So what if it fails? (w/ Chris Brown)

Chris Brown just did something somewhat unthinkable— he started a new church on the tail end of the pandemic, right as pastors and other leaders were asking the question, “When is everyone coming back?”

He leads The Well, in Columbia, Tennessee which— as of the recording of this episode— was in it’s 5th week.

Chris was involved in vocational ministry for several years in various capacities (never as a lead pastor), then went to work for Ramsey Solutions for four years. Something continued stirring in him, though, to make the transition back to full time church work.

“I had a thirst for community and shepherding,” he said, “not for teaching.”

He’d taught before. It was the people— the connection— that pulled him back. Not the platform.

Here’s the difference in doing it now, in his 40s, rather than launching a church in his 20s (as many church planters do): “I’m really at a place where I don’t base my identify and self-worth on the metrics,” he says. “I mean, we all say that— because it’s the right tings to say, but I feel like I’m honestly there.”

He doesn’t evaluate the church attendance on a week-to-week basis. Nor does he check the offering each week.

He looks at 10-week trends, evaluating the trajectory of where they’re heading— not just driving down on where they are at a snapshot in time.

Here are a few points to listen for in this talk—

#1 = When someone drops the ball, give grace.

Automatically assume they weren’t equipped correctly (equipping them is, in fact, your job). Or, presume they had something happening in their personal life.

The reality is that in any leadership situation you— the leader— are the lid. And that’s both good news and bad news.

• Bad = it’s on you
• Good = you can adjust it!

#2 = Develop your donors, particularly if you’re starting a new church. Raising money on the front end empowers you to focus on ministry instead of chasing money.

#3 = Reward what you want repeated. And do so publicly.

#4 = Remember that “the overcoming of Covid and the season we’re in” is small compared to God’s victories throughout the Bible, as well as the issues faced by church leaders around the globe.

#5 = Trust God with the results. If He’s called you to do something, go “all in.” Control what you can control, but then leave everything to HIs providence.

In fact, Chris asks the question, “What’s the worst thing that will happen if you fail?”

Then, he observes, “We’ve all failed before— and we’re still here.”

Instead of living from the perspective “What would have happened if I had only _______________,” live from the vantage point of, “I’ve given it all I have to give.”

Do so in a healthy way, of course.

WIth loads of prayer.

With a team of people you trust.

Links for this show =

Schedule a free strategy session at www.CourageousPastors.com/strategy 

The Well Church = https://thewellcolumbia.org/ 

The Well on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/thewellcolumbia/ 

Chris on LinkedIn = https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbrownonair/ 

Chris on Instagram = https://www.instagram.com/chrisbrownonair/ 

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