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A Special Message to Stressed Out Church Planters (and others)

Dear church planter (and others)…

In the growth phase, everything is changing, life moves at rocket pace…

Somedays you don’t know whether you are coming or going…

It’s a bit overwhelming, stressful, even a bit scary at times…

I hear this often from new church plants and fast growing churches…

I feel (and identify with) your pain…

I see part of my calling to help church leaders during this time…

I pray you protect your heart and your family…

But…

Let’s hope things never change…

Oh, don’t misunderstand, I hope you get better…

I hope you increase structure as needed…

I hope you can soon afford more staff…

I hope more volunteers are recruited…

I hope more people start financially contributing to the vision…

I hope you gain wisdom from others who have gone before you…

But I hope you never stop feeling somewhat overwhelmed…

I hope that the sense of facing the unknown never completely leaves you…

You see…

If you ever get to the point where you always know what to do next…

You’ve probably reached your threshold for growth…

You’ll no longer need to walk by faith…

You’ll soon become bored, perhaps even complacent…

And, that’s not the dream God called you to…

Growth and change is always uncomfortable, because it’s taking you into the unknown…

Dear church planter (and others), if the stress is from things going right…God is bringing new people…He’s stretching your leadership skills…He’s allowing you to encounter the messiness of extending love and grace to hurting people…He’s accomplishing His will through you…

Praise God…stay on your knees…and rejoice that He is displaying His glory!

Do you need to be reminded to enjoy the journey today?

 

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Ron Edmondson

Author Ron Edmondson

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Join the discussion 12 Comments

  • revtrev says:

    Thanks for the encouragement. We're just about to plant.

  • Lori Behrens says:

    In midst of a 6-week-old new “campus” church plant. Thanks for the encouragement. God’s timing is perfect!

  • Wilfredo says:

    Oh my goodness Ron!! I'm part of the others. currently finishing my last year of my Master of Div, doing my practice in a Hospital visiting an getting involve in chaplaincy activities, helping our in my church as a license to the ministry , also have a beautiful family with teens on board and a regular full time job (out of the ministry). its not a easy journey, I feel overwhelmed every day, but i also feel confident in God, I feel the call, and i can say no to HIM. Praying daily for strenght.

    • ronedmondson says:

      Hang in there. I was there a couple years ago with my second master's degree. It was worth it.

  • Derwin Gray says:

    This is great and timely advice. God will place the point leaders (s) in a position of utter dependence on God. GOD does great things in and through people who cling to Him!

    Derwin

  • JHaskell says:

    Great thoughts, Ron. Totally goes against the world's perspective, but in ministry, you should always be in over your head. One of the biggest mistakes I've ever made was taking on a role that I could do in my own strength.

    • ronedmondson says:

      Thanks Jonathan. I agree, it's against the world's perspective, but I wish I had known this (or practiced it) when I was in the secular business world as an entrepreneur and small business owner. I allowed stress to bring me down, rather than allow it to spur me on. Of course…I was a Christian businessperson and should have incorporated my faith more there too.

  • Carissa
    Twitter:
    says:

    Oh my goodness Ron!! I’m not a church planter but I am a stay at home mom stepping out in faith trying to open a Christ centered maternity home for pregnant teens. I feel overwhelmed every day but today I’m going to embrace it! I wish I could take this blog entry and tattoo it on my arm so I’ll remember it not just daily but hourly!! Blessings!!!

    • ronedmondson says:

      Awesome. Glad I put (and others)…Yes, the stress and the overwhelming sense is the same regardless of the calling. God bless you.