WHERE DO WE GO?

We live in a day and age where it seems that our society as a whole has lost its "moral compass".  And so the question comes, "Where does one go to know what is right and what is wrong? Where does one go to know what is appropriate when it comes to what's on television, at movies, or on the Internet?  Where do we go to find persons who we can look up to or point our kids to as examples of how best to live? Where do we go to find answers in a society that seems more and more complex and even at times confusing?

The answer is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow, and it is this: The Bible.  God's Word is God's revelation to you and me.  God's Word contains every answer you'll ever need when it comes to what is right and wrong, what is true or false, how to live to the fullest, and how to make good choices.  The Bible is a living, breathing, GPS for our lives that will guide you through the most difficult of terrain, the hardest of storms, and the harshest of winters.  The people mentioned within its pages are far from perfect, but serve as examples of God’s love and grace.  Each page from Genesis to Revelation reveals God's plan of redemption and His love for you and for me.  The Bible shows us how to love, give, serve, and live so that we might experience life to the full!  Satan doesn't want you to read it because he knows the power and insight that comes when you do… power and insight that helps you overcome his tricks and schemes.

The bottom line: For every question you have, God's Word has the answer!  I encourage you to make God’s Word a priority!  Try it, read it, trust it, and you will see all God's Word reveals to you!

Psalm 121:1-2 - I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth!

PCW 

Ambassadors for Christ

A word of encouragement and challenge to all my Christian brothers and sisters...

Remember that you are not who you use to be. If you are in Christ, you are a new person. You are not defined by your past, your failures, what someone else did or said to you, or anything else. Your life is defined by Christ Jesus and His unfailing love and grace.

You are an ambassador for Christ! As a Christian you represent Christ in all you say and do, and you have been given the privileged task of telling others of the hope that resides in you because Christ Himself lives in you. God Himself desires to use you as an ambassador of Christ to tell the WORLD around you that there is a hope, there is a love, there is a future for their lives and it is in Christ!

God desires to use you to change the world around you, one person at a time. The question is, "Will you live up to your calling? Will you live up to your fullest potential in Christ?"

Keep pressing on my brothers and sisters. Christ love and grace gives us the strength to do all things! Don't let anyone tell you that you are anything less than an Ambassador for Christ! He created you and has a plan for your life today, tomorrow, and everyday. Live and move in the power that is Christ in you the hope of glory! Someone, somewhere is counting on you to be ready to give an answer for the hope that is Christ in you. Be ready, be excited, and go out and change the world! Remember, you can do all things through Christ who gives you strength!

Love God, Love People,

Christian

2 Corinthians 5:16-21

New Living Translation (NLT)

¹⁶ So we have stopped evaluating others from a human point of view. At one time we thought of Christ merely from a human point of view. How differently we know him now! ¹⁷ This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!
¹⁸ And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. ¹⁹ For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation. ²⁰ So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us. We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!” ²¹ For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin,^[a] so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

What the World Needs Now is Love

So many "Christians" define themselves by the church they attend or the denomination they are affiliated with. "I go to so and so church" or "I am a such and such whatever".

Jesus said that we are to be recognized or "known" by something far greater than either one of these two things.

In John 13:35 Jesus says, "By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you LOVE ONE ANOTHER". ... We are to be known by our love. And I don't think Jesus was only referring to our love for our fellow Christian brothers or sisters; in fact, I believe He was referring to our love for those who do not yet know Christ. For the broken hearted, the broken down, the one who is experiencing a broken marriage, the one with broken dreams, or those with broken lives...

In Mark 2:17 Jesus said, “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.”

The old song rings truer today than ever before... "People Need the Lord, People Need the Lord. When will we realize that we must give our lives?"

So... What will you be known for today? Who will see the love of Christ in you? Who NEEDS to see the Love of Christ in you? Think about it...

