EVERY place is hard!
Seems like I upset some people with my last post. The truth hurts I guess.
One thing I always get a kick out of from guys who are frustrated and bitter that their church isn’t growing is the EXCUSE they use that they are in a “hard area to plant.” Allow to give you a news flash: EVERY PLACE IS A HARD AREA TO PLANT IN!
I’m in Canton, Georgia, the bible belt in the truest sense and yet 72% of our area is unchurched. Yep, you read that right, I said 72% of our area is unchurched. I understand that up north you are dealing with people who have never been to church in their life period. That is hard. I understand that on the west coast you are dealing with some of the most liberal people in the country. That is hard. I pastored in Iowa in a MAJOR university town. Iowa has more cults then any other state in America. It is also has a huge influence by works based faiths. Most of the people think they are going to heaven because someone splashed them with water as a child. There are VERY few churches doing anything there. Guess what? It was hard, just like every other place.
I remember thinking while I was in Iowa that it would be so much easier when we moved back to the south because that was the “bible belt.” Guess what? IT is a lot different then Iowa but it isn’t any easier.
Here in Georgia we deal with a mixture of people. First off the entire world is moving here. 70% of RSC isn’t from Georgia. So we have a mixture of the different traits that planters deal with all over the country. On top of that we have people who because they are from the south deal with the HUGE baggage they have from growing up in church. They have been burned by church, by it’s rules, etc. It isn’t a cake walk.
But I have better things to do then sit around and complain about how hard “my” area is because I have learned that church planting is HARD no matter where you are and no matter what type of church you are planting.
- Because you are planting in California doesn’t mean you have it harder.
- Because you are planting in New York doesn’t mean you have it harder.
- Because you are planting in Boston doesn’t mean you have it harder.
- Because you are planting in Iowa doesn’t mean you have it harder.
- AND Because you are planting in the south doesn’t mean you have it easy.
God is doing amazing things all around the country through men who instead of whining and complaining about how hard their area is and always looking for excuses, have instead decided to do whatever it takes to reach their areas.
Send the emails my way blasting me, but know this: you will be hard pressed to find someone who loves church planters and church planting more then I do. I am for you and would do anything I could to see you succeed.
That being said, I am sick and tired of wasting my time, our staffs time, and time I could be spending with others for guys who have it “so bad,” “planted in a hard area,” “didn’t have the proper funding”, etc.
If God called you to plant a church then do it. No excuses, just do it…and know I am rooting for you the whole way.