The basic plan is very simple: Eric & Alicia are planning to come serve in Menifee for about 2 years, with Eric as an assistant pastor at GBC. After about 2 years the church will seek to reach out into a nearby community and plant another church which Eric will pastor. Here’s a more detailed explanation:
STAGE 1 (late 2007) PREPARATION: The Trues will be in Greenville, raising support, communicating the vision and philosophy, and finalizing the details to move to Menifee.
STAGE 2 (early 2008) TRANSITION: The Trues will move to Menifee and spend 6-9 months getting settled, establishing the lab business, and beginning to minister as an assistant pastor at GBC.
STAGE 3 (fall 2008-late 2009 or early 2010) MINISTRY IN MENIFEE: The Trues will spend 18-24 months serving at GBC Menifee, seeking to strengthen that church, reach out into the community, and prepare GBC for starting another church.
STAGE 4 (early 2010-mid 2010) CHURCH PLANTING: Grace Bible Church will reach out into a nearby community and begin holding services for a new church. The Trues will lead this church planting team.
STAGE 5(late 2010): The Trues will be transitioned completely out of ministry at GBC and into the ministry of the new church.
STAGE 6(?): Lord willing the second church will become self-supporting, and GBC and church #2 would maintain a close connection and partnership, with the goal of working together to start other churches.
Eric & Alicia are seeking to raise 3-4 years of church planting support, to begin in the fall of 2008 and continue through the fall of 2011. Here’s an explanation of what this would mean for their support situation:
STAGE 1 (late 2007) PREPARATION: supported fully by their lab business.
STAGE 2 (early 2008) TRANSITION: supported primarily by the lab business, with some help from GBC Menifee and outside supporters.
STAGE 3 (fall 2008-late 2009 or early 2010) MINISTRY IN MENIFEE: Outside support begins along with increasing support from GBC, minimizing the need for the lab business
STAGE 4 (early 2010-mid 2010) CHURCH PLANTING: Outside support and GBC support continue; new church begins to be able to pay them some
STAGE 5(late 2010): As outside support ends, Lord-willing GBC and church #2 will be able to fully support the Trues.
STAGE 6(?): fully supported by church #2
We pursue these plans joyfully recognizing that You do not know what your life will be like tomorrow … you ought to say, if the Lord wills, we will live and also do this or that!
