If I Had It To Do Over Again ... (part 1)

Sometimes I'll catch myself thinking about if I could go back 6 years and start Rock Bridge all over then what would I want to do differently and what would I do the same??  I'll take two posts to answer this question.  Today, I'll start with if I had it to do over again, I would do these things differently:

Learn the lesson that praying is more important than preparation.  (In fact, prayer IS preparation).  There is no substitute for prayer and I've found in my life that what I thought was prayer was not what God means by prayer.  God promises to build His church and He says it shall be a house of prayer; therefore, we better ask Him to "teach us how to pray" ... I wish I had asked this question earlier.

Hire staff quicker as a catalyst for growth rather than as a response to growth.  We waited too long to hire some critical staff positions and several of us almost crashed from burnout.  I wish we had staffed small groups and worship from Day 1.  Worship and community are near and dear to God's heart.  And you should staff what you value ... or rather what God values ... because it is His church. 

Hang out with other pastors more often ... the encouragement from a peer is needed!  Just in the past 2 years have I really begun to meet other pastors/church planters.  God has used some amazing people to really bless, encourage, and speak truth to me that has in turn helped me become a better Christian, leader, and pastor.  I hope I can do the same for others.

Don't lose focus when criticized.  Starting a church in our hometown did not necessarily guarantee a warm homecoming for Beth & I.  I notice a lot of church planters end up with defensive spirits and act like a cornered rattlesnake because of the amount of criticism received from other Christians/churches.  I have felt myself getting that way at times but in the end God will build His church and so we answer to Him.  We are only here by the grace of God and accroding to the plan of God ... when I leave it at that I sleep a whole lot better :)