Awkwrd: Uncomfortable Conversations in Church Planting That We Avoid

I’ve had more awkward and uncomfortable conversations with church planters than I can count. Often times we’re sitting in a coffee shop where in hushed tones we talk about the kinds of topics that everyone knows about … but no one really wants to say out loud. These are the elephant-in-the-room types of conversations. You don’t hear these questions and topics in typical denominational meetings, church planting conferences, network meetings, and more. Questions like … Why do white church planters get more funding than minority planters? Why do church planters avoid low-income communities as a whole and instead plant in hip gentrified neighborhoods or nice suburbs? Why do most church planters fail (even though we’re told otherwise)? Why is there so much competition between church planters over fundraising and resources? Why do church planters succumb to celebrity culture? Why? AWKRD was written in order to bring to light the kinds of conversations we’re all having … but no one says out loud publicly. It is time. I invite you into the conversation. Let’s make a commitment to say these things out loud so we can change them … for the betterment of our communities and the furtherance of the gospel