GC Planting Plan

The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
- Proverbs 16:9
Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com
The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. - Proverbs 16:9
What is Gospel Change, Community and Commission

[First, lets define the Gospel]
God, because of our sinful nature and consequences of our sin, sent his son Jesus to live the perfect life which we could not, then died the death we deserved. God put our sin upon Jesus and punished Him in our place so that we would not have to receive condemnation, wrath or the death we deserved. Jesus was then raised in power from the dead, conquering that which we could not; Satan, Sin, and Death. A response in faith to this news changes us. This is good news.
[Gospel Change]
We are changed by the Gospel and are continually being changed by the Gospel. We simply desire to see people receive the Gospel for the first time and continually receive the Gospel as they strive to look more and more like Jesus.
[Gospel Community]
An upward, inward, outward focused community gathered because of and for the sake of the Gospel. Through the Gospel we have been reconciled to God through Jesus and reconciled to each other in a new community, or a new family. In that new family, we are able to gather as smaller communities throughout the week as we seek to be in fellowship with God, fellowship with one another, and humble service to those who are far from God.
[Gospel Commission]
We will be a contagious sending culture in response to the Gospel. A replicating body that makes disciples and plants churches; which change homes, cities and the world with the Gospel. We desire to live in a way where we share the Gospel and show a glimpse of Gods Kingdom each day, wherever God has us.
What are our Core Values or Pillars

[God Glorifying + Christ Exalting]
We are for God's glory because God is for His glory and we exalt Jesus because he is worthy to be exalted.
[Gospel Driven]
We are rescued individuals who form a rescued or redeemed community who are daily motived by the Gospel in ALL that we are and do.
[Spirit Filled + Led]

We are Spirit filled + led individuals because of the Gospel, who make up a Spirit filled + led community for the Gospel, Gods glory, + His Kingdom.
[Kingdom Minded]
We are individuals who have been rescued from a kingdom of darkness into a kingdom of light. Because of this, we seek to advance God's rule and blessing according to His will.
What does it look like to be apart of Gospel Community

There are several ways to connect to Gospel Community as we desire to see Gospel change, community, and commission happen within this city and to the ends of the earth.
[Public Gatherings]
A weekly service for the whole body where we come together to celebrate through worship in song and the preaching of the Word.
[Community Groups]
20-30+ people gathered weekly out of a home, based on proximity, to live out the three rhythms of community life [Upward, Inward, & Outward].
[Discipleship Relationships]
5-8+ people who meet regularly for the purpose of making disciples who will make disciples, by Gods grace. Each group is led by 2+ leaders who invite and gather others into a discipleship relationship for the sake of sharing the Gospel and/or equipping others in the work of the ministry, so they too can replicate a discipleship relationship.
[Co-Laboring]
In 1 Thessalonians 3:2 Paul calls Timothy a "co-worker" in the Gospel of Christ. Therefore those who are eager to serve along side of Gospel Community will be known as "co-laborers", as they invest their time, gifts, and resources into Gospel Community. Not only will people seek to co-Labor with Gospel Community, but we as a church will joyfully seek to co-Labor with our people. We want to serve and equip them as they are involved in secular employment, secular relationships, community opportunities outside of Gospel Community in our city. The work of the church does not stop after Sundays. Additionally, the work of the church does not ONLY involve church activities and keeping the Sunday service afloat.
Why Plant a Church in Downtown Charleston, SC

