What’s In A Name?

It maybe premature for me to be thinking about the name for the future church God would have me plant, but I’ve been thinking about it even while going through the process of being accepted into the SBCV Church Plant Apprentice Program.

The idea that we are all equal in the eyes of Christ, and that God is not a respecter of man (in that He views us all equal) has put the name “Level Ground” in my head. The saying that Billy Graham has used, “the ground at the cross is level,” has fueled the idea for “Level Ground” to be the name of the future church. My desire to plant a multi-cultural church has caused the name of “Level Ground” to stay the number one name I desire to use when the church has been planted.

An article I’ve read by Ed Stetzer talked about the process of coming up with a church for a new church. There are several factors to consider before settling on a name. One of the factors is that the name should reflect the target people. With my target being multiple races, the Level Ground name would reflect the target group. Another factor is that the name should tell people what you are about. With that in mind and my desire to “Go” to the lost and tell the good news of Christ’s sin payment, I’m leaning toward having the last half of the name to be Outreach Center. I want the church to be a place where the truth is taught through love. My desire is for the church God have me plant to be a place for spiritually hurting people can come to be healed through the love of Christ. To be a spiritual medical center of sorts. With this in mind, the full name that I’m leaning toward is Level Ground Outreach Center.

I am a Baptist and don’t apologize for it; however, in this world today people have stereotyped how Baptists act. They either think we all handle snakes or are judgmental. To avoid people not coming because of the name, I feel it is needed to not have Baptist in the name of the church. The SBCV will be in our website and sign, but the church will not be Level Ground Baptist Outreach Center. I do feel in some places having Baptist on your name will not hurt, but with my research not having it on the name will help in the Hampton Roads area. Like I said in the beginning, I’m in the early stages of church planting so my mind may change.

My desire for the name is to be a snap shot of what people can expect to see and be treated when they visit the church. I want people to know (through the name) that they will find love, acceptance, friends, and a family. I want to capture that in a name.