I haven’t joined the MAC cult as many of my friends have. I’m very curious about owning my own MAC, but my main decision to stay PC has been solely financial.
One of the things that attracts me to the MAC is the out-of-the-box uniformity. With PC’s we have the good family members and then we have the distant, red headed step cousins that we wish weren’t at the family reunions, no names…E-Machines and the like. With PC there are vast differences between a Toshiba and an E-Machine.
The more time I log in this “Church Planting” journey the more I am coming to realize that church planters and new churches (known as church plants…not the fake green things) are more like PCs and not like MACs. Church planters do not come in a box just as new churches do not come in a box.
I allowed myself to be defeated in the early days of our launch. It seemed like everything I’ve heard in conferences or read in books or listened to on Podcasts simply didn’t happen for New Passion. I allowed myself to have high hopes based on plans I created and from the promise of support and help from groups and individuals and even from the closest of friends. Though I can never control the circumstances around me, I’ve come to the reality that though God uses people in the most powerful of ways in our lives, there are times that he has a specific plan for us where we have to fully rely on and fully trust in him alone. I came to the realization that God was building New Passion in such a way that HE alone would get the glory.
There are things that all church planters experience and have to go through. I understand that. I consider these the mouse and the keyboards of the industry. We all have to have them to function properly. However, there are some things based on each church planter’s circumstances that they cannot learn from just anybody. The sad reality is, some church planters will spend a ton of time looking at attractive “successful” churches and adopting just about everything they do, but they never see or understand the realities that led that “successful” church to adopt those programs or processes. There are some church planters who want to be everyone but themselves and though I have dealt with the temptation of falling into that trap, I am slowly seeing that many of the “successful” churches I could look at haven’t dealt with what New Passion has to deal with.
It would be much easier if all church planters came in a box packaged with $75,000-$100,000 to start with, a launch team of at least 100 people, a partnering organization that fulfills their purpose, all of the equipment needed for success, and every promise made to them fulfilled, and the ability to launch as a full time pastor, etc. (That DOES happen for some)
My box consisted of…$15,000 ($5,000 of which was a loan & a majority of the remaining amount provided by some amazing generous individuals), 23 adults on our launch team, an organization where my “coach” abandoned his team and that has given no local support, not 1 church supporting us financially on a monthly basis, several broken promises by other churches and by *gasp* friends, equipment loaned to us by an amazing church for about a year (maybe more), and a job from another Kingdom minded church where I can work and still launch our church bi-vocationally.
I don’t say this to complain. I say this to point out that church planters do not come in a box. New Passion Church is New Passion Church and God has given us this path to travel because I believe he has a specific plan and purpose for our church. If we whine and complain that we didn’t get to launch like other churches or if we whine and complain that life’s not fair, then I believe we set ourselves on a path that will miss what God has for us. Trust me, I am a student of other churches and what they are doing to have success, but I want to be careful not to miss what God has for us! What can’t God do with New Passion Church? I believe he has put us in a place where he can blow our minds, and make everyone else wish they could have a little bit of the credit. 😉
Join the Conversation…What Did Your Box Look Like?
besides, you can’t right click on MAC…which can be quite annoying
.-= kel´s last blog ..on being Jesus… =-.
Great thoughts, Nick. Continuing to pray for God’s blessing on your planting adventure.
**This is the corrected version** – Sorry
Kel…u can right click on the MAC
Nick, you said “I came to the realization that God was building New Passion in such a way that HE alone would get the glory.” I think that’s the main point. We like things to be as simple as purchasing a “starter kit” and away we go. That doesn’t require much faith if any because all the pieces to the puzzle are in place. But for God to truly get the glory we have to come from a place of where we know that it couldn’t have come together without God.
Yeah, some churches do have the resources to put the puzzle together but is God present? Is He getting the glory He justly deserves or does it go to a man instead? Do you remember “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”? I believe that is the one where Indiana’s father is shot and he has to go get the holy grail to save his dad. Do you remember all those fancy cups? Some had jewels, some were very shiny yet the “real” cup was just plain? There are churches who have state of the art sound systems, studio musicians and their service runs like a slick New York production – and yet, God is not there. I’ve attended churches in Mexico and they didn’t have a sound system, an actual building, no pews, no carpets, nothing but each other, God’s Word and each other. God was DEFINITELY in the midst of that congregation.
I’m not putting down megachurches nor am I saying it’s wrong to have technology. But there are only two kinds of churches – ones that worship God and ones that worship man.
God will take care of His church. We need to be faithful stewards. Some congregations will be huge and others small. The important thing is obedience. Keep running strong in this race with your eyes focussed on the cross.
must be the mouse we have- how do you right click Carrel?
.-= kel´s last blog ..on being Jesus… =-.
Nick, I am so proud of you & Nicki & the sacrifices you’ve been willing to offer. I can only imagine the hurt you’ve felt from broken promises from other believers & churches.
I’m reminded of the times when Jesus was left alone after his “friends” & disciples abandoned Him! The true heart of the real Christ follower is revealed when it comes right down to it.
I am blessed to be part of NP & I’ve been touched by the words spoken by you as my pastor & the songs of hope from the worship team.
God may bless NP big or small…but where NP is right now…it’s an amazing blessing to me!! Keep being obedient & God will totally rock your world!! =D