1 QUOTE

"This is no time for ease and comfort. It is time to dare and endure.”

- Sir Winston Churchill

1 NOTE

I am feel a bit nostalgic this morning. Holy Faith Fellowship turned two years old last month. The benchmark celebration has got me thinking about how God intentionally gives us faith challenges.

Faith challenge is a process item. It describes God expanding a leader’s vision and dependence upon him to accomplish that vision. In the preparation stages, this is a test. But as the leader matures and operates in faith, it becomes a challenge. God usually gives faith challenges during the ‘Build Your 30s’ decade. This was true for Becky and me.

In 2007, Becky and I wrote the word ‘church planting’ on the office wipe-board for the first time during a Monday staff meeting. The next day we met a Christian businessman (a modern Philemon) to secure employment for a young man (a modern Onesimus). All urban ministers need to master the short book of Philemon. Our friend repented out of the gangs. But his two felonies shackled his work future. The businessman greeted us with “John and Becky, have you ever thought of planting a church?” We were stunned. The week ended on Friday meeting with Wayne Carlson and Greg Yee, church planting directors for our Covenant Church mission region. The detailed guidance of the Holy Spirit that week was astonishing. After much prayer, processing and discernment, it became clear God was calling us to plant a church. And we certainly thought…our last.

We had no idea how hard the church planting road would be. At a particular low point in our planting season, Dr. J. Robert Clinton encouraged us, “John and Becky, you do know that planting a church is the single-hardest assignment in Christian ministry, right?” We hadn’t heard that before. Becky joked like Adam Sandler in The Wedding Singer when he is left at the altar, “Well, that would have been good to know…yesterday!” Becky and I said yes to our 2007 faith challenge. We planted and pastored Fountain of Life Covenant Church (FOL) for 14 years.

In 2021, Becky, the children and I received another faith challenge. This one was the later-in-life faith challenge. We were no longer 35, but now 50 years old. The second test equalled the first in clarity, but far surpassed it in dramatic timing. In response to prayer, God sent two separate fires from heaven, within 10 days, to burn out meth dealers and sorcerers (Psalm 21:9). God sent a third fire into our hearts to plant our second church. After much prayer, processing and discernment, it became clear God was calling us to plant a second church. Six months later, FOL sent us out to plant Holy Faith Fellowship.

Becky and I never thought we would plant a church. We certainly didn’t think we would plant two. But with God’s guidance and help, we said yes to the hardest ministry task in Christian ministry. Again.

1 PRAYER

Faith challenges expand our vision help us depend upon God to accomplish that vision. Have you had a faith challenge from God? Are you currently experiencing a faith challenge? What did you learn? What are you learning?

Until Next Tuesday,

John