I'm saved by GRACE, but called to WORK
We've now been here serving Macon for over a year now. In many ways, I'll confess, we have under estimated the amount of WORK that is put into planting a church. Now I'm a preacher who is fully convinced of the grace of God and that I'm saved by grace and not by works, but anyone who has gone out to establish a ministry knows that there is WORK to be done to tell people about that GRACE. It involves money to support those working and laboring, it takes time to pour into and train other laborers, it takes building relationships in the community as a means of support and networking, and most of all it takes hours and hours of PRAYER!
Its not what you know, but how you've grown
I would be lying to you if I said there were not times of discouragement and times of weakness in this journey. I'm convinced that church planting hinges on the personal development of the planters. I say planters because it can't be done by just one person but rather a team of people, but that is for another time. In those times of discouragement we have found opportunities to grow, adapt and move forward. If we had not grown, we would have died.
So what are the highlights of 2016:
We have discipled. We were able to spend enormous amounts of time pouring into the team the Lord has given us, the future of what we do here doesn't not hinge on what I can do but what WE can do. And as my pastor, Chad Waller, says "together we are stronger". If i came to this city and built a large meeting and no one ever learned how to minister and declare God's goodness than I would fail to do what I have been commissioned to do. That is to equip the saints for the work of ministry (Eph 4:12).
We have learned. You can't learn unless you make mistakes. It is said that Thomas Edison failed at the light bulb around 1000 times. Not many people talk about his failures, but rather his success at creating the light bulb. When we first started this journey I was afraid to fail, but have since embraced failing so that I can learn. Jesus himself said that he opposes the proud but gives grace to humble.
We have networked. I have had the privilege this last year of standing before a handful of different churches and communicating my heart and vision not only for Macon, but for Central Georgia. I have had the opportunity to meet church planters who have moved to Central Georgia in the hopes of seeing God move in this region. I'm convinced that we need the WHOLE BODY to effectively reach this city. When every part of the body is doing what it is called to do than it grows (Eph 4:15-16).
If you have read this far I'm honored, I would ask that you would do one thing for us though. Pray!
Pray for Laborers. Pray for us to continue to find the right people who will join us in reaching this city.
Pray for Wisdom. Pray that the Spirit will lead us and guide as as we look to effectively reach and disciple people.
Pray for Divine Encounters. Pray that the Lord would position us all in places to be able to minister to people who are in need.
Until next time I pray you are all blessed and abounding in the work of the Lord.
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