Constantly raise up leaders
Why do some church plants fail? I don’t know. But I do know that I’ve had to constantly raise up leaders.
Even if you only have 10 people, see everyone as a leader. There is potential in everyone. Some may learn and progress quicker than others. But everyone can lead. Some may not measure up to the calibre of others but everyone can lead at their own level.
For every person you raise up as a leader, you will end up gaining at least another ten people. This is not some sort of magic, but a reality of leadership. When people are trained, and raised up to leadership at any level, they will begin to influence others and many more will be impacted.
I realize that my impact and potential is limited. But as I continue to develop leaders, my limited potential becomes limitless. The possibilities are endless. Leadership development is not an option, it is a necessity.
Read the entire series: Why do some church plants fail?

1. Trail of failures
2. Persist in the process
3. Stick to your values
4. Continually share the Good News
5. Seek out training
6. Find fellowship
7. Become a voracious reader
8. Ask questions
9. Leave a trail of influences
10. Learn from criticism
11. Learn from your mistakes
12. Constantly raise up leaders

13. Be in it for the long run
–     – –
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Learn from your mistakes
Why do some church plants fail? I don’t know. But I do know that I’ve had to learn from my mistakes.
Gathering people and forming them into a new community takes skill and maturity (and lots of grace from God). Such leadership skill takes time and a difficult road. Accept the fact that you’ll make some significant mistakes. These are inevitable, and necessary.
If you take these experiences in the proper perspective, you’ll certainly benefit. Take each failure and setback as a stepping stone to get you to the next level in your leadership.
Read the entire series: Why do some church plants fail?

1. Trail of failures
2. Persist in the process
3. Stick to your values
4. Continually share the Good News
5. Seek out training
6. Find fellowship
7. Become a voracious reader
8. Ask questions
9. Leave a trail of influences
10. Learn from criticism
11. Learn from your mistakes
12. Constantly raise up leaders

13. Be in it for the long run
–     – –
Click here for more resources.

Leave a trail of influences
Why do some church plants fail? I don’t know. But I do know that I’ve had to leave a trail of influences in our community.
We minister in a fairly small community of about 30,000 people. Once while traveling through town with my daughter, I was waving and saying hello to several people on the street. As the waving and hello’s continued, my daughter, in a frustrated tone, said to me “Daddy, you can’t possibly know all these people. You seem to be greeting just about everyone.” All I said to her was: “Sort of…”
No, we don’t know everyone in our town. But at various levels, we have been able to touch the lives of many people in our community. It’s difficult to give an exact number, but out of that, only a few have actually become followers of Jesus.
There are numerous stories of healing, and the miraculous intervention of God in the lives of people throughout our town. But for some reason, they are not ready for a commitment to Jesus. Maybe they’ll do that one day. But it’s their choice and it’s obvious that the day has not come.
All these people are a part of the trail of influences that we’ve been leaving behind. It’s all for the glory of God. But in the future, more of them will turn to Jesus.
Read the entire series: Why do some church plants fail?

1. Trail of failures
2. Persist in the process
3. Stick to your values
4. Continually share the Good News
5. Seek out training
6. Find fellowship
7. Become a voracious reader
8. Ask questions
9. Leave a trail of influences
10. Learn from criticism
11. Learn from your mistakes
12. Constantly raise up leaders

13. Be in it for the long run
–     – –
Click here for more resources.

Ask questions
Why do some church plants fail? I don’t know. But I do know that I’ve had to ask questions of others.
It was in 1992 that we ventured out for our second church plant (in the first one, we were not the church planters but were on the planting team and helped with evangelism and small groups). Just out of seminary, I had a degree, but very little confidence.
At that time I enjoyed the privilege of phone conversations with a seasoned church planter who had successfully planted several churches by that time. Before the call, I would take out a notepad and make a long list of questions.
By the end of our conversation, I filled several pages of notes and scribbles. Those were fodder for me to tweak what I did. This habit has remained with me through the years. I continue to ask questions about outreach, leadership, preaching, and numerous other factors that are important for leadership.
Read the entire series: Why do some church plants fail?

1. Trail of failures
2. Persist in the process
3. Stick to your values
4. Continually share the Good News
5. Seek out training
6. Find fellowship
7. Become a voracious reader
8. Ask questions
9. Leave a trail of influences
10. Learn from criticism
11. Learn from your mistakes
12. Constantly raise up leaders

13. Be in it for the long run
–     – –
Click here for more resources.

Become a voracious reader.
Why do some church plants fail? I don’t know. But I do know that I’ve had to become a voracious reader.
My focus for reading was centered on church planting, evangelism, church growth, leadership, management, marketing, and a variety of general topics as well. I don’t believe that this reading gave me all the answers I needed. But this constant reading would regularly force me to rethink what I do and how I do things in ministry.
Methods, practices, and systems were constantly tweaked on the basis of my readings. After all, it’s an ongoing learning process. I’ve never told anyone that I had no clue as to what I am doing, or that I am learning as I go. Let that be a secret.
Being bi-vocational throughout all my years of ministry, I’ve always been pressed for time. So, I would place a few books in different rooms in the house. In one sitting I may only be able to read two or three pages. This means it took me several months to finish one book. But eventually I would finish. Kindle books were another means that helped to use any spare time while traveling or waiting.
The slower pace of reading also helped me to process the information and apply them to the ministry and life.
         Always looking forward to the next book.
Read the entire series: Why do some church plants fail?

1. Trail of failures
2. Persist in the process
3. Stick to your values
4. Continually share the Good News
5. Seek out training
6. Find fellowship
7. Become a voracious reader
8. Ask questions
9. Leave a trail of influences
10. Learn from criticism
11. Learn from your mistakes
12. Constantly raise up leaders

13. Be in it for the long run
–     – –
Click here for more resources.