INFORMATION IN THIS POST HAS BEEN UPDATED… PLEASE RE-READ
In the memorable words of Gomer Pyle (if you have to ask, you’re too young), “Surprise, Surprise!” Several weeks ago, I entered a blogging tournament with several other church planters around the country. We are down to the championship round, and thanks to you, I’m still writing. The championship round called for an article written to encourage other church planters and would-be planters. Below is my official entry. Thanks for carrying me to the final round. I hope you enjoy this offering, and please click here to go cast your vote!
ENCOURAGEMENT TO CHURCH PLANTERS
I remember it like it was yesterday. It was daunting and yet exhilarating at the same time. Although I was still young, I had looked forward to it with great anticipation. After what seemed like an interminable wait, I was finally in position to start moving forward. At first it felt like this was going to be a major disappointment. Things were moving much too slow and the first hill to climb seemed to be far too big and even uncertain. But then…. it was as if a shot of pure adrenaline was injected straight into my bloodstream. What followed was a series of twists and turns, hills and hollows that took my breath away but left me wanting more. Little did I know that my first ride on a roller coaster would be my first indoctrination into church planting.
Church planting is more like that ride than I would ever have imagined. The anticipation can almost leave you breathless. The wait to begin feels like an eternity. Climbing the first hill seems like you have taken on too much. But then you roll past the crest and God-momentum takes you on one of the wildest rides of your life – half-scared out of your wits that you have made the biggest mistake of your life, and half-crazed that you wouldn’t want to do anything else.
Church planting will be full of extreme highs and plummeting lows. Just when you think you’ve got it figured out, you’ll find yourself in a hairpin turn that jerks you back into reality and reliance on God. But if you enjoy being fully alive there is nothing more satisfying, nothing more fulfilling. If you have church-planting in your DNA, this is the ultimate experience of John 10:10. So buckle up and enjoy the ride!
END OF OFFICIAL ENTRY
Some of you who know me, realize that I can be a bit more long-winded than that. I actually wrote another post about church planting but chose to use the above article as my official entry. Read through this one and tell me if you think I made a mistake. Which one do you think is better?
UN-ENTERED ENTRY
How many times have each of us thought to ourselves that we would “Like to make a difference in the world?” We’ve felt it at various times in our lives, that there must be something more and that maybe, just maybe, we can be a partner in helping to achieve that. But most decide to settle, to fit in, to do what everyone else is doing, and just do life.
But not the church planter. He cannot sit still. There is something in his DNA that stirs him to action. The world is not OK as is. Life is not OK as is. Church is not OK as is. And slowly, through the prompting of the Holy Spirit, an idea begins to form.… PLANT A CHURCH!
While the most of the world falls in line with the norm, the church planter must march to the beat of a different drummer…the call of Christ. It is compelling and drives the planter forward into unknown and even dangerous territory. It seems crazy to most. Almost as crazy as jumping out of a perfectly good airplane. But the planter responds as Peter did when Jesus asked if they would leave too. Peter responded, “Where else would we go?” For the planter, there is no other route in life. There is nowhere else to go but to his knees and to a commitment to follow Jesus Christ wherever he leads.
It is one of the most out-of-control lives that could be chosen. There are no guarantees. There are no certainties. But the rewards of living close to Jesus, of walking in the footsteps of the Apostles far surpass what the planter gives up. It is the road less traveled. But it is the road for me….and you are invited to join the pilgrimage.
SO TELL ME…WHICH ONE RESONATES MORE? WHICH ONE WOULD MAKE YOU WANT TO PLANT A CHURCH?
