Leading a new ministry is no easy task, but it’s one that many people feel they’re called by Jesus to do. Many pastors who have launched new churches with the help of the Association of Related Churches (ARC) feel this way.
Steve Gambill, the lead pastor of LIFE Church in the United Kingdom, is a prime example of this. He’s led his church successfully and has many great lessons that he can share with others who are looking to start new ARC churches.
There will be many trials and tribulations that you will experience along the way, but bringing everything back to the basics will help you to both improve your own life and lead others in the ways of Jesus.
Become More
Humans make a lot of choices every day. A Cornell University study revealed that the average person makes 35,000 of them every day—and most are conscious choices.
While many of these choices will be important, the greatest choice you can ever make is to get to know Jesus more. By doing so, you will learn that He wants us all to not know more or have more, but to become more.
As Gambill says, launching a new church with the Association of Related Churches is a journey that involves a lot of work, a lot of faith, and a lot of praying. It’s also a process that requires you to ask yourself whether you’ve chosen to become more.
By partnering with the Holy Spirit in your journey, you’re committing yourself to becoming more. This spiritual aspect of life and your ARC church launch is crucial. If you want to be successful, you must first make the choice to grow your spiritual capacity.
After all, if you want to carry more and be responsible for more alongside the Association of Related Churches, then you must choose to become more.
Learn the Unforced Rhythms of Grace
There is an art to becoming more, and it involves finding a graceful way of developing your spiritual habits. Gambill says this refers to how you read the Bible and how you pray.
While it’s not essential to pray multiple hours every day, it is important to pray and be disciplined in doing so.
When it comes to operating ARC churches, Gambill suggests getting on a daily schedule that revolves around prayer. Your day can start with praise, worship, prayer, meditation, and declaration. Throughout the day, write down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Finally, end your day in the same manner as you started it.
All of this will help you to learn the unforced rhythms of grace. And in doing so, you’ll be on your journey to becoming more alongside the Association of Related Churches.
Find Your Calling
Finding your calling is crucial. If you’ve heard God’s call to build His church and extend His kingdom, you must remember that many other people are also being called to your location.
As the leader of an ARC church, you must realize that your role is to help people understand that the calling—or the vocational aspect—is so much wider than we ever imagined it to be.
Our calling isn’t just relegated to taking a few hours every Sunday to worship and pray in a church. It means extending that prayer and dedication throughout the week so that we can all be productive for the kingdom of God.
About the Association of Related Churches
The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC’s operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches globally.