Why start a church in Charleston, SC?Maybe you thought in the 'Bible Belt', most cities have a church on every corner. You may even be aware that Charleston, SC has historically been known as The Holy City. In all honesty, Charleston was not my first choice of cities to plant a church. Originally, we had our sights on Boston, MA. Boston is the home of the Celtics, the Sox, and the North End [The most amazing food]. Paul writes in Romans 15:20, "and thus I make it my ambition to preach the gospel, not where Christ has already been named, lest I build on someone else's foundation...". That's my passion! I want to go where the Gospel is not prevalent and go to the cities where churches do not exist. If this is the case, then a place named The Holy City, would not make the long list, much less the short list. When you arrive into downtown Charleston, you do not see buildings and skyscrapers, you see steeples. In Boston, the churches are becoming condominiums and less than 3% of the population attend an evangelical church.
So what changed my heart? It happened one day as I was reading Matthew 11:20-24. If you are familiar with the passage, Jesus starts handing out woes to a few religious cities where the mighty works of God had been done. Jesus goes on to say that if these works would have been done in Tyre and Sidon [Gentile Cities in Phoenicia], they would have repented long ago... He goes on to end the passage with this statement that blindsided me + has stuck with me ever since I read it.[Verse 24] But I tell you that it will be more tolerable on the day of judgment for the land of Sodom than for you. This means to me [applying it to my life] that it could potentially be worse on the day of judgment for the more religious cities than for the irreligious cities. I get the Jew/ Gentile context he was speaking about, but in that moment, my eyes were opened in a new way to the need for a church plant in Downtown Charleston, and other Bible Belt cities. This city has been exposed to the mighty works of God since 1640 and in the year 2013, the downtown area of Charleston is SO far from Him.If it is worse for the religious cities on the day of judgment than anywhere else, then I need to go there and be apart of bringing the Gospel on the hearts of the people. Over the past few months, the Lord has grown a deep love and burden for these people in our hearts and we're so thrilled to act on that burden by planting Gospel Community Charleston.
What is the Tentative Timeline of Gospel Community

The Gospel Community church planting timeline will happen in phases as we prayerfully consider the direction and workings of the Holy Spirit. Each phase will be evaluated throughout the planting process as we pray for guidance + direction.
[Phase One | June - December, 2013]

During Phase One, We Desire to See God do the Following Connolly family moves to Charleston, SC. Remaining planting team members will move to Charleston, SC and establish residency. All core will seek to establish themselves and develop key relationships in the city and begin to make preparations for our first scheduled community group meeting as Gospel Community of Charleston.
Lay a firm foundation of understanding as a core team and community group as to what is Gospel Community. Specifically, why does Gospel Community exist, what do we value, and what is our plan as a church to be a catalyst for change, community, and commission. Lastly, begin discipleship relationships with whomever God grants favor with. The objective would be to make new disciples through the sharing of the Gospel, mature those who are in Christ, and multiply as others are ready to be commissioned to gather their own discipleship group. These relationships can last anywhere from 6 months to 12 months. Tentatively Scheduled Key Dates On Sunday, August 25th, 2013 + September 1st, 2013, we hope to hold our first two scheduled community group meetings. An open invite will be extended to all who are able to come. Our first meeting will consist of sharing a meal together, a brief informational meeting where we will share the heart of Gospel Community Church and give important dates in regards to phase two. Lastly, we will pray together that God would mightily on the hearts of His people both near and far from Him. People will hear about this meeting through social media, but most of all, personal relationships. Additionally, we will seek to provide some sort of literature or flyer to hand out to help people remember. Sunday, September 8th, 15th, 22nd, & the 29th - Community Group Sunday, October 6th, 13th, 20th, & the 27th - Community Group Sunday, November 3rd, 10th, 17th, & the 24th - Community Group Sunday, December 1st, 8th, 22nd [off], & the 29th - Community Group Projected Agenda of Each Meeting 8 community groups for teaching, prayer, + worship through music [Upward] 4 Open Fellowship & Meal Gatherings [Inward + Outward] 4 Community Service Opportunities [Outward] By doing the above, this will serve to lay the foundational rhythms for our community groups. We will do these things together as a means to build a core AND teach others how Gods family will function in community.
[Phase Two | January - August, 2014]

