Episode # 10 – Luter Replant Legacy Part Two with Chip Luter (Boots on the Ground Highlight)
Chip Luter Pastor, Idlewild @ The Springs
Lessons Learned from my Father, Dr. Fred Luter
As a Pastors’ kid, I was able to watch a pastor who was a great shepherd.
When you meet a pastor whose staff knows more about the church than he does he is not a Pastor Shepherd.
My father was a great example of a Pastor/Shepherd.
One of the best lessons I learned is that I was never an interruption to my dad, even when he was busy. He loved me and modeled for me what it was like to be a great pastor and a great father.
As a kid I never felt like I was in competition with the church. There was never a time where I didn’t like the church.
My dad showed me how to not live in isolation as a pastor-he demonstrated the value of connecting with other Pastors who are ministering in my area.
New Orleans Dictionary Gris-gris: voodoo, a powerful spell put on something/someone.
The Idlewild Story
Trinity Baptist Church was dying and located in a changing/transitioning area, the youngest was 60 and they were down to eight people.
- The Neighborhood was 60% African American, 30% White, 18% Hispanic.
- 50% of the neighborhood was aged 18 and younger.
I was not looking to Replant, I was happy serving where I was.
Idlewild was intentional about hiring a person of color.
The congregation had determined to give the building to Idlewild for ministry.
In January 2014 Idlewild began a ministry called “Adopt a Block” where they regularly entered the neighborhood to meet and pray for the people. They provided connection events and opportunities to reach the community.
Pastor Ken Whitten shaped the approach with this philosophy; “We didn’t just want to go to them, we want to grow among them.”
Advice for Replanting in a multi-cultural context
Be intentional from the very beginning
It’s best if the Replanter is already engaged and active in multicultural relationships.
The people drawn to our church were not drawn because we have multicultural worship, they were drawn to our church because the church was intentional in the approach to reach the community-both white people and people of color were actively involved meeting people in the community.
People bought in even before they came to attend a worship service.
We gave opportunity and value to a variety of styles in worship as a natural expression of who we are.
Check out the church program mentioned here
