Church Planting on the Personal Side

An international conference where church planters can connect and learn and exchange with each other is not always about tools, stories from the field and prayer.

Sometimes those out in the field are extremely isolated, alone and fighting it out in remote regions of the world completely by themselves or with just their mate and children. It’s not easy living in another culture, far from home and support, friends and family. Yet, their passion to share the gospel, to love people, to give their lives for what they believe in more than anything else is worth it and they will choose it over and over again. One young mom with tears in her eyes told me, “I am so sad to leave, but when we move (in March) to (name of nation protected), I am praying that God puts unbelievers over me, under me, all around me in our new home. I love those people so much and I want to be with them.”

So, what does an American mom who is living in a volatile Asian nation with an 18 month old need or want when she travels half way around the world to be at this conference? What does a Brazilian mom of three teenagers who lives in a remote village in Africa want? What about a mom of adult children who have estranged themselves from her need or care about receiving in a week-long conference? Connection. Relationship. Someone to listen. Someone to care. “Yes, I am out working and serving Jesus and I’m very focused on the Great Commission; it’s my life, my passion. But, day to day, my heart is breaking…over my kids, over my relationship with my husband, over our apartment that has water leaks and mold, over betrayals of friendships.”

Real people living their real lives, choosing the values and roads “less traveled.” Why?
Because He first loved them…
Because He said, “Go into all the world and make disciples…”
Because “God so loved the world…”
Because … “if not them, then who???”