What was I Thinking?

I remember when I first got the itch to plant a church. It was about 2007 when I was serving as an Associate Pastor at Zion Tabernacle Baptist Church in Oakland. I would search online for church planting agencies and pay to take online assessments. I really wanted to see if I was wired to be a church planter. I filled out applications and signed up for church planting boot camps with anyone who offered them. What was I thinking?

I remember creating church bylaws and constitutions. I spent time away from home and spent a lot of money on assessments, application fees and trips. I would dream of being a “catalyst church planter.” You know, apostolic in the sense of starting churches, finding indigenous leaders to take over and moving on to do it again. I wanted to be about that life. What was I thinking?

I shared my thoughts and dreams with my family. My excitement often made them wonder if I was crazy. Some would say, “Starting a church is hard work.” Others would say, “You have a secure position where you are, why gamble starting a church?” Then there were those that said, “You'll be the next pastor at Zion Tabernacle and you want to start a church, what are you thinking?”

What was I thinking? I was thinking that the most effective way to reach souls for Christ is new churches. In fact, starting new churches is the best evangelism tool there is. I was thinking about the wonderful opportunity to partner with God on mission in new communities. I was thinking of different church models and types. All designed to reach people some of us think are unreachable. I was thinking about new converts, baptisms, changed lives, making disciples and affecting our neighbors by being salt and light. What was I thinking? I was thinking we need more churches planted. I was thinking of multiplying myself by encouraging, assessing, training and coaching church planters. I was thinking that I was built for this and looking for others that were built the same way. I was thinking, maybe we could start enough churches to turn the world upside down.

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