During Phase Two, We Desire to See God do the Following A continued effort to establish relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, and community within the city. Multiply from one community group to multiple community group. Additionally, move the community groups from Sunday nights to some time Monday through Saturday. Continue discipleship relationships as we seek to make, mature, and multiple disciples. Lastly, establish a once a month public gathering of teaching and worship through music that would be open to all. We desire to have a gathering on the third Sunday of each month from January to August. Tentatively Scheduled Key Dates January 6th-11th, 2014 - All Community Groups restart after Holiday break. Sunday January 5th & 12th - Team preparation begins for our first Public Gathering. These teams would include worship, childrens + hospitality. All teams will be formed to help received people and extend hospitality to those who come to our first Public Gathering. Sunday, January 19th - Our First Public Gathering Sunday, February 16th - Public Gathering Sunday, March 16th - Public Gathering Sunday, April 20th - Public Gathering Sunday, May 18th - Public Gathering Sunday, June 15th - Public Gathering Sunday, July 20th - Public Gathering Sunday, August 17th - Public Gathering * All Gatherings are on the 3rd Sunday of each month.
[Phase Three | September 2014 - September, 2015]

During Phase Three, We Desire to See God do the Following A continued effort to establish relationships with our neighbors, co-workers, and community within the city. A reevaluation and continued progression in Community Groups - Does anyone need to multiple and send out any other community groups? What is the health of our current community group structure and individual groups? The health of a community group will not necessarily be measured by numbers but by rhythms [Upward, Inward, & Outward] and leadership development. Establish New Discipleship relationships and challenge those discipled [over the last year] to prayerfully establish their own discipleship relationships. A reevaluation of public gatherings - What needs to be changed and adjusted to better serve our people, the community, and advance the Gospel. Additionally, we hope to begin the process of moving our public gatherings from meeting once a month to every week. Prayerfully consider establishing a once a month prayer & worship gathering for the collective community groups. Begin the process of establishing a co-laboring process - This will serve as our membership process. This will consist of sharing our story as Gospel Community, why we exist, and what do we value as a community. Additionally, we will communicate how they can get involved at Gospel Community [Community Groups, Discipleship, and Service]. As we get to know them we will establish ways we can better serve them as they seek to advance the Gospel in their context. Tentatively Scheduled Key Dates September 8th-13th - Community Groups restart after the summer schedule Sunday, September 14th - Final preparations to begin our weekly public gatherings. Sunday, September 21st + 28th - Public Gatherings Sunday, October 5th, 12th, 19th, + the 26th - Public Gatherings Sunday, November 2nd, 9th, 16th, 23rd, + the 30th - Public Gatherings Sunday, December 7th, 14th, 21st, + the 28th - Public Gatherings * Prayerfully Consider Wednesday, December 24th Christmas Eve Service.
How will Gospel Community be Funded

Fundamentally we desire for the mission and vision of Gospel Community to be self sustaining as soon as possible. Additionally, we understand that this will be a gradual process as we will depend on God's provision outside of our body through other people and churches in the beginning. In order to plan accordingly for the future financial needs of Gospel Community, our needs will be broken down into 3 phases.
[Phase One | June - December, 2013]

Projected Amount Needed $7,000 per month or $49,000 over seven months Source of Contributions Most of all financial gifts will come from outside our core team. All contributions will be received by GC of Fort Wayne and distributed to GC of Charleston during this phase. Church Planter's Allocated Time |Part Time Planter, Part Time Outside Employment| 5 Hours Community Group/Core Team Development 5-8 Hours Building & Establishing Community Relationships/Service 7 Hours Study/Pastoral Development 3 Hours Discipleship Relationships 2 Hours GC of CHS future Development/Fundraising 25-30 Hours Outside Employment Total Hours: 45-55 Hours
[Phase Two | January - August 2014]

Projected Amount Needed $10,125 per month or $81,000 over eight months Source of Contributions Continued Fundraising efforts outside of the body accompanied with internal giving from the gathered core team of "co-laborers". All gifts will be received and distributed by GC of Charleston with accountability & assistance from GC of Fort Wayne.
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Church Planter's Allocated Time |Part Time Planter, Part Time Outside Employment| 5 Hours Community Group/Core Team Development 7-10 hours Building & Establishing Community Relationships/Service 10-12 Hours Study/Pastoral Development 3 Hours Discipleship Relationships 5 Hours GC of CHS Future Development 15-20 Hours Outside Employment Total Hours: 45-55 Hours
[Phase Three | September 2014 - September 2015]

