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Church planting

At the Proximity Conference 2025, Sam Ward hosted a discussion with 3 church vibrant church planters with stacks of wisdom to share. Here’s some of our favourite lines from them.

24th July 2025 3 minute read

It’s about Jesus

“We can make the aim planting churches at any cost; but really it’s about follow Jesus at any cost.” Ben Atkins

It’s a rollercoaster

“In estate Ministry, you always feel like you’re a week from revival and a week from everything falling apart, and that’s absolutely true for me for over 26 years…what you learn is that when it all falls apart, that’s not the end, and when it’s all going incredibly well, that’s not the end of the story either.” Chris Lane

Don’t shun tradition

Traditions like using anointing oil can be helpful, Rachel Gardner argues, “you haven’t got to use your own words or bring the creativity; you can step into an ancient [uniting] thing.”

Be alert to what’s happening now

“The key missional skill is always to ask the question, God, what are you doing right now in this time and with these people, because we don’t have the same people as we had five years ago but we’re still called to this place and to be a people for this community.” Chris Lane

Church can be better without restrictions

“Being in our community and not having a building was a real gift.” Rachel Gardner

It’s good to grow roots

“God said to me, it’s fine to be a what’s next person, but I don’t want you to be a where next person.” Chris Lane

It doesn’t all have to be done your way

“There are these are amazing people in our community … who are totally sold out on the mission. But they don’t do it how I do it…God puts together teams of people who are strong in other areas, and I’ve had to learn to say sorry on a regular basis!” Rachel Gardner

Stay hopeful

“Disappointment, is the bitter shadow of hope. …I think the biggest risk to us as planters, as leaders, is that our muscle of hope begins to wither with the disappointments” Ben Atkins

Find people who aren’t in a hurry

“Get people alongside you who practice being a non anxious presence. Those people that are just not rushing off…they allow God to speak to them through their sinews and their bones.” Rachel Gardner

Prayer is vital

“Prayer has to be like the absolute centre of everything … It’s not about having prayer meetings, it’s about discipling people in prayer and doing it together as a church.” Chris Lane

Accept your weakness

“The sooner you acknowledge that you will never be at your best, the better it’s going to be for you. God’s power is made perfect in our weakness. So his natural habitat is your five out of 10, maybe even your zero out of 10.” Ben Atkins

Have fun!

“Do some slightly wild stuff that no one’s expecting… have a free ice cream van for an hour on the estate… spend your budget on things that don’t sound very holy!” Rachel Gardner

 


Contributors

Rachel Gardner lives on an estate in Blackburn where she helps lead a church plant, she also works nationally with Youthscape. She is the author of several books including The Sex Thing and The Girl Deconstruction Project.

Ben Atkins leads a church plant on the Whitehawk estate in Brighton, “Brighton’s best-kept secret!” He also works for the HTB network.

Chris Lane planted a church in Langworthy, Salford over 20 years ago and he’s still there. He teaches at theological colleges and is the author of Ordinary Miracles and Not Forgotten.

Written by

Abi Thomas

Abi Thomas lives in Bradford and is part of St John’s Bowling Church. She loves hospitality, making people laugh and custard in all its forms. Abi spends her time making The Hopeful Activist’s Podcast, being a carer, leading a youth group and cooking, including at Pete’s Place, a community food project.

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