2013 God and Country service at FBC Tullahoma

Incase you missed it, I wanted to share with you the video from our God and Country service at FBC Tullahoma that our choir and orchestra presented on Sunday, June 30th.  So proud of everyone who took part and thankful for the opportunity to serve God in this way.  The presentation we did is titled "Indivisible".  As I shared with the choir and orchestra before the presentation, if there is ever a time for a musical such as this, that time is now!

One side note... It was a real blessing to have everyone in my family including my paternal family involved in the presentation.  My dad, wife, daughter, and son played in the orchestra; my sister and mother sang in the choir; and my brother and his wife were the narrators.  Very cool!

Click  the following link to see the video via vimeo - https://vimeo.com/69424061

Thanks and enjoy!

Christian

Grow, Pursue, Serve

This blog post is actually my note to our Worship Choir here at FBC Tullahoma dated July 24, 2013.  I wanted to share this with a broader audience because I believe these three words and their phrases should be things we all strive to uphold.  These three words first came across my radar while serving at Grace Community Church in Cranberry Twp. PA.  Abbreviated they spell G.P.S.  So in borrowing a page from the past, I now use these words to help bring purpose and drive to the Music & Worship Ministry at FBC.

 

Greetings Choir!

As we begin a new church year, we are going to strive to uphold three key words:  Grow, Pursue, and Serve.

·        GROW – To grow in our relationship with Jesus Christ.

·        PURSUE – To pursue relationships with others.

·        SERVE – To serve the church and beyond through music ministry.

I could point to several passages of scripture that support the three key words mentioned above.  One passage that stands out though is Acts 2:42-47.

Acts 2:42-47

⁴² They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. ⁴³ Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. ⁴⁴ All the believers were together and had everything in common. ⁴⁵ They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. ⁴⁶ Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, ⁴⁷ praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.

Here we see a picture of what the early church disciples were doing as well as the results of their efforts.  Speaking of efforts, it is important to note that their efforts brought about tangible results.  Truth be told, if our efforts as a choir, music ministry, or as a church are not producing tangible results… I believe something is wrong and either needs changed or fixed.

Considering the scripture passage above, and utilizing our key words, allow me to share with you what I aspire to see as we move forward in later half of 2013 and the coming year, 2014.

GROW – It is my prayer that we all grow deeper in our relationship with Christ in the coming church year.  The reality is that we are all at different places in our faith walk so what this will look like for one person will be different for another.  I work hard to make sure that the music we sing is scripturally based.  Sometimes the music we sing is actually scripture itself.  So again, it is my prayer that as you sing, worship, hear devotionals, and fellowship with other believers, you will grow in your relationship with Jesus Christ.

PURSUE – The old saying goes, “If you want a friend, be a friend”. Actually that “old saying” rings pretty true.  I’ve heard so many folks say, “I don’t have any friends at church” or “No one ever talks to me”.  Well, do you talk to others?  Relationships take time and require effort on your part.  Funny… I have never heard of any “great” relationships that were one sided.  Fellowship doesn’t just happen.  Someone (possibly you) have to take the first step!

SERVE – If what we do as a choir is simply a matter of tradition than I say we quit doing it.  I believe that everything we do as a choir and as a church must be driven by a hopeful outcome.  We sing songs of praise and worship to God and about God with the hope that it will draw others to worship and praise Him.  We sing songs of testimony to say that we are human and are in need of the grace and hope of Christ ourselves.  At the end of the day, we do what we do with the hope that lives will be changed, and that people will be drawn closer to Christ.

I hope you will join with me in upholding these three key words.  I believe God wants to do great and mighty things in and through us in the coming year.  Let’s keep pressing on as we strive to grow, pursue, and serve together!

Blessings,

Pastor Christian

 

Are you Content to be Content?

Lately I have been struggling through the question, "Is it ok for a Christian to be content?" To phrase it another way, "Is contentment ever a goal for the Christian?"

This morning as I pondered on this a bit more the answer came to me... NO!  Well, maybe...

