Just Say NO!

I am learning very quickly that “no” is a word that church planters must use very often. The minute you start to see a little success, then every one wants a piece of your time. The people or things that want your time aren’t bad, they just take time.

What happens is as your church starts to grow your denom wants your time. They want to you to teach, mentor, speak, etc. Nothing wrong with ANY of those things but in the early days, those are things that simply take away your time, which is your most valuable asset.

Another thing that wants your time is other church planters. NOTHING wrong with other church planters. Matter of fact, we were in their shoes before. BUT, I could literally meet with a church planter every day. As much as I LOVE church planting, I don’t have time for that.

Added to that is your church people. I am a people person. I love our people but there again, I could meet with people every day.

As Church Planters I have learned it is a balance. These people want to meet with me because we have planted a decent church but the catch is I give them all of my time, my decent church loses out and isn’t decent anymore. Then those people don’t want to meet anymore. Isn’t that ironic?

Nelson Searcy told me not to take any extra stuff until we hit 500. 500 allows you to have some staff, key leaders, etc. who can help pick up the slack at the church and keep it going.

I wish I would have listened. I didn’t and I have suffered and I think our church has as well. About a month ago I had to make a decision about what I was going to do with my time.

85% of my time (work time) goes to Ridge Stone. 10% goes to me growing as a leader by meeting with key people that stretch me. At this time I can only give 5% of my monthly time to these other things. I love these other things and as we grow and become more stable that number will climb.

Remember God called you to plant a church, having time to do that, means sometimes saying NO.