No Ordinary Work
Church Planting in the Shadow of the Church Growth Movement
by Larry Snyder
Imprint: Resource Publications
With so many church planters seeking to be successful, many of the ways we measure success can lead to personal disappointment, frustration, comparisons, and even depression. This can result in church planters who quit and churches that close even before they really get started, potentially ruining a witness to an entire community. What if we redefined and clarified the biblical metrics for church planting in a way that replaces frustration with fire, and replaces disappointment with direction? What if we stopped the comparisons to steroid growth and replaced them with a better understanding of kingdom growth? In this lighthearted and encouraging book we will highlight each extraordinary aspect to church planting and detail the biblical metrics that can infuse in each planter a better understanding of success.
Larry Snyder is a pastor and church planter currently shepherding his second new church start. He holds an MDiv from Liberty University and a DMin from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. For over twenty years he has enjoyed serving the local church and serving church planters. Larry and his wife, Mindy, have two children and live in Southwest Florida.
“As a former church planter and a denominational leader overseeing church planters, I appreciate Larry Snyder’s honesty and transparency about the rewards—and the challenges—of church planting. He has gleaned from his many years of experience and writes not with his head in the clouds but with his feet on the street. He helps future church planters to see the ups and downs of this extraordinary work in a way that is relatable and life-giving. If God is inviting you to plant a church, I recommend you first read No Ordinary Work. It will make a difference!”
—Barry Whitworth, executive director, Baptist Resource Network of Pennsylvania and South Jersey
“A refreshing, honest, and inspiring book. Larry Snyder takes his experience as a seasoned church planter and offers hope and encouragement to those buried under the weight of expectations. . . . Snyder tackles an important and serious subject in a cheerful and engaging way.”
—James Peoples, director, Send Network Florida, North American Mission Board
“Church planter: You’ll feel the highs and the lows in this work. You’ll be able to feel the joy and the pain that come with this extraordinary work, and in the end, this is a book packed with practical stories of encouragement, to find joy in church planting work for Christ.”
—John Weathersby, First Reformed Baptist Church, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
“I am happy to recommend No Ordinary Work. Larry Snyder is an experienced church planter and is doing an exceptional work in planting in the city of Venice, Florida. His wisdom shines through in his writing and his passion is evident in his words. You will benefit from reading if you are a planter now or you are contemplating planting in the future.”
—Wayne Briant, regional catalyst, Southwest Florida, Florida Baptist Convention
“Larry Snyder has effectively evaluated his years of church planting and given us metrics that apply to both church plants as well as established churches. The book is encouraging, creatively illustrated, and easily applied. I recommend this book to both church planters as well as senior pastors of established churches.”
—Michael Landry, lead pastor, Sarasota Baptist Church