One might look at a passage such as Philippians 4:12-13 and argue that it is ok for a Christian to be content because the Apostle Paul stated that he was content.

In Philippians 4:12-13 Paul says, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Him who gives me strength”.

There are two key phrases in verse 13 that simply cannot be glossed over. The first is “can do”.  These two words evoke action.  Paul is stating that there is nothing He can’t do because in Christ strength He can do “all things” which is our second key phrase.  Paul CAN DO ALL THINGS through Christ who gives Him strength.  Therefore Paul was doing everything and anything God had called him to do.  He was worshipping, sharing his faith, serving others, praying, and so much more.  He was only content in the fact that with the power of Christ in Him “all things are absolutely possible”.

In chapter 3 of this same letter, Paul speaks of His life in the frame of running a race and pressing on towards the goal of winning the prize for which God had called heavenward in Christ Jesus.  In other words, contentment for Paul was not a matter of being satisfied that he had done enough.  There was no ministry retirement for Paul and there shouldn’t be any for you or I either.  The old song says, “We’ll work till Jesus Comes” and that’s exactly how we ought to live out every day of our lives until we too are called heavenward in Christ Jesus.

So here are a few questions for you to ask yourself…

1.      Are you content with being content?  Or are you willing to do whatever it is God might be calling you to do no matter what age you might be, or what limitations you might have?

2.      What is God calling you to do that you need to believe He has the strength to help you follow through with?  Whatever it is I encourage you in the name of Christ and in the strength of Christ alone to step out in faith and do it!  If God is your strength, you can do whatever He is calling you to do.  You have to believe and have faith!

3.      Is your ministry service in a rut?  In other words are you serving in an area that has become comfortable to serve in yet the ministry isn’t showing much fruit or might even be dying? Have you considered that God might have a totally different area or place for you to be serving in?  It is very easy to become content in our serving yet be unfulfilled because we are content to serve in a ministry that has dried up and died.  Serving in an area where no fruit comes only leaves the server tired, frustrated, and unfulfilled, and the harvest just as plentiful as it was before.

4.      Have you retired from serving?  Maybe you already did your time?  As an old saying goes in the south… HOGWASH! There is no retiring when it comes to ministry.  I really wonder sometimes about people who do nothing more than come to church and never get involved in serving.  Either the church is doing something wrong by not helping them find a place to serve or they have a distorted picture of serving. I’ve seen both.

In conclusion, the Apostle Paul was content.  However, he was only content in the fact that his “doing” would be fruitful because He realized that anything he did in the power of Christ would always result in a favorable outcome. 

Don’t be content to be content.  Only be content to do something awesome for the Kingdom and cause of Christ!

Christian Watts

When was the last time you fed Jesus?

I don't get out much.  Really...

As a Pastor, I spend most of my days in very sheltered environments either at my home or at the church.  When I do get out I am  typically on a mission to buy something, eat something, or to wet a line.  Rarely do I go out with the purpose of feeding Jesus or at the very least offering Him something to drink.

This past Saturday morning was an exception...

I got up and started my day at about 7:00.  I had my morning coffee, checked Facebook, fed the dogs, and was doing most of my normal morning things when I noticed two utility workers a couple of houses down loading up what remained of a tree that had been cut down.  Knowing that I would need some firewood come winter, and knowing that they would be dumping the remains of the tree at the local city dump, I got in my truck and went down to get a load or two of free firewood.

The two guys were really nice and even helped me load the wood into my truck.  We began to chat a bit (mainly small talk) when I decided to tell the guys about my occupation.  "I'm a Pastor at First Baptist Church here in Tullahoma", I said.  "Where is that?", one of the guys asked.  "It's on the corner of Washington and Grundy Streets", I replied.  "Oh, that BIG church", one of the guys stated.  "'Yeah, I use to go to church but got away from it'.  'My mom keeps telling me I need to get back into it'", said one of the men.  "I couldn't ever go back to church", said the other guy.  I was in prison for a time, and well... I've done too much wrong in my life... more than you would ever want to know".

