By Mark Meredith, Church Planting Coach, PacNWC
“We know a thing or two because we’ve seen a thing or two.” Not just an ad slogan, but don’t you think it is just true? Isn’t it part of God’s design, that we acquire wisdom as we go? I am counting on it and it’s why I get great joy out of coaching and meeting with church planters. So, what’s the thing or two I have seen?
For one thing, as a church planter, I saw how discouraging it could be. There is an old saying in church planting: “the highs are higher and the lows are lower.” And I would add, the lows last longer in the soul. Without infusions of encouragement on a regular basis, church planting is hard on your soul. I was fortunate to have two great encouragers who were intentional about giving me an infusion on a regular basis. I don’t know where I would have been without it. As leaders, we owe it to ourselves and those following us to put ourselves in places we can be encouraged. It gives me joy to be a supplier of encouragement for church planters.
But the second thing is wisdom. Wisdom is so needed and it comes either from experience or learning from others who have experience. In general, it is much less painful to learn from others. As a church planter, my encouragers were also wise. They weren’t always right, as each context is different. But they helped me process decisions with greater wisdom, decisions which had a huge effect on the church and its mission.
So, my hope and joy is that I can bring some encouragement and wisdom to church planters. That is the thing or two I have seen in my own life. Of course, we all need encouragement and wisdom. These are wonderful gifts from God.