Best Gamble – Go Forward! ...on planting a new church...

One of the sermons I preached some 9 years ago was based on story in 2^nd Kings chapter 7, about four lepers who reasoned that if they sit and do nothing – they shall die, if they go back – same thing, death.  The only chance was in the unknown, in going forward. 

I find as I grow older it is more challenging to move, to go from comfort zone.  People who move do so in search for something better.  The dissatisfaction with the present moves people forward in search for improvements.  Looking for a better job, for a better house, for a better climate – these are reasons to move.  For all who enjoys their comfort zone I invite you to consider another set of metaphors – water pond that has no moving water turns into a bog, into a swamp overtime; things unused get coated in spider webs; the road untraveled will overgrow with grass.  As long as we are on this side of Christ return, we are on the journey and moving is a necessity, being a pilgrim is our mission, going, moving forward, expanding God’s Kingdom.

For the past decade we talked about the need to have more churches in London that two.  Five years ago we were prompted by a necessity to go forward and plant a Spanish Congregation. They were meeting in this same Sanctuary in the afternoons, complicating our local ministries,  so sending the group off to a new location downtown was a step forward for both, the new company and the local ministries.  Now we are at a brink of going forward again.  The two services during the first 4 months only added complication to our programming and proved that our facilities were insufficient for increased traffic.  We had benefited numerically in financial giving during those four months, and had seen an increased attendance.  Returning to one service the numbers had gone down.  The sending off of a cohort to start a new place of worship in West London will bring the increase for both congregations.

Some are pointing out to urgent needs in the local church – new HVAC system is needed after the flooding, the fellowship hall needs renovations.  We have not resolved all internal problems.  Preparing for the send off in October I am asking you all to pray and consecrate yourselves and families of those who will go forward.  Church planting is a spiritual warfare, the enemy is not happy when a new territory is gained by Adventist message.  Over the past couple of months number of concerns in and about existing church has increased, and the temptation is to put things on hold and focus inward. 

This week in my personal devotionals I read through the book Evangelism (p.371) and this one paragraph stood out:  “Do not waste time with chronic church grumblers.--The ministers of Christ should take their position, and not be hindered in their work by these agents of Satan. There will be enough of these to question, and quibble, and criticize, to keep the ministers of God constantly busy, if they will allow themselves to be detained from the great work of giving the last saving message of warning to the world. If the church has no strength to stand against the unsanctified, rebellious feelings of church grumblers, it is better to let church and grumblers go overboard together than lose the opportunity of saving hundreds who would make better churches, and have the elements existing within themselves of strength and union and power.”  Strong words!  The main point for me – focus outward, go forward!