As all of you know, planting a church is new to me. And as I go down this road I believe I am learning a few things along the way. So I though over the next few Blog’s I would share some of those lessons with you.
Lesson #1: Some people are just not interested in what I am doing.
In my ministries in the past, I have always been surrounded immediately with church-goers. They are my world when you first arrive on the scene of a new ministry. They visit, they eat with you, have coffee, go to your meetings, and even laugh at your jokes. Because you’re the new pastor you start on the softball team, get invited to all sorts of family activities, have numerous options for golf buddies, and people want to hear your story.
However, in church planting, you find a lot of people who have absolutely no interest in the church. In fact, in Fernley we have found that the local church doesn’t have a great reputation in town. I am not sure all of the bad press is warranted, but that is how many of the people feel. So since they feel that way, they have no interest in a new church being planted somewhere in their town. It is amazing how many conversations have stopped once the person asks me, “What brought you from Virginia to Fernley, Nevada?” and I tell them, “I am here to plant a new church.” There has been no fanfare, no potlucks to welcome the new pastor in town, and no special meetings to hear about the vision God has laid on my heart for the church.
I think people want to follow someone who is interested in them. You see, I am not sure there are many people outside of God’s family who care about what God cares about until they are sure God cares about them. I am finding that people have needs going unmet and God has put me and my family here to meet those needs. Then and only then will they care about the vision of Journey.
Take care,
Rod
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