You Need To Stick It Out
I have heard of church planters who decided to shut down their church because they only had 100 people showing up. WHAT WE THEY THINKING???? Only 100 people showed so we need to close it down. They must have been in the South. Up here in New England, 100 people in your church is a good size. We launched with 83. I was pretty happy with that. It never entered my mind to shut the place down since we didn't get 200 people. That's crazy talk.
When I was pastoring my last church I knew going in it would be a challenge. I was the fifth pastor in five years. The District was on the verge of pulling the lever and closing the church down. My presbyter at the time told me, "There has been too many problems with this church. Make it work or we're shutting you down." Can you say "Pressure"?
Needless to say the church lived up to it's reputation. It was a great challenge but I am happy to say they still exist today and have a new pastor leading them again. I spent 7 years there trying to stabalize the church and lead it to become a healthy church. And many, many times I wanted to quit. Throw in the towel. Walk away. But I stuck it out because I believed that is where God wanted me.
My life verse, which is at the top of my blog, is Phil. 3:14. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has called me heavenward." Ever since I became a Christian this has been my verse. "Pressing on..." For me it's about living life and continuing to meet the challenges head on and sticking it out no matter what. If you fall down, get back up and do it again.
I am in Claremont for the long haul. If Jesus let's us we will live here the rest of our lives. I have no intention of giving up. I will press on. I have learned along the way that you need to stick it out through the tough stuff. Why? Because God is building His Kingdom in you and me. He is more interested in our character than in our success. What ever you are going through in life or ministry, stick it out.
I tell people that they should never make live changing decisions in the valleys of their lives. You can't see clearly enough when you are in pain or despair. Stick it out until you get through it and then make your decision to move. Too many people make snap decisions in the middle of their crisis and come to regret those decisions later on. Wait, stick it out, and then make the right decision.
I have heard of church planters who decided to shut down their church because they only had 100 people showing up. WHAT WE THEY THINKING???? Only 100 people showed so we need to close it down. They must have been in the South. Up here in New England, 100 people in your church is a good size. We launched with 83. I was pretty happy with that. It never entered my mind to shut the place down since we didn't get 200 people. That's crazy talk.
When I was pastoring my last church I knew going in it would be a challenge. I was the fifth pastor in five years. The District was on the verge of pulling the lever and closing the church down. My presbyter at the time told me, "There has been too many problems with this church. Make it work or we're shutting you down." Can you say "Pressure"?
Needless to say the church lived up to it's reputation. It was a great challenge but I am happy to say they still exist today and have a new pastor leading them again. I spent 7 years there trying to stabalize the church and lead it to become a healthy church. And many, many times I wanted to quit. Throw in the towel. Walk away. But I stuck it out because I believed that is where God wanted me.
My life verse, which is at the top of my blog, is Phil. 3:14. "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which Christ Jesus has called me heavenward." Ever since I became a Christian this has been my verse. "Pressing on..." For me it's about living life and continuing to meet the challenges head on and sticking it out no matter what. If you fall down, get back up and do it again.
I am in Claremont for the long haul. If Jesus let's us we will live here the rest of our lives. I have no intention of giving up. I will press on. I have learned along the way that you need to stick it out through the tough stuff. Why? Because God is building His Kingdom in you and me. He is more interested in our character than in our success. What ever you are going through in life or ministry, stick it out.
I tell people that they should never make live changing decisions in the valleys of their lives. You can't see clearly enough when you are in pain or despair. Stick it out until you get through it and then make your decision to move. Too many people make snap decisions in the middle of their crisis and come to regret those decisions later on. Wait, stick it out, and then make the right decision.
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