As the proverbial doors opened wide, I had the chance to begin sharing with the two men about the grace of Christ and the fact that we ALL are sinners.  I had the opportunity to tell them that nothing they did or could ever do would ever separate them from God's love.  I shared with them the fact that apart from God's grace and Christ sacrifice I too would be without hope.  However, we all have hope and can spend eternity in heaven because of what Jesus did for us on the cross. And He did it knowing that we would rebel, sin, and overall just mess up. (Romans 5:8).

Both men told me they had never heard much of what I had told them, and then they went on to tell me they would have never thought a Pastor could be so real if they hadn't met me.  They seemed literally "shocked" at the fact that I was human and that I relied on the same grace and salvation that could save them.

At the end of our conversation I told them where I worked and made it clear that my door would always be open to them if  they ever needed to talk or needed anything at all. 

In having to be at the church for a funeral in 45 minutes we said our goodbyes and I drove off with my second load of firewood.  However, what I really left with and am still left with today are a lot of thoughts and questions.  Questions like:

1. How many people just like these two guys are out there?  What are we doing to help them?  Are we so focused on ourselves that we neglect to be and to share Christ with the lost right in front of our noses?

2. Are we as Christian's loosing the battle in this country because we don't get out enough?  I mean, Jesus Christ hung out with tax collectors and sinners.  Maybe He would have more likely been found in the local bar than in the average local church.

3. When was the last time I shared the hope of Christ with someone?  If that question was asked to the average "Christian" what would their answer be?  I am afraid I know what many of the answers would be...

4. Is our church just a Country Club or is it a hospital for the hurting?  Ok, you say it's a hospital for the hurting... If that's so, our "ER's" should be jam packed week in and week out with the TONS of hurting and dying people that are all around us.  Bottom line: We need more Pastors and Christian's to make old fashioned "house-calls" (get out into the trenches in our communities) and quit waiting for people to walk in to our "Country Clubs" we call churches.

I could literally go on and on with the questions and thoughts that this one Saturday morning has brought to my mind... Perhaps though, this scripture passage sums it up best...

Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)

“But when the Son of Man comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, then He will sit upon His glorious throne. 32 All the nations will be gathered in His presence, and He will separate the people as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33 He will place the sheep at His right hand and the goats at His left.

34 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the world. 35 For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home. 36 I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

37 “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38 Or a stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you clothing? 39 When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’

40 “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were doing it to me!’

41 “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. 42 For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. 43 I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

44 “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’

45 “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’

46 “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”

Christian, this isn't a game were playing; there are people's lives at stake!  Again, I ask you, "When was the last time you fed Jesus?"  The scripture tells us that anytime we do anything in Jesus name we do it as if we had done it to Jesus Himself.  Our call to go and make disciples is clear yet so many people continue to do nothing with the exception of those things that benefit ourselves.  We cry out about the moral decline in our country but do nothing ourselves to actually reverse the trends.  If a person is drowning and you stand there holding a life preserver yelling out "someone is drowning" but never throw it out to them, all you have done is state the obvious while the person dies in the process.  Christian, you have the life preserver (Jesus Christ) and people around you are drowning, calling out for help, reaching out for hope...

Will you share your food with Jesus?  Will you throw out the life preserver?  People are hopeless, helpless, dying... Christian, you have what they need.

An old hymn says it best. "Rescue the perishing, care for the dying. Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save!" 

Please...do more than think about it...

Pastor Christian Watts

Father's Day sermon 6.20.11 "Seeds" Pastor Christian Watts as "Billy Bass"

Pastor Christian Watts A.K.A. "Billy Bass" shares a message for Dads on Father's Day 2011. Click HERE to watch it now!

