I know the title I chose is a little underwhelming. There are three things that church planters and leaders shouldn’t forget. Is that all? Are those the only three things I need to remember? Only three things? I’m not a church planter, so why should that matter? Remember, as you serve Jesus, these are good things to pray over your pastors and those serving in your community.
Of course, there is a lot to remember when setting out to win a community to Jesus. It’s no small thing to step out in faith, seeking to obey God by submitting yourself and your family to the church-planting ministry. I’m a church planter and love seeing new churches planted. As I was praying over some church planters near me, these three things were brought to mind that are essential to remember.
1. GOD DOESN’T NEED YOU.
That’s the fact. God doesn’t need you to win your city to His Christ. He doesn’t need your wit. He doesn’t need your wisdom. He doesn’t need your faith, your commitment, your all-in attitude. He doesn’t need your seminary degree. He doesn’t need your Bible college experience. He doesn’t need you. But He wants you! He wants to use you so stay humble, dependent, and utterly surrendered to Him.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT): “Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes, or powerful, or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God deliberately chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose those who are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important, so that no one can ever boast in the presence of God.”
2. BE PATIENT.
Church plants and spiritual leaders don’t grow overnight. I think the word ‘plant’ is used on purpose. We don’t call them instant churches. You’re not developing a church factory. You’re involved in the sovereign work of God in establishing a new fellowship family of believers that is entrusted to your pastoral care. There is much to be said about patiently planting, watering, nourishing, protecting, and weeding out around this precious new work of God. I see so many church-planting men frustrated and upset simply because they are impatient with what God is doing, wanting instead what they want to be done. As it’s been wisely said, “Wait for it, wait for it, w-a-i-t f-o-r Him to do His thorough work.” God is establishing His work, His way, in His timing.
James 5:7-8 (NLT) Dear brothers and sisters, you must be patient while waiting for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who eagerly look for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They patiently wait for the precious harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. And take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.
3. IT’S HARD.
When Paul the apostle described ministry work, the work of an overseeing elder and pastor, he described it as labor. The word he used in Greek literally means “to grow weary, tired, exhausted (with toil or burdens or grief).” As he described the trials of his own life in the ministry of evangelism and church planting, he wrote, “in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness– besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. (2 Cor 11:27-28 NKJV)” Don’t forget that the work you’ve stepped into, the work of the ministry to which you are called, is hard, laborious, and exhausting at times. If you don’t forget that, you won’t even consider quitting in those seasons when it’s hard! By the way, it’s always hard! You might be thinking that somewhere down the road, it will get easier. Yes, maybe with more people, or more money, or the suitable building or whatever it is you’re desiring. Nope, it’s always hard because I believe the difficulty keeps us dependent upon the one to Whom church planting is easy: the God of all the universe. It’s His church!
Luke 18:27 (NKJV): “But He said, “The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.”
