Church Planting Insights

Next month Generation Church will be officially launched. We are so excited but also so humbled to know that God chose us to be part of this way to give life to our community.

What many do not know is that while Generation Church will be born on September 19^th 2010, it has been a work in progress for the last 18 months.

Most church planters go on a similar journey to what we have been on, starting with a feeling of God unsettling you, to an unbelievable burden God puts on your heart, to an impossible vision he starts to birth inside you, to the gathering of a team to the start of a brand new church.

Even though I am not an expert at church planting and I have so much more to learn in the days, months and years ahead I do feel I have a little insight for those who are just starting their journey.

So today I want to give you two feelings that you will quickly discover. These are feelings every church planter (and anyone who does anything bold for God) will experience, but do not let them bother you, they show you are on the right track

• The constant feeling of wanting to quit – This will come on faster than you think. In fact to be honest there must be two or three times a week I feel like it! However, I have discovered that the reason I feel like that is because we are doing something that is way bigger than anything I could ever create. This vision is a God-sized vision and without God it WILL fail! If you have that quitting feeling then hold on to the hand of God, because you are probably part of something only he can create! When you try to think of how you can achieve that vision, you’ll want to quit!
• Criticism always stings – If you do anything for God you WILL get criticism, it just comes with the territory. There are lots of different reason someone may criticize you, but the moment you stop getting criticized is probably the moment you stop chasing after God and start searching for man’s approval! I have realized that no matter where criticism comes from it always stings. If it doesn’t sting then you probably have a stone cold heart and church planting just isn’t for you! However, even though it will sting, don’t let it kill you! 

Keep hold of the one who comforts, directs and lifts up, and then the father of life will sustain you, He will protect you, He will provide for you and one day He will crown you for the outstanding part you have played in the Kingdom of God.

Church planter you are my hero! I salute you! Keep going, keep pushing and keep planting!