Hoarders Buried Alive

4 Part sermon series by Pastor Christian Watts regarding the things that tend to overwhelm, and even at times, "overcome" us.

FEAR - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3hrYN9lBw4

CIRCUMSTANCES - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0NHzuYZoxo

PAST - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BKXlVlNVGo

FUTURE - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qjJqImCgdQM

Marriage and Homosexuality: What I REALLY think

Over the past several days I have been pretty vocal on social media regarding my stance to protect the definition of marriage as being that of one man and one woman coming together under one God.  I stand firm on this because I believe the Bible clearly defines marriage in this way.  God created man and woman uniquely, yet only when they come together can the "two become one flesh" and a new life (a baby) develop from the two. 

Let me say right here and upfront that I do not hate homosexuals. In fact, I have many friends who are openly gay.  I love and care about them as I do any of my friends.  We may not agree on some key issues; however that should not, and does not mean that I should hate them nor bash them (and I will not do either nor support those who do).

Someone recently asked me this question: "Can someone who has practiced a homosexual lifestyle get into heaven?"  My answer was and is this: "Getting into heaven isn't about anything we do, have done, or didn't do.  Getting into heaven is about having accepted Christ sacrifice on our behalf, and trusting in Him for salvation".  Romans 3:23 tells us that "All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God".  When we start labeling one sin as worse than another sin we begin playing God by judging others.  Only God can and will judge sin.  The question comes, "Do you have someone, The Righteous One (Jesus), standing in the "sin gap" for you on your behalf? 

Do I believe that practicing homosexuality is a sin? Yes (Romans 1:18-32).  Do I believe that having sex outside of marriage is a sin? Yes (I Corinthians 7:2).  Do I believe that lying is a sin? Yes (Exodus 20:16).  The point being that all of these things (and more) are sins.  They all separate us from God and all come with a severe penalty which the Bible tells us is death and eternal separation from God.  The only way any one of us can escape this penalty is by having made Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior, and in doing so have repented of our sins and strive daily to live our lives for Christ and not for our earthly, fleshly desires.

Do I believe someone is sinning just because they have homosexual tendencies or feelings?  No.  Do I believe that someone is sinning if they practice homosexuality? Yes.  What we do when we are tempted by sin is what matters (James 1:14-15).  All of us will be tempted to sin.  And what is sin?  Anything contrary to the nature, will, or purposes of God.  We all sin and we are all sinners, period.

God created man and God created woman.  From the very beginning God brought them together to help one another and to be soul mates.  A man's body and a woman's body were created in such a way that they (going to get graphic here) "naturally fit together".  And only when a man and a woman come together can a child be conceived.

Marriage is and should be a COVENANT between one man and one woman under God.  Why do so many marriages fail?  I see two main reasons: One, the marriage was not seen as a covenant relationship that is for better or worse.  Two, someone in the relationship broke the covenant. 

I have been married to my wonderful wife Kelleye for 19 years this April 2, 2013.  I can give testimony that when a marriage covenant is made under God it can be a beautiful and wonderful thing.  It does take work but it is worth it!  And just like any thing that is worth anything it has rules that when followed help to make the marriage all God intended it to be.  Ephesians Chapter 5 is where the Apostle Paul lays out God's rules for the husband and the wife.  And just like other principles in the Bible, these rules are not meant to make us slaves but rather to make us free!  Only under God can we truly have freedom and experience abundant life; life the way the creator and sustainer of the universe intended it to be.

I do not support gay marriage because I do not believe it is Biblical.  In other words, I do not believe that gay marriage represents marriage as God intended it to be.  Somewhere in this country we have to begin drawing lines as to what is and what is not morally acceptable.  We live in a culture where if it feels good, do it!  What feels good isn't always what is right.  Just ask any heroin or cocaine addict who has seen their life go down the tubes for what "felt good".

