I want to share with you a few thoughts I have been having about what I have learned and am learning... I love what Pastor Rob used to tell me when we were preparing for the church plant... "I just old everyone the first few years... Just hang in there Ill be a better leader, preacher, pastor in five year..." E and I started this church pretty young. We were 25 when things really got going. I felt completely overwhelmed and inadequate. (Just the way God wanted us.)
Pre-Launch... 2005... This was a crazy time for E and I. I remember trying to pitch the ARC that we were up to planting and succeeding. I got flustered in Baton Rouge because there were all these self-confident, cocky, amazing pastors who wanted to plant as well. The lead team was sitting in front of E and I as we presented and of the 13 of them 5 are in the top fastest growing churches in the nation. They all had done what we were trying to do and were amazingly successful. Intimidating to say the least. I got sick... either it was the Creole cooking we were having that week or my nerves... But I found myself talking and making no sense and I could feel E looking at me like what is your problem. I left the meeting immediately and lost my etuffee.
Lessons learned...
1. People are more forgiving and understanding when they see that you are taking risks and stepping out in faith
2. Every opportunity has something that can be learned from it
3. Don't eat strange foods when you are meeting with people that can control your future
4. Get around the best and listen
5. Pray like crazy! Work like Crazy
6. Fear of failure is a great motivator
7. Time is a great incubator and immediate is not always the best... often a god marinade gives the best flavor
8. Ask people for something and they just might give it to you... ARC gave us almost $40 grand to start High Point
9. If you are stepping in a God direction failure is harder to accomplish than success is
10. People are looking for a leader to fallow even if that leader is still a work in progress... Often being apart of the growth process enders people to the leader and his/her vision... people want to be apart of something that they can get there hands dirty with and have a part to play in creating that vision. That is the beauty of building a church. We all have a part to play... the lead pastor is just doing his part of Gods greater vision for the church universal and the people in the church are doing there part to fulfill the pastors vision of the church local. God has given us a big vision to accomplish!
I will share with you my thoughts on year 1 in another post... I am so excited for year Three! God is going to take us to an amazing place for his Glory.
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