Projected Amount Needed $11,205 per month or $135,000 over twelve months Source of Contributions Majority of all funding will come from our established body and if needed, supplemental funding from outside the body. All gifts will continue to be received and distributed through the leadership of GC of Charleston. Church Planter's Allocated Time |Full Time Planter, 1/4 Outside Employment| 5 Hours Community Group/Core Team Development 7-10 hours Building & Establishing Community Relationships/Service 12-15 Hours Study/Pastoral Development 3 Hours Discipleship Relationships 5-7 Hours GC of CHS Future Development 3 Hours Team Meetings 5 Hours Leadership Development 5-7 Hours Outside Employment Total Hours: 45-55 Hours
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How Can You Give Financially to Gospel Community

[ONLINE]
If God has put on your heart to give a one time or reoccurring financially gift, you can do so online by doing the following: clicking here or visit GospelCo.org -> Click "Generous" -> Choose "Click To Give" -> and finally, please fill in all of your information. NOTE 1: PLEASE put in the comments section "FOR CHARLESTON". NOTE 2: To set up a REOCCURRING PAYMENT option, please put FOR CHARLESTON in the comments section AND below that section select the RECURRING check-box
[CHECK]
To give by check, please make all checks payable to "Gospel Community" and in the "notes/memo/for" section please put "FOR CHARLESTON". Please mail all checks to: Gospel Community PO Box 85050, Fort Wayne, IN 46885
[Reminders]
If you are like me and a monthly email or phone call reminder would bless + serve you as you financially partner with Gospel Community, please email nick.s.connolly@gmail.com. We can establish a date for a reminder that would work best for you and your personal finances.
Additional Ways You Can Serve

[Prayer]
Accompanying financial giving, we desire your partnership in prayer. The work of the Gospel is consistently thwarted by the Enemy and it is just hard. In order to bring the good news to hard hearts we need your prayers that hearts would be made soft. Please pray for favor within the city. Lastly, please pray for my marriage & my family.
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[Communication]
We want to know who you know in Charleston, SC, particularly those in the downtown area. Who do you know who is NOT plugged into a local church? Who do you know that might have contacts & resources that could bless Gospel Community or the people of Gospel Community. This could be someone looking for employees. It simply could be someone looking for renters for a rental home. Lastly, who can we serve and bless? Do you know someone who needs to be blessed by the Kingdom of God through the local church? Please let us know how we can act accordingly. If the Holy Spirit has put someone on your heart, please email nick.s.connolly@gmail.com.
[An Invitation to Share and/or Preach at Your Church]

As the planting pastor of Gospel Community of Charleston I desire to form partnerships in the Gospel that serve to advance the Kingdom. One way to do this is by sharing a little bit about Gospel Community and more about God's Gospel. If you are interested in serving Gospel Community in this way, please email nick.s.connolly@gmail.com.
Our Church Partnership with GC of Fort Wayne

In May 2011, I received a phone call from a Pastor by the name of Eric Wood who is the Pastor of Gospel Community of Fort Wayne. He spoke to me about how he recently replanted what was once a Calvary Chapel church and found my contact information through my church website, GospelCommunity.com. This site served as a landing page for a church I desired to plant in Boston, MA. After a long and edifying phone call of sharing life stories and our passion for the Gospel, we hung up the phone as new friends, knowing that The Lord might be establishing a new relationship between my family and their church. On November of 2011 we reconnected again, this time the focus of the conversation was about my family moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana and serving Gospel Community. In all honesty, I completely rejected the idea of moving again in my heart but could not deny that God was forming a new partnership between us. Within a month, my current job ended and our home we rented was sold to another owner and we needed to be out as soon as possible. It was clear that God was bring about a transition in my life.
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As Eric & I continued to talked and prayed once a week for a month, he extended an invitation for my family to visit and for me to preach on Acts 4:32-37. After a week and a half long visit and spending time with Eric and the pastoral team, it was clear God was calling the Connollys to move to Fort Wayne for one year and serve to establish the mission and core of Gospel Community. While in Fort Wayne, I have served as an ordained Pastor of Discipleship & Community. They have graciously called me to serve on the Executive team as well as serve on the Board of Elders that is over the mission and vision of Gospel Community of Fort Wayne. By the time Gospel Community of Fort Wayne prayerfully and financially sends us out to plant we will have been there for 1.5 years. In this time we have seen God move in a mighty way through His Spirit for the advancement of His Gospel and we cannot wait to experience the same type of movement in the city of Charleston, SC. * To contact Pastor Eric Wood, Pastor Jeff Bower, or Pastor Jeff Barker at Gospel Community of Fort Wayne please call 260.749.5483. These men serve as Pastors of Gospel Community of Fort Wayne and have a position on the Board.
About the Planting Family

