Facing up to our weaknesses

I think for me that is the biggest think that I have learnt in planting and pastoring SDCC.  Someone once said when I started as Assistant Pastor to enjoy it because it was the best job I would ever have.  I wasn't sure what he meant at the time but I think I have realised in the last 5 years.  Planting a new church is not easy, there are lots of pressures many of which are the same as for any pastor but some of which are unique.  Through the last five years God has been gracious, faithful, loving, forgiving, patient, and amazing, and the greatest thing is that we know our God does not change.

Planting has continually reminded me that I am saved by Jesus and his work not by mine.  Thank God that we are not saved by ministry success or condemned because of ministry failure.  Planting is a steep learning curve of planning, launching, living, relearning, re-planning and relaunching.  What you were so convinced would work doesn't, what you were so sure you were equipped to deal with you quickly find out that you are not.  But God is good his word is true and he is faithful and forgiving, even if at times we struggle to forgive ourselves for our failings, or others struggle to forgive us.

It has also made me aware of the almost constant temptation within myself to want my ministry to seem significant, or to be valued by others.  God has really taught me again and again that I serve for an audience of one, not for the gallery.  It is a lesson that I am still so slow to grasp but which he graciously keeps on teaching me.

I think ironically one of the things I have learnt is that I am not cut out for lone-wolf ministry.  I need other people to bounce ideas off, to train, to be trained by, to share things with.  I function best in partnership and in a team.  Yet ironically most planters seem to plant alone.  I think one of the biggest things I would do differently if i were planting again would be to make it more of a team, maybe have 2 members of staff, or regular ministry brainstorming sessions.

Any ministry exposes our weaknesses, the things we can't do and that is God's grace because it must drive us to him.  He can do what we can't and it is his gospel and his mission that we are called to partner in with him for his glory not ours.