In any new start up venture, most likely you’re going to have a strategy. Whether it is detailed down even the smallest bit of information, or a general outline of how you would like things to go…there is a strategy. I guess you would consider church planting a “start up venture” and therefore it should have a strategy behind it. Timelines, tactics, processes, marketing, goals. You’d be crazy to just say, “We’ll see what happens.” The more I find out about how Christ discipled, did ministry, and commanded his disciples to do ministry, the more I’m finding out that this is exact attitude we should embrace. Not in the sense that we are using it as an excuse in our back pocket when things are going different than we thought. And it’s not an excuse to be lazy either, and just sit around and watch tv all day. I’m finding that these are the three prayers/thoughts that have consumed my mind.
1. Give me strength to keep this church wrapped around You, not me, and not strategies.
2. God, send the people and prepare their hearts
3. Allow me to recognize the people you are sending.
So, maybe in the purest sense of the word, that is a strategy, but it’s not wrapped around timelines and looking at people as numbers or items that are pushing us closer to being a “successful” church. What we’ve found everyone has in common, is that they need to be cared about. They may be surrounded by people in their life, but chances are, no one is really caring for them in the way they need most. It’s a simple idea to process in the mind, but very difficult to embrace in tangible ways.
In looking back at everyone who is involved in our church right now, not one of them has come because of a tactic, unless you consider sitting at Starbucks a tactic. I just like the coffee and company. So really, maybe the point is just being available and willing. I’m looking at Jonah lately and realizing, that it wasn’t the exact words Jonah said that caused people to change, but the fact that, eventually, he was available and willing, obviously not prepared for what was going to happen. I love it. The excitement of not knowing what is next. I’m much happier trying to figure out where to put the people that God has provided, then figuring out how we are going to reach people. So, I’m not really sure what this church looks like yet, I’ve got my ideas, but ultimately I’ve taken the attitude of “We’ll see what happens.”