Throughout history laws and boundaries have been set in order for people to not do whatever "felt good" or "came natural".  I mean, who hasn't felt like punching someone in the face??!!  Will there come a day when I can just do that or worse because "I have a right to do so"?  You say, "No that's just wrong".  Well, 10 to 20 years ago the thought of gay marriage was "just wrong".  What will be next?  Where will we draw the line when it comes to compromising moral standards?

So what's my bottom line?  I believe that the institution of marriage should be reserved for that of one man and one woman coming together in a covenant relationship under God.  That's how I believe the Bible defines marriage and therefore that is where I will stand.

It's often easier to turn away from the realities around us than it is to stand up for what we believe is right.  I am thankful for the men and women who have gone before me and have stood firmly on Godly principles that allow me to worship freely in these United States.  Today I take my stand along with those who have gone before for what I believe to be right, true, and under God!

In God (and His Word) We Trust!

Christian Watts

PAIN

For the past 5 years I've had chronic pain of some kind.  In October of 2008 I suffered a broken leg which led to painful blood clots and knee surgery the next year.  In January of 2010 I began to have neck and back pain  (Degenerative Disc Disease) which has led to three neck surgeries with a fourth possibly coming later this year.  Honestly, I don't really remember what it feels like to not have pain.

 

Have I had days in the past five years that I've wanted to give up??  You better believe it!  Have I had days when I've wondered if God had forsaken me or if He was punishing me for some reason?  You better believe it!

 

However, and as crazy as it might sound, I know that God has a purpose and a plan in the midst of my pain.  I know that if nothing else He has used my pain to draw me closer to Him so that I might know Him more and through my testimony make Him more known!  If you know me you know that I am not one who blows spiritual smoke signals just to get attention.  No, if there are any smoke signals it's because there's a fire of God's Holy Spirit working in and through me.

 

How boring life would be without the difficult times.  I believe the saying to be true: No pain; no gain!  It is in the difficult times, through the pain, in our defeat, when God does some of His best shaping of who He desires for us to be.  The scripture rings true that when it says, "When I am weak He is strong"!  And just like a child who runs to their mother or father when they are afraid or hurt, we too can run to our Heavenly Father and find all the comfort, protection, and love in Him we'll ever need.  His perfect love drives out my fear and despair.

 

I'm reminded of Romans 8:35-39 which says:

 

³⁵ Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? ³⁶ (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) ³⁷ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

³⁸ And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. ³⁹ No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

The bottom line...  In life you and I are likely to experience trouble, calamity, persecution, danger, and more.  But God loves us none the less!!  In fact, He loves us all the more and promises us victory over anything that comes against us!  One thing I do know is that be it in this life or in glory, one day all of this earthly pain and suffering will be over and done with.  All our "earthly stuff" will pass away and what will matter is whether or not we call Jesus Lord.  Because if Jesus is Lord today... He is Lord tomorrow... and the next day... and next week... and next month... and for all eternity!!

 

Pain and suffering are a part of life.  Who and what you trust in in the midst of the pain is what matters.  I have learned to trust in Christ and He has proved faithful! 

 

Thank you Lord for allowing me to share in your overwhelming victory!

 

Christian Watts

3.13.13

 

 

PLANTING A CHURCH: LESSONS I LEARNED ALONG THE WAY

PART 1: “Knowing When to Let Go and Move On”

By Christian Watts

In late June of 2009 my wife and I were confronted with the idea of planting a church in our home community.  At the time we were at a ministry crossroads of sorts as we knew God was leading us to leave our current ministry position and serve elsewhere (although we didn’t know where that might be).  In many ways it made perfect sense to start a church in our home community.  For one, there was a lack of Bible believing, Christ-centered churches in our area; secondly, we really didn’t want to move out of the community that we had grown to love; thirdly, we didn’t want to pull our children out of the schools they had been in for several years; fourthly, we knew many people in and around our community that like us were longing for a Biblically sound local church; and fifth, and perhaps most importantly, we truly believed that God might very well be leading us to do this.  There was however one huge problem in that we really had no idea what we were doing.

