clear on what Jesus accomplished on the cross.  The guys I know in the network are some of the most articulate preachers of the atoning death of Jesus in any organization I know of, anywhere on the planet.
  5. Acts 29 places a major emphasis on male headship in the home and church. Another area in which para-church organizations are tempted to vacillate to garner more members is on the complementarian-egalitarian issue.  Acts 29 is unequivocally strong on male elders and on the responsibility of men to lead in their homes.
  6. Acts 29 is a church planting resource machine. I’ve received more top shelf resources and instruction on church planting from Acts 29 than from all the other church planting sources I know of combined.
  7. Leveraging Technology for practical support. Acts 29 has successfully leveraged technology to provide support and coaching to their church planters.  Everything from Skype meetings to forums on The City are used to make sure that I have access to guys who have been church planting for years.
  8. Acts 29 has crafted a successful assessment process. There are two competing emphases in planting new churches.  The first focuses on the church plant.  The second focuses on the church planter.  Acts 29 has taken the second track and produced an excellent assessment process for helping men determine if they are being called to be church planters.
  9. Acts 29 does not require their members to pay any fees to the network. The only financial obligation that members agree to is to give 10% of their internal giving toward church planting.  Each member church is free to give that 10% to any church plant they want.  Not requiring a membership fee is unusual for church planting networks both outside of and within the PCA.
  10. Lastly, I want to help the organization. I hope that my experience as a church planter and as a distinctively PCA church planter will provide valuable insight into what I pray is a church planting movement astir.  I want to provide whatever help I can to the Acts 29 Church Planting Network as they seek to encourage church planting across the US, world, and more often now… in the PCA.