I laughed so hard at your thoughts, and the way you stated them. So true!

I guess many good christian folk sort of go thru the intitial phase of glamorizing church-planting. I am curious how God may have used people in their pride and ego to go do something just for the sake of changing them, and eventually planting something. I think God can use pride. He does USE people, right?

I definitely agree with the needing to know what God wants for you to do. There is no other way to have confidence and endure something hard, although I speak theoretically and from my imagination mostly.

The challenges of church planting also increase dramatically when one goes to a place where their language is different. I guess English can be spoken, but yet be so different too.

I heard some interviews with a lay movement in Gr. Britain who use vocational ministers minimally, thus minimizing costs. They constantly train lay leaders in the works of ministry and empower them. I am imagining the cost of that financially would be significantly less.

I know that much church-planting taught these days talks about certain ways and means, but unfortunately they seem very “American” or capitalistic, which can be darn right offensive in certain cultures. I am challenged when I know the cultural and philosophical shifts taking place in America, which have already taken place in Europe a generation or 2 ago.

There are many ways to skin a cat, and I am trusting God to reveal what’s best for Marseille, France in His timing.

Thanks for the challenging post. I hope to be up your way in the next couple years. By the way, we move to France this summer to start a one year intensive language school. Should be quite the challenge.

May the Lord continue to give you insight and revelation!
Matt

Yes, awesome!

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You guys are great and my prayers are with you.

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