His power is made perfect in my weakness.
You don’t have to scroll very far through my blog to realize I stink at blogging! I’d much rather be with people than behind a computer. And I’m so ADD, it’s challenging for me to write in paragraphs. I’m bored with myself after the first sentence. I prefer status updates on facebook from my blackberry while I’m talking to someone at the same time.
But, I have an unbelievable story to tell. I don’t know if anyone even subscribes to this blog, so I hope somehow this story finds it’s way to the right person.
Sunday, January 25th, my team and I launched MyChurch in Columbus, GA. We were supposed to be in this awesome, new strip mall with a cool build-out planned and decorated to our specs. Six days before our launch, we found out we could not be in the building (after 50,000 mailers had gone out announcing our big day). Keep in mind, this is January. It was one of the coldest weeks of the year (low temps at 21 degrees). We had no other options but to rent a big tent and put heaters inside. I was sure people would drive up, see the tent and keep going.
Fifteen minutes before the service, I was hiding in my truck praying for God’s power to keep people from turning away. When I came around the corner, I saw a line of people all the way across our parking lot, waiting to check their kids into a Tae Kwan Do studio turned kid’s ministry. Then, I walked in the tent, and it was full and overflowing with people (and warm too, I might add). My sister told me later that my jaw dropped open and I said, “Oh my gosh (I try not to say that around my kids).
Long story short, we had 625 people come to our launch, standing room only. (We’d have never fit in our building…God is so sovereign). We had to add 200 chairs all around the tent to our 300 inside. 44 people checked off on a communication card that they were choosing to make Jesus the leader and forgiver of their life! It was the most amazing God moment of my life.
What should have been an awkward experience with a bunch of new people upset for sitting in the cold turned out to be an unforgettable adventure. People walked away exhilarated. The Spirit of God moved in an amazing way! I asked how many people would come back next week. Everyone raised their hand, so we announced we’d have two services next week!
I am on my face praising God. This is not a story of success. This is a story of brokenness. Eighteen months ago, I shut my first church plant down. It was the most painful time of my life—worse than losing my mother. I felt like a complete failure. I had people blog about our church shutting down (maybe that’s why I still hate blogging). It was the lowest point of my life.
A few faithful friends, Shawn Lovejoy at Mountain Lake Church, Brian Bloye at Westridge and Bil Cornelius at Bay Area Fellowship, wrapped their arms around us and believed in us when we didn’t believe in ourselves. God poured down His grace on me and my family! I had read about grace, talked about grace, preached about grace, but I had never personally experienced God’s grace (other than my salvation). God broke my spirit and filled me up with His grace. I would choose the pain all over again to get to experience God’s love that way again.
I love my first church. Hundreds of people came to Christ there. Many of those people helped us launch MyChurch. It’s as much theirs as it is ours. I’m so grateful for all they sacrificed with us.
One thing I have learned, “God does not delight in sacrifice, He delights in a broken spirit.” The guys at ARC and DCN who partnered with us on round two, told us that God is using guys my age who have fallen down and gotten back up. I wasn’t sure whether or not to believe them. Now, I want every pastor and every church planter who is experiencing pain to know…relish in it. Let God break your spirit. He is preparing you for the next great thing.
So don’t call me and ask me how we did this launch. I’ll have to tell you to go out and fail at something or choose the most painful circumstances you could imagine. I have no talent, no good strategy, no superstars in the wings…I only have the power and grace of God. Praise God for using broken people like me! You broken guys out there, get up off your face and do what God tells you to do, even if you think it’s impossible. There are millions of people out there who need God’s grace, and you’re the only guy who can really authentically pass it on!
PS – I don’t have time to do links to all these people I mentioned. But they all have great websites and blogs, you should look them up!
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Congrats, Jeff. I am pulling for you.
