Last week, in the Pillar Network, we had a Covenant Sunday for a plant in San Diego, called The Hill Church. This week, Doxa Church in Burlington, NC is holding their Covenant Sunday, and the following weekend, on Super Bowl Sunday, Pastor Kevin Yonker and his church plant: Cornerstone Bible, will hold their public launch in the Sanford community!
Below are some interview questions that Kevin was kind enough to answer for us.
We ask that you keep all of our churches in your regular prayers, but when new congregations covenant together and launch, I'm sure their pastors would greatly appreciate any extra time you can spend lifting them up before our gracious God.
INTERIVEW QUESTIONS
Your name: Kevin Yonker
Your spouse and children’s names: Kristin Yonker, Brendan, Kayla, Josie
Name of your church: Cornerstone Bible Church of Sanford
Location of church: Sanford, NC
Date church was or will be planted (if your church is a plant): 2/4/2018
What is your website/social media information? www.cornerstonesanford.org
Name of partnering church(es):
Redeemer Community Church, in Fuquay-Varina, NC
What are the reasons you decided to plant a church in your city (if your church is a plant)? Sanford has a large population yet only a handful of biblically based churches. There is plenty of room for another faithful church in Sanford.
What have you seen the Lord do in and through your church/church plant? He has established and unified our core group of families. He has brought additional families into our core. He has also provided a place of worship and financial support.
What do you hope to see the Lord do in and through your church in the future? Convert many citizens of Sanford, transform lives/families, establish Cornerstone as a self-sufficient church that is able to plant other churches.
What advice do you have for current or future church planters?
- Take the time to ensure the unity of the core group – unity in generality doesn't guarantee unity in the particulars. If the core group isn't unified at the most fundamental level(s), then unity doesn't really exist and trouble awaits.
- Talk through the particulars of doctrine (what the church believes)
- Talk through the particulars of ministry (what the church will do)
- Provide consistent time for core group fellowship. End each meeting with snacks and fellowship. Have regular fellowship meals in place of church plant meetings
- Have the following in place 2 months prior to launch:
- Whatever is necessary to establish a tangible presence in the community (website, email address, meeting time/place, facebook page, etc).
- Having A and B in place allows for two months of concentrated evangelism and prayer prior to the launch date. Let evangelism flow into the life of the church.
- Plan a few Sunday meetings at the meeting place for just the core group prior to the launch date. This will help establish an orderly Sunday worship service that honors Jesus in the sight of newcomer.
- Don't be in a hurry – let Jesus set the timetable. When circumstances/counsel call for a delay in deadlines, delay the deadlines.
What are your 3-4 main prayer requests?
- Cornerstone would evangelize Sanford first and invite them to church second
- That the core group would remain humble, committed and gracious
- Jesus would be honored in all we do