Jessi & I both grew up in the city of Charlotte and met while being apart of a youth group at a local church. After dating for almost a year we left to attend the University of South Carolina in 2002. We both served at a local church and graduated in 2005 with a degree in religious studies. After graduating from college we were married on July 23rd, 2005 in Charleston, SC. Once married we moved from Columbia, SC to Charlotte, NC to help plant a church. While there, I served as a service coordinator for all weekend services and served to establish their youth ministry. In the beginning of 2008, after serving Mosaic for 2.5 years I moved with our 10 month old son and my seven month pregnant wife outside of Seattle, WA. There we served as house directors for 1.5 years at a maternity home that housed young pregnant girls. It was while serving at New Beginnings home I received the prompting to start a church called Gospel Community. In 2010, I was accepted to attend the inaugural first year of RE:TRAIN seminary out of Mars Hill Church in Seattle, WA. The 36 hour intensive program lasted one year and I received a Masters in Missional Leadership with a concentration in Church Planting.
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After graduating, our family of five moved back to Columbia, SC to serve at a local a29 [Acts29] church plant for one year. While being in Columbia and working a secular job and leading an inner city bible study, we received the call to move and serve at the replant of Gospel Community of Fort Wayne in Indiana. My wife and I currently live in Indiana. We have been married for almost 8 years & have lived in 6 different cities [some more than once]. God has blessed us with 4 kids*, ages 6, 5, 4, & 3 months old. We currently oversee several small businesses out of the home that allow us to serve the local church. We will be in Indiana until June 1st, when we move to Charleston, SC to begin the planting process. I have been blessed to have over 12 years of lay ministry experience in the local church. I have been apart of several church plants, one campus plant, one church merger, and one church replant. I believe in the advancement of the Gospel through the local church as the hope of the world. It is my desire to serve Christ's church in any capacity God desires of me, until He calls me home.
Contact Information
If you have any questions in regards to anything you have read or if you have anything you would like for us to know in regards you, your church, or Charleston, SC, please feel free to contact me directly. Additionally, if you would like to follow our planting process please check out my personal blog as I seek to update it regularly with stories, needs, and what God is teaching me through it all. [Email] nick.s.connolly@gmail.com [Phone] |617| 717-9542 [Twitter] @nicksconnolly [Websites] www.nicksconnolly.com & www.GospelCommunity.com
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The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

What is Gospel Change, Community and Commission

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

What are our Core Values or Pillars

[Spirit Filled + Led]

What does it look like to be apart of Gospel Community

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

Why Plant a Church in Downtown Charleston, SC

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

What is the Tentative Timeline of Gospel Community

[Phase One | June - December, 2013]

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

[Phase Two | January - August, 2014]

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

[Phase Three | September 2014 - September, 2015]

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

How will Gospel Community be Funded

[Phase One | June - December, 2013]

[Phase Two | January - August 2014]

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

[Phase Three | September 2014 - September 2015]

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

How Can You Give Financially to Gospel Community

Additional Ways You Can Serve

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

[An Invitation to Share and/or Preach at Your Church]

Our Church Partnership with GC of Fort Wayne

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

About the Planting Family

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

Gospel Community Planting Plan 2013 www.GospelCommunity.com nick.s.connolly@gmail.com

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