{"id":402,"date":"2021-11-24T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-24T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/resource\/counting-the-cos\/"},"modified":"2021-12-08T14:47:52","modified_gmt":"2021-12-08T19:47:52","slug":"counting-the-cost","status":"publish","type":"resource","link":"https:\/\/www.namb.net\/church-replanting\/resource\/counting-the-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"Counting the cost"},"content":{"rendered":"

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count the cost, whether he has enough to complete it?
\nLuke 14:28<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Replanting a church is an enormous undertaking. My Church planting friends often listen with eyes wide and mouths open as I recount for them some of the challenges we faced in the early days. Usually they say something like; \u201cMan, I\u2019m glad you\u2019re doing that, I sure couldn\u2019t!\u201d<\/p>\n

There are costs to Replanting and Planting Churches. Some are similar, some are unique but each weighs heavy on the one bearing the weight of leading.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In a Replanting a Church you\u2019ll likely pay these costs:<\/p>\n

Spiritual: <\/strong>you\u2019re attempting to take back ground that the enemy has held onto for years, maybe even decades. The gains won\u2019t come easy; you\u2019ll experience significant spiritual warfare as you lead the congregation back to health and gospel vitality.<\/p>\n

Financial: <\/strong>smaller congregations in decline have often been living off their cash reserves. In calling you as a Replanter the church is taking a risk as are you. You may have to raise support, take a part-time job, or have your spouse seek employment. Conference stipends and pastoral expense accounts and paid vacation may be limited or non-existent.<\/p>\n

Confidence: <\/strong>in a Replant there are times when everyone is mad about something and nobody thinks you\u2019re doing a good job. Success may have come easily in your previous ministry setting. And now nothing seems to be working. You could begin to second guess your leadership, doubt your gifts and question your call.<\/p>\n

Family: <\/strong>serving as a Pastor is not a regular job\u2014it is a calling. A Replanter\u2019s family joins him in that calling. As you bear weight and experience pain so does your family. When it\u2019s difficult for you, it\u2019s difficult for them. Your kids may be the only ones in the children\u2019s or student ministry, your wife may serve in multiple ways.<\/p>\n

Criticism:<\/strong> in a replant everything is subject to change–the bulletin, favorite programs and events, the style of music, decorations, service times, the color of the carpet, the giant ornate pulpit, everything. People want change until it is required of them or impacts their preferences. I was surprised at the level of push back when we changed our bulletin to be more outward focused and guest friendly. The response wasn\u2019t just about the bulletin\u2014it was the fact that the church (facilities, programs, style) which had changed very little over the years was now growing less and less recognizable to the long time members.<\/p>\n

Relationships:<\/strong> people who enthusiastically welcome you as their Pastor and those who join you for the challenge of replanting will leave the Church. People for whom you prayed, counseled, served, encouraged and challenged will walk away. There\u2019s no escaping the hurt, loss and sense of abandonment this creates.<\/p>\n

Physical\/Emotional: <\/strong>it is impossible not to feel exhausted both physically and emotionally. The weight and work of replanting will take a toll. Why would anyone want to take this on? Certainly not for the glory or recognition. It\u2019s not an easy task; it is more likely to fail than succeed. It\u2019s not quick work\u2014it takes years to see it through. Why would you consider serving a dying church? Because you can\u2019t escape the clear call that God has placed on your life to this work and you are convinced that the cost, whatever it might be, is not high enough to keep you from obeying and following His leading.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

For which of you, desiring to build a tower, does not first sit down and count …<\/p>\n

Counting the cost<\/span> Read More »<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":403,"template":"","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"site-sidebar-layout":"default","site-content-layout":"default","ast-site-content-layout":"","site-content-style":"default","site-sidebar-style":"default","ast-global-header-display":"","ast-banner-title-visibility":"","ast-main-header-display":"","ast-hfb-above-header-display":"","ast-hfb-below-header-display":"","ast-hfb-mobile-header-display":"","site-post-title":"","ast-breadcrumbs-content":"","ast-featured-img":"","footer-sml-layout":"","theme-transparent-header-meta":"default","adv-header-id-meta":"","stick-header-meta":"","header-above-stick-meta":"","header-main-stick-meta":"","header-below-stick-meta":"","astra-migrate-meta-layouts":"","ast-page-background-enabled":"default","ast-page-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}},"ast-content-background-meta":{"desktop":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"tablet":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""},"mobile":{"background-color":"var(--ast-global-color-5)","background-image":"","background-repeat":"repeat","background-position":"center center","background-size":"auto","background-attachment":"scroll","background-type":"","background-media":"","overlay-type":"","overlay-color":"","overlay-gradient":""}}},"tags":[],"channels":[],"topics":[53,58],"languages":[],"class_list":["post-402","resource","type-resource","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","resource_type-article","topics-replanting","topics-revitalization"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nCounting the cost - 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