Well, we've made it to numbers 5 through 8 on our list. Let's jump right in and go to work on these ideas.
5. Church planting will take more from your family than you've anticipated.
This is the most personal aspect of our church planting list. I don't think guys realize how much effort and hardship goes into launching a brand new church. I'll make this part extremely simple but I'm not gonna sugar coat it. If your wife is not 100% behind you starting this work, then wait. God may be using her to temper your zeal and enthusiasm. I'm telling you straight, if she is not sold on it, you will have massive heartache and the people will be able to tell very quickly that she is disconnected. Now after an agreement has been reached and you are both surrendered to this calling, then and only then do you begin pressing forward. The time constraints are difficult. In the earliest days you will be taxed with discipleship and raising up new leaders. It seems endless and if you don't start the process of delegation early it will actually prove to be impossible. If you have children, the planting process may take longer because your priorities are to them first. You better quickly grasp the reality that you can't save your community and let your own family go to Hell. If you're not careful and well planned then your wife will begin to feel that the new church is the "other woman" in the relationship. This is non-negotiable and it happens to the best of men with the best of intentions. More plants fail because of family strains than any other reason. Don't go into this blind and ignorant. Who cares what you eventually construct if in the process you totally deconstruct what matters most.
6. The music department will be your biggest headache.
Now you need to take this statement for what it is, a simple observation. I'm not throwing your music people under the bus. However, if your journey is like that of most new churches then you've had difficulty building this area from scratch. Many guys are the worship and teaching Pastor in the early days. It takes a while to find the right talent and even longer to find the right dedication. We had to go through several years of trial and error with our music ministry. Music is "that" subject in church that brings out the worst in some people. You'll constantly hear it's too loud, it's too soft, it's too fast, it's too whatever, whatever, whatever. It's a never ending process that has no resolution in pleasing everyone. One thing that you should always remember is that your church has a specific context so you need to align your methodology with that context. One of the greatest days of my life was when we arrived at a place that I could show up at church to preach and I knew the music and media would be smooth without my involvement. It takes a lot of of what I call "tweakage". Those whom God calls to work and minister in music are wired differently than your average person. By the way, that's a good thing. Take time to learn how they think and reinforce to them that they are important team players and you believe in them deeply. Don't expect them to accomplish what you want unless you're willing to invest and give them what they need.
7. Any success you have will be frowned upon with suspicion.
If and when God begins to abundantly bless your church plant you can't bank on one thing: Other people, especially other Pastor's, will deeply criticize you and give people a negative taste in their mouths. DO NOT let this stop you. It's natural for people to be sarcastic and judgmental of something that's new. When you first launch most people will ignore you. When it really takes off those same people will want you on their team. But when it starts clicking on all cylinders and major growth happens, those same people will tear you to shreds. It's the coping mechanism for carnal folks. People will automatically label you and the church as "compromisers" when more and more people start showing up. As church planters we should absolutely rejoice when another church in our town is experiencing explosive growth. The test of why you're in it to begin with is how you feel when God does for another church what you've been praying He'll do in your own.
8. Most plants fail in year 3.
I've spoken with countless church planters that can attest to this simple fact. There is something about the hurt, pain, disappointment and mis-spent energy of those first 3 years that can overtake your entire life. It may not make it six months. But if you press on you'll find that at the 3 year mark you'll face the biggest temptation to bail. The financial stress can be daunting. The building search for some can be relentless. The criticism can be crippling. The "will this ever work" thoughts can be enough to make you throw in the towel. However, if you can convince a handful of people to give their lives to the vision that God has placed within you, then the sky is indeed the limit.
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