One of the constant things I am asked is: How did you have crazy success 3 times in planting? First, of course, I didn’t…I truly am Spirit-led and without our great God and great team, none of this would have been possible
But one of the most important things I can zone in on is that: I am always learning, growing and pushing to make things happen for the Kingdom. No excuses. If God gives the vision, we will do EVERYTHING He asked without cutting corners…When we don’t, we see less impact. When we do: WATCH OUT!
Not being afraid to say yes in the face of insurmountable challenges, and not being afraid to say no or stop or change course as you learn and grow is also a key. Whether a church planter, a banker, a teacher, a student, whatever and wherever God has you in His story…don’t forget that. This isn’t just for the “professional” clergy. HE has a vision for ALL of us!
I just had a friend who was pretty wild like me in High School stop by recently. He has been radically changed by Christ. He wanted to say how proud he was that we were stepping out, and then he told me he was going to take a HUGE pay-cut because he felt God was calling him from his great engineering job to teach math to kids at juvenile detention facilities. ONLY GOD.
The disciples must have been overwhelmed with their marching orders…and so am I. But to push through and not fear, to always learn, grow and push yourself and your team to the limits with the sole goal of seeing HIS KINGDOM COME is one huge life lesson I have learned. And not being afraid to change course along the journey is the ultimate X factor. Stop/observe/re-orient/move…from week 1 of the Advent Conspiracy teaching.
And now those “insurmountable challenges” you pushed for our someone elses challege.
Thanks Keith for the comments. Our church Elders, Staff and congregations certainly have all been ready to push forward and expand the kingdom, so as I look for new “insurmountable challenges” as that is the only kind that GOD sends, I know you will be in prayer as we ask God for those. It’s not about someone else, we are a CHURCH.Our church will ALWAYS have challenges until the day the Lord returns. 48,000 unchurched in the county…only God would send that insurmountable challenge to a group of people who dared take it despite a “pastor” but as a CHURCH took that challenge and I pray they will continue to take it every single year.It’s not a pastor Keith. It’s a church. And it’s not our church, it’s God’s. And I pray that you will be one of the heroes who steps up to face big challenges in the name of Jesus.I am following the call to new challenges that are so HUGE that just as here in Loudonville, if God is not in them, we are destined to fail.Not sure where all your comments are going, but I won’t have time to respond to negative anonymous comments. Our church and the next work God is calling us to wherever that is will have the same huge challenges that praise GOD, we are willing to take.That’s how we all should live, as the disciples must have felt when Christ told them to go tell THE WORLD. That’s still our call…but it is never insurmountable with God as the vision caster and we as the obedient workers.I am 1 of a group of elder’s, staff and congregation who all decided to forge ahead to attack 48,000 unchurched in our county. If that is your passion…then get on the mission with all your heart, soul, and mind with the other hundreds that are, despite me as pastor or not. God is our strength, not a pastor.Let’s unite. Let’s do something about this. Small pokes of disdain are not what New Hope or I have time for. Our staff and church is ready to make a difference here and in eternity. They don’t need me, they never did, they need GOD as we always have.And I will stir up some craziness I am sure somewhere else…and the hundreds of salvations, baptisms and changed lives are the only thing I can hang my hat on every night. That’s why I do what I do. Nothing more, nothing less.Be a part of the solution in Jesus name! So much work to be done all over the world…amen.
The comments weren’t Anonymous they were from me.It doesn’t matter what I say, it’s always going be met with a response that “It’s God”.