Seminary President Reflects on 30 Years of Church Planting

When Rev. Jul Medenblik planted New Life Church in New Lenox, Ill., in 1995, he didn’t yet realize the impact the new congregation would have on the community—specifically in one woman’s life, he said.

Carol began attending the church and was very quiet during her first few weeks there, said Medenblik. Over time, however, she quietly disclosed that she was battling cancer.

Then, after the worship service one Sunday, she approached Medenblik. “She said, ‘I just want to let you know that because of what you preached, I did not commit suicide this past week,’” he recalled.

From there, he said, his family’s connection with Carol grew and developed into a strong, caring relationship. “Our kids even wanted Carol to show up and be there for their Grandparents’ Day at school,” he added.

“And later I had the privilege of officiating at her funeral. I say that because I could testify about her faith, her desire to serve, and the different ways she affected my family,” he said.

Carol’s story, said Medenblik, is one of many experiences throughout his more than 30 years in ministry—the first half as a founding church-planter pastor, and the second half as president of Calvin Theological Seminary—that shaped his understanding of what it means to start a church. Church planting isn’t simply about creating a new congregation, he explained; it’s about learning to see a community, to listen to its people, and to embody the gospel in a new context.

“Church planters are missionaries who want to understand the context,” he said, “as in ‘What does the gospel sound like here?’”

That emphasis shaped his work at New Life Church, Medenblik said. When he was involved in building the church plant, for example, another local pastor explained how the area suffered from “over” disease—overcommitting in many areas of life. So understanding that cultural context, said Medenblik, became an important piece of learning how to build relationships and minister within the community.

Further, that kind of attentiveness shouldn’t end once a church is established, he said. Churches need to continue listening to and growing alongside their communities.

“A church needs to stay connected to its community,” Medenblik pointed out. “There are new brothers and sisters who are just a prayer away from being a brother and sister to you.” 

That perspective has continued to shape Medenblik’s ministry. As president of Calvin Theological Seminary, a role he will hold through the end of this academic year before retiring, he said, he has continued to emphasize the importance of preparing leaders to engage their communities with the gospel.

Now Calvin Theological Seminary is offering a new certificate in church planting, creating an opportunity for people to develop the skills and understanding needed for planting and nurturing new congregations.

For Medenblik, effective church planting requires more than a desire to start something new. It requires a willingness to understand the people and communities God has placed around us in our neighborhoods, workplaces, and more.

Ministries can always adapt without changing the gospel, and that means continually looking for new ways to engage with the people around us. Medenblik noted that this insight ties into the history of the Christian Reformed Church itself.

“We grew because of immigration. We grew because of migration. We needed to learn what it means to grow because of mission,” he said.

And this calling includes more than CRC pastors; it includes every member and participant in the life of a CRC congregation, he said.

“What I think is different now is that there’s a consensus that mission is for all of us,” he added. “It’s a holistic perspective. It’s not just for a few people; it’s for all of us to be involved in this mission together.”

Church planting isn’t always about starting a new church, he pointed out. It can also mean supporting and nurturing the work God is already doing in whatever context people find themselves in.

“What church planters need is not just understanding,” Medenblik said. “They need levels of support and encouragement and prayer in knowing they are not alone.” 

Every church has a role to play, whether that means supporting a new church plant, facilitating peer groups, mentoring other churches, or finding a new way to participate in the congregation’s mission.

The story of Carol, said Medenblik, is a reminder of what can happen when a church takes the leap to make space for one more person—and remains attentive to the people and needs of its community.

And there are many more people and communities waiting to be reached. “There’s always room for one more,” Medenblik said.

To learn more about how your church can participate in the denomination’s church-planting initiatives led by Resonate Global Mission, click here.