A while back I read a book on starting churches that advises you to avoid pastoring the people that make up your initial group because doing so can potentially ruin your chances of actually getting the church started. It never set right with me and I didn’t listen to that advice…and I’m glad.
What kind of church would I be starting if I began by intentionally using people rather than serving them and leading them to Jesus? Not a very good one. Even worse, what if the church didn’t take off…what justification would I have for using people like a commodity? None. And what if Jesus started the church like this – sacrificing his first disciples instead of pouring into them? I’m thankful He didn’t. It helps me to know I can trust Him.
In the end, WestRiver Gathering may make it and it may not. That’s ultimately not up to me. But I will answer for how I lead the people He has entrusted to me “now.” I can’t see Jesus giving me a pass on abusing one person to serve some potential person in the near or distant future that may or may not ever actually arrive.
Don’t pastor my initial group so I can start the church? I’m saying no, even if I’m wrong.
