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Ben Griffin: How to overcome the wall

06.10.2010 by Ben Griffin (comments: 2)

How to overcome “the wall”.

Every planter assumes it won’t happen to them.Every planter believes they are immune to it’s affect. But every planter, and I mean every planter hits a wall.

It comes in many forms. Unmet expectations in numerical growth or impact. Overstretched because of time commitments. Collateral relational damage on the family front. Division and relational obstacles within the leadership.

I’ll say it again. No matter how “successful” a church planter is... said planter will hit a wall. That being an unforeseen obstacle that will cause them to stop and rethink everything. Here are three things that have helped me to “keep on keeping on” through the wall.

Don’t take yourself too seriously.

There was a time (not that long ago) when you would ask me how I was doing and I would in turn bore you for 15 minutes on the current status of my church. Somehow my personal well-being had become waaay to attached to the church. It was unhealthy for both me and my ministry.

Remember, it’s Jesus’ church not yours. Jesus told Peter that, “upon this rock (meaning Peter) that he (Jesus) would build his church.” Note: Jesus’ church, not yours. So, please take this amazing job serious. But also don’t forget that your main job is to follow the real Savior of your people. In other words. It’s not about you, it’s bigger than you!

Keep pressing forward

Paul says to “keep pressing on toward the goal for which Christ has called us heavenward.” This is at times very hard work. It is at times despairing. It, at times, feels like you are running in mud and not getting anywhere. Oddly enough, the times that I have felt the most “stuck” have been times that have marked great movement through God among us. So don’t just press forward to press forward. Press forward toward the goal. Turn your heart and eyes to Jesus and remember He will lead you and His people. Those “stuck” times remind us just how reliant we are on God. And even if everything else fails us, He will not. Keep on keeping on.

Remember that the most important thing is NOT the survival of your church.

Too many of us are working toward organization survival and not missional purpose. We fear that if the organization fails for lack of funding or people that we then are failures. If so, then you’re aiming at the wrong goal. Yes, I want church plants to survive. But, more importantly I want people to know Jesus. If my church closed it’s doors tomorrow it would be sad but not failure. The win is not a self-sustaining organization. The win is a repentant soul who turns to Jesus.

Self sustaining organization is NOT bad. But if that is the goal, it is deceiving and will all to easily lead down a road of self glorification and NOT gospel proclamation.

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Lisa

Comment by Lisa
06/20/2011

Good advice to those in business as well. I am convicted when you say that your "personal well-being" had become too attached..for you it is to church, for me it was to career. Lesson learned: I am not defined through the ways of the world but through belief in my salvation through the blood of Jesus.

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Comment by deer antler velvet
11/21/2011

I overcame the wall with something similar to this.

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