Church Planting in the Recession

What does it mean to "seize the day" for Jesus? I suppose that it means that we need to take advantage of the circumstances that confront us each day. Right now church planters find themselves in an economic downturn. That seemingly threatening news may not be as bad as one might think. It is true that gas and utilities are more expensive and inflation is hitting some food items. But is there an upside of the recession?

Frankly, as I was preparing a message on the rich young ruler it occurred to me that there are some forces working in affluence that hinder the gospel. When things are going well we often tend to lean on "our own understanding" rather than completely trust the Lord in our church work. As the young ruler found, riches hinder full obedience to Christ. David Beckworth , in his study "Praying for a Recession" found that Evangelical churches grew at 55% faster rate in recessions. Is that because people are more open to reaching out to God for help? Is it because we are at the end of ourselves more often?

How should it affect the church planter? Well, those in a close knit group like a start up church are likely to make greater sacrifices to keep the church thriving because of the buy-in factor. In larger churches it is easier to fade into the woodwork. So there might not be immediate financial constraints. Evangelism is easier in that there are many avenues of outreach. And people have an awareness of their need for God (or at least help). We use a pantry ministry to connect people to the ministry here. In spite of snow, there are often hundreds of people lined up outside the doors on Thursday evenings. There is much need, and while there might not be piles of money to use to meet that need, we can join in prayer with people at the place of their need. Letting God be God, and watching the miracles happen!

So don't freak out about the economy. It is an open door. The question is will we answer the opportunity at our doorstep?