Church Planting Greatness

I was thinking the other day about what success or greatness looks like.  Later, in a conversation with a friend the inevitable query of, “How’s it going?” was asked, and I had to really think.  My first and typical response is, “Great!”  But, I think it’s only fair to ask, “Why is it great?”  Now I must say that of late my evaluation of what’s great and what’s not so great has been in a process of transition.  In the past when thinking about church planting success, I might have more quickly run to things like structures, numbers, programs, or accolades.  Maybe it’s an age thing, although frankly I think it is a lot more of a heart thing, but those answers just don’t cut it for me anymore.  In many ways I almost don’t care about them.  Now, before you question whether the “A” is for anarchist rather than Antioch, I am not saying that there is no value in those things.  What I am saying is that there are things far richer and beautiful to judge our “great” by.

So, here is why I say that things are “going great” at Antioch Church.  God is answering our prayers!  He is clearly and unequivocally working in and through us in response to our prayers.  It is enough to be great that He is working at all, but that He is blessing us to let us be a part, through our asking, is just plain mind-blowing.  We have been asking God to bring us faithful, godly people.  Ones who will be a part of this church family with the same passion and desire to reach the nations for Christ that He has placed in us.  We have asked, no begged, for God to raise-up leaders that will reflect the community and be willing to pour themselves into the lives of others for the sake of the gospel.  I see God graciously answering both of those requests.  The greatest asset that God has given us as a church is to entrust us with His sheep.  He is raising up a true community for His glory here in the Southend.  Faithful men and women of God have joined in the journey, have moved into the neighborhood, have begun to give, have opened their homes, have started investing in neighbors and each other.  This is a beautiful, wonderful, amazing…gospel thing!  New leaders are beginning to emerge that love Christ, love this community and are burdened to serve.  God IS answering our prayers.

We have also prayed that God would allow us to be fully faithful to His commission to the church.  He is answering that prayer as well.  This Sunday we will celebrate our first baptisms.  Two men in their twenties will make their public declarations of faith in Christ.  These two men, because of their backgrounds, will be doing this at great risk.  Already in their discipleship they have determined that the gospel compels them to be bold, and having counted the cost, they will take the next step in their journeys with Christ.  This is one more beautiful example of answered prayer.  Others are being drawn by the power of the gospel, still others are being shaped and carved into more faithful disciples.  Answered prayer, answered prayer.

So at the end of each day I am thankful that things are “going great,” not because of the reasons that I have celebrated in the past, but because I see the same God who called us to start Antioch Church, being faithful to work out His plan in and through HIS church.  We have a God that for whatever crazy reason hears our prayers and in His mercy responds to them according to His will. So, no matter what else happens or whether we have all the tangible evidence that things are great, if we know that God is still listening and we see Him continuing His work, then I think I’m safe to conclude that not only are things “great,” but more importantly I am reminded that He is “GREAT.”