Long story short, before we knew it we and four other couples were on our way to starting a church.  We set a launch day of September 27, 2009, which meant we had less than 3 months till the church would begin.  Amazingly, all the pieces seemed to fall in place for the new church.  Some examples: We secured an incredible facility to meet in; we were being supported financially by others who were joining our efforts; and we were finding that a bunch of people were excited about having a new church in their community.  It truly seemed God was at the helm of this and that it would not fail!  I had heard that 80% of church plants fail but I was almost positive this would not be one of them.

We launched on Sunday, September 27, 2009 with 190 persons in attendance.  Of course that number dropped off the next Sunday.  However, over the next several weeks we saw attendance increase and begin moving in a positive direction.   By the spring of 2010 we had hired a part time administrative assistant and were working to hire a Pastor of Youth and Children.  Our attendance was averaging 150 persons and it really seemed that this thing was destined to take off.  We were the talk of the town and other church’s around us.  Some churches even seemed to be threatened by our growth.  God was raising up His church in a way that we could have only imagined.

The summer of 2010 went pretty well.  We were able to hire a Pastor of Youth and Children and he seemed to be working out just fine.  However, one thing I had not anticipated was that I was having a problem with my neck that had begun earlier in the year and unfortunately was growing increasingly worse.  In the fall of 2010 I would have the first of three neck surgeries over the course of the next eight months.  All seemed well though and God was still on the throne.

Let me just say here that I could literally write a book about all I learned through both the good and the not-so-good moments over the course of the nearly three years that I pastored this church.  However, that is not what this post is about.  And with this in mind I’m going to jump in the story to the spring of 2011.  God was still working, people were being saved and we were still “alive”.  However, come April, and over the course of just a few weeks, our Pastor of Youth and Children would resign, I would have two neck surgeries, and the perfect storm began to brew that began to show cracks in our foundation and the reality that we were not as strong as we thought we were.  For the first time in our short history, our church was beginning to see a decline.

I remember being in the hospital in early April of 2011 waiting to have my third surgical procedure.  Sitting there realizing that I was going to be out of commission for  an unforeseen amount of time and knowing that an uproar had begun over the how’s and why’s of the youth pastor’s departure.  I had to trust the leadership that I had put in place to lead in my absence but the truth was that they were anything but a tight-knit group.  My hands were tied and there was nothing I could do to rush in and save the day for our ailing church.  I mean, I was the pastor, music minister, administrator, and head elder.  What was going to come of our church without ME?? 

Sometimes it is only when we are at the end of our rope or the bottom of the barrel that we truly depend on God.  I was there and I had no choice but to let go and let Him have it all.  You see, I am one that strongly desires to see God move, to see revival in the land… However, I readily admit that sometimes in my excitement I get ahead of God and begin to go it alone in my efforts and in my strength.  This may get a person through for a while, but when the going gets tough if God isn’t at the forefront of it - it will fail.

As a church we limped through what remained of the spring and summer of 2011.  We saw many folks abandon ship including many of our leaders.  We were however able to bring a part-time worship leader on board which was needed due to my poor health and continued recovery.  Don’t get me wrong there were still many folks who supported us and believed in us… However, without the help of outside support we would be financially in trouble.  I found myself having to work to raise funds to help support the ministry which was by far not my favorite thing to do.  We were still alive but definitely on life-support.

Fall arrived and we were determined to get this thing back on track.  Our leadership had been meeting and it was decided we need to change a few things including our mission statement.  We were going to learn from our mistakes, press on, and work to turn things around.  Over the course of the next several months things seemed to be going in a positive direction, we were even growing ever so slightly.  However, we could not seem to get over the proverbial “hump”.  Truth-be-told I was growing frustrated and was left shaking my head as to what exactly the problem was…

By January of 2012 God was making it clear to me that He was calling me elsewhere.  I really had no idea where or what and didn’t even want to think about the idea of leaving the church God had called me to plant.  However, it was becoming ever clearer to me that God had something else for me… somewhere else for me to serve where I would have an even greater kingdom impact than where I was at the time.  And even though I didn’t know “where” or “what” I knew that if God was leading me somewhere else I had to go.  He could not and would not bless my efforts at the church plant if I were to stay knowing this.  It wouldn’t be right and it wouldn’t be fair to the people there.

