I’ve planted three churches. Two have been successful. One lasted for two years before it died with a whimper. One is in its early stages (four months old).
In every instance, there has been a person of peace, a Lydia who extended friendship and bought into the message. Many church planters make the mistake of looking for the crowd. There is no crowd for you to lead. But, there is a person of peace who will:
- extend friendship to you,
- buy into the message of Jesus
- give you rest
- open the doors to a large social network for your to engage.
Don’t look for the crowd. Look for the one person- the Roman jailer, the demon -possessed girl, or the Lydia who will pave the way for peace in the city so the Gospel can advance.
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Being in my first plant it has been these type of individuals, and just the knowledge that God sent me, that have kept me from quitting certain days.
God has been gracious and will often remind me of those individuals that He has used me to reach and the amazing privelage that it is. I too have reached for the crowd but it is the individual faces and the stories that are attached to them that keep me going.
But I am still looking for the one to open the door to a large social network…
God extends his grace to us in so many ways and through so many people. May we all strive to be a Lydia to those humbly lead us. May we be zealous to encourage each other as we serve the Kingdom.
[...] God to reveal a person of peace as you move around the [...]
I am in a new church plant…and I really need that person…
A letter just arrived and it was a letter of posion…it came from a person who I had many great days with…he expressd his feelings to me…broke all fellowship with me and said get lost…all over this church plant…
It is not the first letter I have recieved like that over the years..but it the most hurtful..
We as pastors take alot of risks with the people we serve…
If you stay away than you are not caring..if you draw near you are going to be misunderstood and roasted…We fall into a lose/lose setting…and a person of peace is the type of person that all of us need…I sure do and I need that person now….
Ron
Hope you the best in your new field of labor.
Look beyond the negative and look to the Christ who has called you. He will always give you new strength.
Jim
Ron,
I’m praying for you that you would have a welcoming host in your community give you a place and help open doors. In the meantime, I know we can have no greater peace than through Jesus…praying for you.
Thanks Trav……
Thanks Jim…