#5 - Launching new ministries is a sign of success
This myth KILLS momentum. Churches naturally think that doing “more” is a sign of success…I say it is a sign of stupidity!
People always expect a growing church to do “more,” and because of that ministry across the board usually winds up getting watered down.
#6 - Numerical growth means we are doing everything right
If you believe this myth…then you will also be tempted to believe that you are doing everything wrong when you are not growing…thus making the church all about what you do and not about what God does.
I do believe God blesses with numerical growth; however, I believe He will bless WHEN the church (and the leadership) is ready…and not before.
AND…numerical growth from the church split in your town doesn’t mean you are doing everything right…it just means that the life sucking leeches (in most cases) have latched on to you…and they will leave you as soon as you don’t give them what they want!
#7 - Defending what we do should be one of our top priorities
I WISH someone would have told me to NOT WASTE TIME defending what we did here at NewSpring.
Dang it! I wasted so much energy and had way to many “freak outs” about what bloggers and naysayers were saying.
One of the things I used to believe is that I could win critics over…that if I could just talk to them…if they could just see my heart then they would change their opinion.
SO…instead of focusing on what God wanted to do for our church I spent time defending what He was doing…until He finally taught me that HE doesn’t need me to defend Him…but rather to OBEY Him!
Church planter—do what God called you to do…if people are speaking out against you…it probably means God has spoken into you and you are being obedient.
Don’t waste the time God has given you on those who don’t like you…ever! If what you are doing is of God then critics can’t stop it!