Jesus wants His church back
Two weeks ago I passed the anniversary of a milestone in my life. June 15, 1988 I was in the middle of an ugly church fight wondering how I would make it through.
Since launching the new church eighteen months before we had added a family every week and now we were at over 200 people. Naturally I thought I was the world’s best church planter. Growth equals success.
Then the church fight and my world came crashing down. I wanted to fight or run and God just told me to stand.
Bobby Clinton says, “It’s now what you do in conflict. It’s who you are that matters.â€
I began seeking God like never before. Rising early, going out the garage. Stoking up a small wood heater. Praying and reading the scriptures. I wasn’t disciplined. I was desperate.
Then I heard John Wimber say “Jesus wants his church back again.†I realized that was the issue. He wanted his church and he wanted me, back.
One morning I’m in my garage alone. As clear a bell I know God is speaking and telling me it’s not about one new church. It’s about a whole new generation of churches. A church planting movement. That’s my calling in life, to fuel church planting movements.
It took a few months more, but we sorted through the mess I’d led us into. A few people left the church. Most stayed. God’s blessing returned. But I was never the same again. I learnt that first of all Jesus wants his church back and He wants me. Secondly He wants those sorts of churches and leaders multiplied all over the place. That’s what I do, and I love it.
