John Sharp: No blog yet... working on him though...
Pastor: North Point Community Church in Columbia, SC
Personal Notes: John is one of the nicest guys I know. He was also the first person I met while getting started with the South Carolina Baptist Convention. He was my assessor... man... he asked some tough questions that cut deep... God is working in my life because he cared enough to confront my weaknesses.

What advice would you give to a guy that has been called into church planting, but sometimes feels that he has no idea what he is doing?

John's Answer:

This is a question I wish I could have asked a bunch of church planters over a decade ago when I was praying about planting.  Thank God for a mentor that walked with me through the process.  I'm actually still asking this question to guys that are doing this thing well!  There will never be a shortage of new wisdom and knowledge to gain on planting missional churches.  That being said, I'm still learning too! 

The most important thing in my book is hearing from God.  I meet far to many pastors that want to plant the kind of church that plays cool music, doesn't have a Sunday night service, and where they can "be the boss".  Make sure you have a word from God, and that your spouse hears as well.  If God doesn't CALL you, and your spouse, don't do it!  I would have quit 10 times this month if it weren't for the call of God on my life.  My wife feels the same way!

Assuming you've heard from God, stay in a position to keep hearing him each day.  Ed Young & Steven Furtick's sermons will only take you so far, and you'll probably stink them up in the process.  Stay in the place where God fills you up each day and you'll never have a shortage to share with the people God has called you to. 

Finally, as you are learning and preparing to do what God has called you to do.........  Get as close to as many guys doing it well as you can.  Ask questions, experience the atmosphere, take note, attend services, whatever you can do to immerse yourself in the missional community of God.  Listen way more than you speak.  It saddens me to have a church planter call or drop by to ask me a question, then spend more time talking about himself and what he has done thus far than listening.  Shut up and listen! 

Finally, finally......... As you go, make sure you are hanging out with lost people every step of the way.  If you don't know any, don't proceed with your plans to plant until you make the lost world a part of your life.  Not by going to bars or strip clubs (yikes)....... go to the Y, look around at the t-ball field, any place you can make connections.  You are here to reach the lost, not live inside the church.  Your church won't do it if you don't do it!

I could go on and on, but I think I'll practice what I preach and listen to what other guys have to teach us!  Lean into God and rock on!  He won't let you down!  (That's 3 exclamation points.... whoa!!!)