Frontline began with two church-planting apprentice couples, Brian and Piper Cleary and Jay and Del Vigil. The Clearys moved to Colorado Springs from Lexington, Ky. The Vigils are longtime Colorado Springs residents. True to the original vision of Frontline, Briggs says they are focused on quality rather than numbers.
“We may eventually have a few more planters going through at one time, but we are being careful to keep it small,” explains Briggs. “That’s the strength of the relational aspect.”
Briggs shared one of his favorite quotes from Brian Cleary—“I am already called. I just need to be sent.”
“Working with these guys sets my heart on fire,” says Briggs.
PARTNERSHIP IS KEY
A key partner with Briggs and Williams is Pikes Peak Baptist Association Church Planting Catalyst Bill Lighty. The association is in full partnership with the Frontline Church Planting Center.
In fact, Lighty was involved with Vanguard when Williams was planting the church 14 years ago.
Lighty was pastor of Chapel Hills Baptist Church and opened the church’s facilities to Vanguard during its infancy. Three years ago the two men began discussions about what a church planting center might look like.
“Working with the Pikes Peak Baptist Association has been phenomenal. Bill helped us with vision and implementation,” says Briggs. “We have used their office and their resources. They have been everything you would want an association to be and helped us do everything you would want an association to do. He has helped us network since Bill was already working with church planters in the area.”
The process for equipping planters employs a holistic approach. A 12-month experiential phase, which includes formal learning, runs parallel with year one of a three-year relational coaching journey. Expedition One is the first “class.”
The trio—Briggs, Lighty and Williams—also find themselves on the Send North America: Denver partnership coalition. The group began meeting in the fall and plan to see a launch of the strategic approach to church planting in October 2012. The Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma has already agreed to partner with Colorado through Send North America, the North American Mission Board’s (NAMB) strategy for evangelistic church planting.
ON MISSION • Winter 2012 27
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