Is God Asking You to Plant a Church? The Call…
Although church planting seems to be the trendy thing to do, like anything, you better have a clear call from God to do it. It is definitely the most intense and difficult ministry endeavor I have ever been a part of. What questions should you ask yourself? The first one should be, “Am I called to plant a church?” I want to encourage you today, if He is calling you, you can do it! Don’t let money, background, education, or anything else hinder you from doing what God has called you to do. It’s not for the faint of heart, but when you are sure He’s speaking, get prepared and then step out in all your zeal, all your naivety, and all your passion and go for it. You really can do it…if He’s called you.
It has been almost 2 years since we moved to Cambridge (August 2009) and I have one word that sums up the experience so far – “death.” I’m not being negative or morbid and maybe that’s not everyone’s experience but it is ours. Not that it hasn’t been fulfilling because in some ways it certainly has. Church planting has it’s moments of fun, points of exhilaration, and sometimes depths of despair. On my best days I say I can’t imagine doing anything else. On my worst days I wouldn’t wish it upon my worst enemy. I hope this isn’t too real for you, but it’s my experience.
Recently, I have been going through a dark several months. In crying out to the Lord and pouring over my life I’ve been asking God to show me what’s happening. Am I doing something wrong? Is there sin you are trying to deal with? Please show me why I feel so miserable! This was His answer,
John 12:24 ESV – Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone, but if it dies, it bears much fruit.
Kachow (I’ve watched the movie Cars too many times!). You want to plant a church – you can do it – by God’s grace alone. It will test you to the limit. Solidify you. Make or break you. Still my prayer remains:
My prayer is that thousands of young church planters will be released all over the world to plant Christ centered, Holy Spirit empowered, life-giving churches in some of the most difficult places on earth. I believe we are going to see a whole new generation of planters rise up and say, “We can do this if we will!”[1] You can do it; just like the Hills did; just like we did; just like thousands of other have; if God has called you.
[1] The words of Samuel Mills to his friends during the Haystack Prayer Meeting in 1806 near Williams College in Mass. This conversation/prayer meeting was the seed that would lead to America’s first mission’s movement.
