9 Unique Challenges of Planting a Church

When it comes to leading anything...you will always face challenges and opposition. The challenges of church planting are in some ways unique. Below are some of my thoughts on 9 challenges of Year 1...

1. The Turnover Factor (Why do people leave?) Below are four reasons why people leave.

1. Unmet expectations
2. Physical fatigue
3. Some people just are not called to be there long term
   1. God might be developing them for another church
4. Crazy motives that cause them to leave if things aren’t their way!
   1. Be careful of ever needing people to stay

2. Leadership development

1. Easy thing to put on the back shelf...because there are lots of things that need to get done.
2. It is critical to create a  system to constantly pick up and develop DNA carriers
3. Some of your best leaders in the future...probably aren’t even involved yet.
4. Staff development can fall into this area as well

3.  Spiritual Warfare

1. Our battle is not against flesh and blood but against the principalities of darkness
2. In planting a church you are stepping on the front lines of the battle...therefore, don't underestimate it!
3. Do not fear for he has overcome the world.  And He who is in us is greater than he who is in the world!

4. Money Crunch

1. You will feel it personally &...
2. Corporately...you never have enough of it!

5. Personal development

1. Physical
2. Emotional
3. Spiritual
4. Time with your family
5. Find people who fill your cup, who will pray for you, who are safe

6. Time Budgeting

1. Like money...you never have enough time
2. Sometimes you may feel like you have too much time
3. People will ask for your time as though it has no value
4. You will give of your time as though it has no value
5. Focus your time!!!

Ephesians 5:15...Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.  Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

7. Launch team transition

1. Moving from us to all of us...becoming the church and maintaining unity!
2. Celebrate
3. Share the Vision
4. Quickly begin to integrate new people into the ministry in areas of service
5. Be slow to lay hands on new leadership.  Remember leaders are recognized and not appointed.

8. Culture Creation

1. Be intentional when it comes to creating the culture of your church
2. How? Communicate clearly and systematically
3. Healthy systems and processes help foster church growth...what small thing can we tweak
4. Note: Systems won’t cause the church to grow...simply give God opportunity

9. Mission Drift

1. Vision Leaks
2. Easy to get caught in the routine of being a church
3. Have to remind yourself and your team...why did we do this?

6 Ideas on Building Community

Church Planting in a nutshell is about creating community that is on mission with Jesus Christ. Sometimes it is easy to get the mission piece put together, but creating community can prove to be more difficult than we think.  Here are six ideas on how to build community.

1. Have a defined cause

• Cause has a way of pulling likeminded people together.  The more clearly defined your cause the greater chance of building community.  At the same time it has to be a cause that people can identify with.  Just because you have a cause that you are passionate about doesn't necessarily mean that other people will be too.  Furthermore, what greater cause in the world than the Gospel to rally people together.

     2.  Find a need and meet it

• We need to seek to meet physical, emotional, economic, and spiritual needs of those around us.  When needs are met...people are often more willing and eager to hear the message.

     3.  Reach out

• Hospitality means loving strangers.  A similar word, "hospice," means a "safe place."  Our homes, our place of business, and our churches should always be safe places for strangers to experience kindness and love.

     4.  Develop authentic friendships with those you know

• Are we loving, serving, and influencing our family, neighbors, co-workers and friends?

     5.  Consider allowing people to belong before they believe

• We should never allow our convictions to become a litmus test for friendship. In fact, we should actively pursue friendships with people – even people with whom we may disagree.

     6.  Raise up leaders and the next generation

• You can never be the glue that holds the entire community together.  Your capacity will determine the size and the health of the community.  Community is stronger when other people buy into the community and have authority to strengthen the community.  Look for people that are catalyst, gatherers, and implementors.

BONUS THOUGHT: Don't Stop.  Keep plodding and persevere.

Leading Your Time

Time.  Have you ever asked yourself where has it gone?  I do all the time.  As a pastor, church planter, father, husband, boss, son, soccer coach...Now, I think you get the picture.  Time is a commodity that seems to disappear as soon as it appears.  Because time is precious it requires us to use it wisely.  Not using our time wisely can lead to self-destruction, team destruction, and mission drift.  Furthermore, I have seen a large number of men and women fall because of their looseness with time management.

Below are a few questions to mull over to help you use time wisely without overwhelming yourself.

• Do you have a tendency of letting life happen or do you plan ahead to maximize your fruitfulness everyday?
• Do you make choices on what feels good in the moment or through wise counsel; based on the most recent idea you just read or based on Scripture?
• Do you strategize the use of your talents for personal attention or for the benefit of your family, church, and your team?
• Do you have a tendency to sacrifice the "what can be" for "what is now?"
• Do you try to please everybody or do you consider who God is asking you to serve?
• Do you evaluate every opportunity or do you do whatever you need to do to get ahead?
• Do others compete for your time or do others suffer from you time?

What other questions have you found helpful when it comes to the usage of time?