The Trust Factor

Church Planting Series, Part two

Several years ago I worked with a cluster of congregations to develop a plan for regional outreach to families. We found a perfect venue—centrally located to all the congregations. We settled on a theme: Marriage enrichment. We had teams in place from all the congregations. We then took the step to delegate responsibility. That’s when everything came to a screeching halt.

It turned out that some pastors could not release tasks to laypeople. The pastors couldn’t let go. They couldn’t trust others to carry out ministry tasks.

Church planting cannot travel that pathway.

I was visiting with a church planter recently and listened as he described all the “hats” he had to wear in his start-up venture. My advice: GIVE THE HATS AWAY. Share the hats! After all, you can only wear one at a time.

This takes trust. Of course, you have to train, disciple, mentor, organize, and maintain accountability. You can’t toss hats into the crowd and let anyone do what he or she pleases. But in a responsible, pastoral, God-pleasing way, you must give the hats to servants who are raised up by the Lord.

If Gospel outreach is to happen and if a church is to be formed, you need more than just you.

I remember thanking God for the people He raised up in our church plant setting. In addition to getting the job done, these Christ-filled servants ended up doing MORE than I could ever accomplish or imagine. At the beginning stages of our ministry two men led our little group into assisting another church plant. We had an immediate mission focus! Phyllis and Jan took the initiative to grow music ministry in wonderful ways. Kay made sure every event we had was warm and welcoming with her beautiful decorations. Pam decided that college student outreach needed some motherly touches—including FOOD! Paul decided to research and become well-versed in Biblical stewardship initiatives for our fledgling group. Al stepped forward to visit the sick. Richard gathered small groups. Maryann asked if she could expand care ministry.

I met with, dialogued, supported, trained, and assisted in these efforts as needed. But what if I said “no”? What if I didn’t trust God’s people to do His mission?

I would have been suppressing the spread of the Gospel of our Savior, Jesus Christ. I would have been hindering the work of God. I would have been selfishly hoarding the message of the cross. The church would be about me and about what I alone could accomplish. Simply because I would not trust the people of God with the work of God.

I like to compare the ministry to scenes in those old Western movies when the horse rider is knocked off his horse and is being dragged behind the steed. The cowboy is holding on for dear life, trying to keep his balance on the bouncy, dusty ride. That’s the ride you’re in for when you trust God and His people. You have a hard time keeping up with the thundering hooves of God’s Kingdom galloping into this world.

God entrusts His mission to us. Will you trust His people to have at it? If you will, you are ready to plant a church and see a ministry grow!