What a crazy time it’s been for me as I jump head first into the deep waters of church planting. I’m feeling like I’ve been under too long and I need to come up for air. The bizarre thing is that I knew exactly what I was doing and what would happen, yet I kept driving myself to dive deeper and deeper.
Church planting and working to connect people with the Christ is an all-consuming thing. Seriously, when I’m immersed in my passion for the local church and seeing Christ known in the hearts of others I have time for little else. Isn’t that a great thing to be 100% focused on reaching others for the sake of the gospel? Well, not always. Here’s why:
- My family has suffered because I put the church first
- My business has shrunk greatly and the financial provision for my household has been significantly reduced (I have not been paid for any ministry work I have done for the past 4+ years).
- I have spent less time in personal meditation in God’s Word and spent more time in prayer and intercession for others
- I haven’t had a weekend off in the past 4+ years
Actually, I could add significantly more to the list above, but I think you get the picture already. Unfortunately, as I write this I know I am not the only one in this situation. It’s actually the main reason why I’m writing this. Pastor, it’s time to come up for air!
One of the things that I am so blessed to be able to reflect upon are the words of a friend of mine who helped mentor me a bit back in the early days. Danae Stewart is a go-getter and an enthusiastic, passionate, energetic woman fighting for the kingdom of God on all cylinders. One day in a phone conversation she asked me how old I was. At the time, I believe my answer was 39 years old. She then responded in a loving, yet stern voice by saying, “Dave, what’s your hurry? You’re only 40 years old! You have around 40 more years ahead of you. Why be so focused on starting a church plant now?” Well, 3 years later we finally saw our first public preview service happen. Obviously, Danae spoke into my life in a way that I knew I needed to take heed. I am so thankful she called me out that day and didn’t give in to my will and just encourage me.
So today, as I am feeling a bit overwhelmed and about to go into panic mode after looking at my bank balance and wondering why I’m where I’m at, I am coming up for air. The plan was to start weekly services in late August so no formal budget was in place for our preview service last Sunday. I paid for the sound equipment and all other materials needed for us to partner with LifeChurch.tv and 1,700 other churches in the One Prayer series (I explain more on One Prayer here). I paid for all the time away from my family. I’m now paying for the lack of attention to my business. However, knowing I would be where I am right now when it was all said and done, I wouldn’t have changed anything even if I could. The experience of doing something from scratch, trusting in God to provide the whole way is an experience I cherish because it brings me closer to my Creator. It gives me a story to tell and evidence of God’s hand in Revolution Church Sacramento that I can share with others and let them know he is real.
Pastor or future church planter, don’t ever let anyone rob you of your passion to enable God’s love to be expressed through the local church. However, please go into this with both eyes open and surround yourself with people that aren’t afraid to tell you the truth, even if it hurts your feelings. You do a good enough job lifting yourself up, so keep people around you that will keep you humble. Know that God doesn’t need you to be the savior of his people in your city. No matter how great you think your new church is, God is always going to raise someone else up to plant a church in your backyard that will: have a nicer building; draw in more people; get more publicity; seem to have more favor. However, your family can only have one husband, father, son, grandfather, brother (or only one wife, mother, daughter, grandmother, sister) that is embodied as you. Stay focused on God, but know that he has called your family to come before you church. Don’t think that you’ll make up for it on the back end by giving time to the church now and then taking time off for your family once things get going. The church will never get going enough for you to take that time you promised with your family and get away.
I am so blessed and honored to have the friends that God has surrounded me with. Their words continue to be what I reflect upon in time of need and cause me to pause and get back to being inspired through God’s Word for me. They make me stop diving deeper and deeper and retreat back to the surface to get some air so I can go back to into the water and continue my journey rather than suffocate and seeing my journey end in despair. Always, always remember to come up for air.
Related posts:
Tags: church planting
Dave,
Love ya man! Always from the gut with you bro! I was at a meeting last week in Philly, where Dr. Leroy Lawson was the featured speaker. He is 71 and was the President of Hope International University which has responsibility for the Londen Institute now (or still may be); and he just took over an interim Pastoring position for a church of about 200 folks in Arizona. It was very inspiring and motivating. He also lost a child to death too, and it created an instant bond between us. Anyway., I walked up to him afterwards and just “Thanked” him because I was stressing about my age and the fact that I am planting a church at the age of 48 (soon to be 49) and I was thinking – how long can I really do this?
So.., I asked him that question? How long should I plan for? He said if I were you, given the way folks age today and based on your current health – plan on 20-30 years minimum! That floored me, but your right – what’s the rush?
I think part of it is, the need to survive and also the idea or ego behind what the world deems as a successful church plant. I so remember that black and white picture that Bob Russell showed us of that little church in Meadville, PA and how that pastor was fired and died before the fruits of his labor were even realized. Bob Russell’s parents were in the picture and almost every person in that picture or the generations after them went on to do GREAT things for the Kingdom. All we can do bro is serve to the best of our ability – and pray that our labor of Love will produce good fruit.
Love ya man! Hang tough!
Peace,
Richie
Richie: Wow, you totally reminded me of something that impacted me from our past that I had forgotten about until I saw your reply. I remember sitting in class with you and when Bob Russell told the story of that old church and the legacy of ministry in his family I actually started crying…it really moved me! Russell is another inspiration in that in today’s world we as pastors are always striving to reach new heights, therefore changing pastorates frequently. Gone are the days when someone founds a church a stays with it for 20-30 years. So, exceptions to this such as Bob Russell and Rick Warren inspire me as I wonder how amazing the future will be if God continues his vision for Sacramento through me 20 years from now…what will transformed lives be doing to change the world at that time.
Know that you are someone that has spoken into my life and helped me stay focused. You were faithful in service at Forefront before planting Legacy & you have always been a tremendous rock to your family, putting them first before others. I also always remember the times when some crisis would come up and I’d be praying & you would say to me, “If I remember correctly, you’re kind of a new Christian still, right?” Talk about bringing me back to reality!
Thanks for your support, prayer and love for me, my family, and all that God is doing through a work called Revolution Church Sacramento Your faith and perseverance in the face of some serious adversity has encouraged me. You remind me that people like the Apostle Paul are alive and well and in love with Christ even today!