Dear Jeff, With joy and tears I have read your “blog”…God has blessed you not only with a wonderful family and friends…but with the LOVE that not many have…I was one of the many that loved, rejoiced, came to God, got baptized in “Big Sky Community Church”. This church, your church, MY church was THE best thing that ever happened in my life, you are and always be My pastor, even though I can’t be there in your new church with you.
You will see that there is a reason WHY everything happens, you changed the life of many here and as you can see WILL change the life of many lucky Christians that live there in Columbus…wish I was closer to keep working and worshiping with you…WE LOVE YOU and GOD bless you always…The Araya’s.
I am talking about “Praying Big” on Sunday and I am going to read parts of your story if that is okay? Can’t wait to come hang on Feb. 8. Todd
I believe that your blog fell upon the right ears. I am in the process of starting my own educational agency to provide support to families and individuals with intellectual disabilities by providing support, RESPITE etc… Your words definitely helped inspire me; not to give up at the first sign of “trouble”. My Church and what I felt Sunday could not have came at a better time in my life. I will be there Sunday and many more Sundays to come.
It’s great to see what God is doing at My Church. I can’t wait to see what is to come, we’ll be with you ever step of the way!
[...] Check out this video of day one and then go here to read Jeff’s take on the day… [...]
Jeff it was amazing to see God at work in Columbus through His people & His Church - My Church. Hey keep sharing your journey with us, God will use it to grow, stretch and reach many.
I am sitting here; reading the blogs thinking about how fortunate I am to have a church come to Columbus that is all inclusive. i was raised in RELIGON that let me down, more than I could ever explain to anyone. For the first time in 51 years, I have hope again. I may be a little crazy (just a little); I am positive that “My Church will do wonderful things in the Columbus area and I plan on being there. Thanks will never be enough, for you and the many believers that had a part in the out pouring of the Holy Spirit that I felt on Sunday Janurary 25th.
Jeff, i am blown away as i read your blog tonight! Powerful! I sent home the DNC link to your web site to my bride (Jen) and told her she had to see what God did as you launched. She called and told me i had to read your blog. Praise God bro! Praise God! My only regret: that i was not able to get my act together and get there with a team there to assist you at launch. …but you would have to turn us away becuase it was too crowded. ha! So stinkin’ proud of you…and the brokeness He has carried you through for His glory! - Stay reckless for my Jesus, Jeff!
Great post Jeff. I am so pumped for you guys. It encourages me tremendously as we prepare to plant on the other side of the river. Great words of wisdom.
Jeff, we’ve walked together on this journey……….couldn’t be happier for what God has done. Your article was out of the ballpark, on the target. I’ve been there too! Adrian Rogers said it years ago, that “God uses greatly those He hurts deeply.” Every word you wrote I felt….I’ve closed a church plant down myself. It hurts, but God heals and advances. Somehow, some-way, God brings all our experiences together in one place and we are stunned with the product! It gives us ALL hope that, surely, God is not going to waste any of our sorrows. I’m counting on it! Congratulations!
Our great big God is so good!
Hi. I don’t know you or anyone affiliated with your church but I used to live in Columbus and go to CSU. I went there for two years, but left Columbus in search for something (God). I am now living in Valdosta, GA and I am living for Christ, but still burdened for the city of Columbus. I am really broken for the campus at CSU. I have always felt like there needed to be a contemporary “come as you are” church in Colubmus to reach the campus and meet them in a place where they are! A place to reach out to them and let them know that they dont have to feel like they need to get perfect to be loved by God. Reading your blog touched my heart, not only because you included two of my favorite verses… but two verses that church leaders NEED to remember. psalms… the lord desires a broken spirit and a broken and contrite heart. and corinthians… His power is made perfect in your weakness! Amen!
You are giving Him the Glory and that is amazing. I will be praying for your church and the college students that will hear about your church and those who will attend.
I will pray for you, as a church planter, that Satan will have no power in your life when he attempts to make you give yourself the Glory if and when big things happen in your church, if he makes you feel like nothing will ever happen in your church, or if adversity reaches your church. Romans 8:28.