ELEVEN QUESTIONS WITH CHURCH PLANTER CHARLIE DREW
Drew's flock is Emmanuel Presbyterian Church, one of Redeemer's first daughter churches in Manhattan. The congregation meets in Morningside Heights, the crossroads of the Upper West Side, Columbia University and Harlem.

Stage of Church Plant:
We're planted! Still dependent somewhat on outside financing. That's the only thing left.

How old are you?
Fifty..um...three. Well, I lost track after 40, really.

How old is your church?
Two years and nine months.

Who is (are) your hero(es)?
William Wilberforce, who stuck at the fight against slavery for 50 years. My wife, who is likewise very faithful to the Lord.

Describe your congregation in 10 words or less:
Young, bright, diverse, 50 percent single, looking for community.

Hours in your work week?
It's hard to gauge. Probably 60.

What is currently your most pressing challenge?
Helping people to connect deeply is one. And becoming meaningfully involved in the community is another.

What has been your most rewarding experience?
That's a big one. Seeing God create a church despite me.

Why do you do what you do?
Because I'm really REALLY Holy. No. Um, Good reasons and bad that run right to the heart. 1. To please people. (bad reason). And second: To see Jesus honored. (good reason, in case you couldn't figure it out.)

What are you currently reading?
What Saint Paul Really Said by N.T. Wright, Path Between The Seas by David Mcullough, and Leap Over a Wall by Eugene Peterson. It's a meditation on the life of David.

Name 3 things a church planter should not do without.
Prayer, like-minded friends, and faith.