on the steps of Church planting

I recently saw that Asbury offers a Masters degree in Church Planting.  Most days, as a church planter, I think, “What I wouldn’t give to have received more training and theological education specifically in the area of church planting!”   Often church planting has felt like this; (see picture of our sweet daughter hesitating before heading to school one day) like I’m standing at the top of the stairs, hesitating – waiting – praying – learning – observing – learning and praying some more, and all the while feeling a bit un-prepared.  Oh, I have my “Theological” back pack on, filled with all the things I learned from seminary, and in that backpack I’ve added things I’ve learned about this culture and learned about living cross culturally for over 5 years now.  We were at the top of the stairs for years, and it can be confusing and frustrating up there, when you are not “doing”, what you feel are, tangible things toward your goal.  I’m speaking as a person who likes to see and take tangible steps moving myself forward.  But I’ve realized, among many things, that church planting isn’t about me moving forward – it is about God moving, that God has been moving and is moving, and church planting is about following his leading!  This past summer we received clarity on how to move forward.  First came church planting coaching sessions, and we are still eating those up!  Then came opportunities to walk through doors that God…
Source: on the steps of Church planting from Scotts – Eurasia