Planting a church isn't suppose to be *easy*
If it was easy for The Apostles then they wouldn't have had to labor in prayer and be as persistent in preaching The Gospel, even sacrificing all they had so believers could have it all. You don't find this in much of the 'awesome' places today.
Of course, I can't speak from experience since I've never been a church planter myself, but being around and listening I've heard the stories of successes' and failures.
It is said by many ministries that 4 out of 5 new church plants fail and only 1 out of 10 have up to 100 members to keep it sustained. Not that metrics matter, but there isva real advantage to sustainability. But I wonder the 'why' of failure?
Could it be that we as American Christians (and those of my own flock 'The Evangelicals') are so obsessed with success and putting a brand to everything that God is actually displeased with the way we are building His Church on earth? That maybe his blessing isn't on it because our intention is to use it to bring our selfish ambitions??
But what of the ones that do succeed but that do cater to 'The Christian Brand®' ?? I can't speak for all but maybe the ones that aren't as concerned with Truth but entertainment are given the permission of blessing but to actually give them what's on their heart. And maybe the majority that do fail is to spare the name of Christ from being profaned further. I don't know because I'm not a prophet nor do I know what God's will is on this regards.
What if we took time to actually examine our hearts to see if the things we want to build for God are either truly for Him and His glory, His Kingdom, or do our selfish ambitions?
**James 4:3**
**You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.**
David, zealous David who had a deep affectionate love for God was a romantic at heart, of course which was his weakness too, wanted to build a house for God. It would be started by Solomon, but this was something David wanted to build . God didn't have to do it, since he doesn't live in temples like the pagan nations, but it was granted on the basis of God's unfailing love.
So too, The Apostles had a vision out of love for God. They were so awestruck, so convinced of the reality, the very truth of Jesus' existence and resurrection that they were compelled just as they were commanded to 'go'. To go everywhere quite literally and to tell others about the truth of this Jesus and to begin building these communities of believers.
Paul speaking,
**2 Corinthians 11**
**27in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food,b in cold and exposure. 28And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. 29Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?**
If you're an American, you are so so blessed. We have the luxury to go worship anywhere we want without having to worry. Even starting a community or a church, the worse thing we worry about compared to what Paul encountered is if people are going to show up.
They did not need to try and convince anyone or try to craft a plan at numbers when God's promise was there,
**John 10:16**
**And I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.**
**1 Corinthians 2:4**
**and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,**
The Truth of The Gospel spoke for itself and God did the rest. Communities sprung up not because of the next great thing or the persuasive speaker in town, it was because Jesus was alive and The Kingdom of God was being demonstrated in their midst. Right there before them.
This is what we need to capture in our churches our communities! Especially when we are pioneering to build something for Jesus. But I think the question is, are we willing to trust His promise and are we willing to see how He does it??