Gardening 101

A few years ago we planted a garden. Our garden was AMAZING! It produced a bumper crop and we did little more than pull a few weeds out when it got overgrown. The next year we planted again, pulled a few weeds again, and waited on our second bumper crop. NOTHING! I began to ask gardening people in our church what happened. What I found was this. In year one our garden grew because the land we planted it on had not been planted in years. It was fertile ground that had lied fallow for a long time. In year two we needed to not only weed the garden but, fertilize before and after planting. It would have taken a lot of work that year for our garden to be successful again.

Churches are much like gardens. Years ago in America you could hold church services, have an old fashioned revival, Preach the Word and people would come, lives would be changed, great things would happen. We were in a time of great spiritual fertility in America's soil. Now, its not that easy. We have to do things that connect with this generation of young America. We have to build community with them, build trust, create a comfortable, safe environment where spiritual seekers can find hope, help, God. Our message has not changed. God has not changed. It is still the same Spirit that draws people, the same gospel that is power unto salvation, the same Jesus that transforms. But, to introduce people to that God that radically loves them, our approach honestly takes a lot more work.

The church we will be starting in Port Washington will be geared toward connecting with spiritually confused people. All we do will be aimed at and geared toward connecting with people who are not familiar with church and are disconnected from God. Planting new churches is a lot like planting a garden. It is hard work. It takes time, dedication, investment in the soil. We have been learning over the last few years hands on what people need to thrive spiritually. Please pray for us as we do the work required to grow a brand new church. We are praying for a bumper crop.