Over the course of the next several months God made it clear where He was calling me to be.  And let me say this:  When God lays out the path and gives the direction you have no doubt that He is in it.  Everything just comes together in a way that you know it can only be His leading.  So how did I know that He was leading me to where I am now?  What were the “signs”?  Let me share a few…

1.      Where at the beginning it was evident that God was the sustaining and driving force of the church, we had now come to a place where human effort seemed to be the sustaining and driving force of the church. 

Psalms 127 says, “Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain”.  What at one time seemed almost effortless and joyful had become hard work and tiring.  Don’t get me wrong, God’s work can be hard and tiring… However, it was becoming more and more evident that human effort was what was leading the charge which will get you nowhere without God’s leading and provision.

 

2.      God had removed my desire to lead the church.

It would have been unfair and selfish for me to continue serving a church that I no longer felt called to serve.  Whether I started the church or not is not the issue.  I learned a long time ago that if God is not in it or for it - it will go nowhere.

3.      Other church plants with stronger foundations were rising up in and around the community.

God was raising up new, Biblically sound churches in and around our community that had greater stability than we had. 

4.      God was opening a specific door for me to walk through.

Truthfully, the last place I ever thought I would be is where I am right now.  Nothing against where I am right now, it’s just the truth.  It was clear that if this door was opening for me it had to be God.

5.      Things were going on in the life of my family that seemed to indicate that now was a good time to move.

Sometimes you just need a change of scenery.  Other times God allows you to be closer to family that you have been away from for many years.  Both of these were true in our case.

6.      The Pieces of the Puzzle could not have come together more perfectly.

Our house sold in one day (and for 100% of our asking price), we found a house in our new area to purchase and move into immediately, we ended up in the town we never thought we would be but we already liked.

7.      God was at the forefront of our transition.

Our move and transition wasn’t all peaches and cream.  A lot of folks at the church plant were mad at us for leaving and a lot of folks at our new church weren’t exactly sure they wanted this “hip young family” at their church.  However, it was evident that God was in it and that’s all that mattered.

I was saddened to hear that in late December of 2012 the church we had planted had closed its doors.  I had earnestly prayed that the church would establish new leadership and move forward.  However, this was not God’s plan for this church.  I truly believe that if God had wanted this church to survive it would have.  I also believe that the three and a half years God sustained this church wasn’t for not.  All of us who were a part of this effort were being shaped and molded more into what God would have for us to be from being a part of it.  I know for me, God did an incredible work in my life spiritually that has and will make me a better pastor as I serve Him in the days and years ahead.  Some 50 people were saved and baptized over the course of three plus years; people who have now been saved by grace through faith to spend eternity reigning with Christ!   Also, many who attended the church are now a part of the other church plants in and around the community and they take their insight and experience with them.

Was it all for not??  No way!  Everything that happens, God allows to happen for a reason.  And every person that supported the work that began in June of 2009, whether it was monetarily, physically, or spiritually, was a part of God’s plan and was used and touched by Him in the process.  I thank God for the opportunity to be a part of the church He planted and also thank Him for the lives He allowed me to touch and be touch by during that time. 
 
In conclusion let me remind us of the truth found in Romans 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.

I know that God allowed a church to be planted and lives to be changed back in 2009.  I also know that He did it for His glory, for our growing, and to bring about His greater good.  I beleive that God allows everything to happen for a reason; and that everything that happens passes through His sovereign hands. 

Christian Watts

2.11.13