JCG NEWS

     
On February 26-27, the JCG board meets in Myrtle Beach. Pray for Steve Cordle, Rob Campbell, and Mario Vega, Celyce Comiskey, and myself as we pray and talk about the future of JCG (Jeff Tunnell will also be present as our special guest) 

      
Check out the new COVER to my book, Planting Churches that Reproduce: Starting a Network of Simple Churches, which will  be available in October 2008.

Do you need coaching for your cell ministry? Check out our JCG coaching team.
 
Check out Comiskey's 2008 speaking schedule

Check out special sales on Comiskey's books

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I'm teaching 5-day in-depth course on Church Planting in Nyack, New York at Alliance Theological Seminary from May 5 through May 9, 2008. This is an official course at ATS, which can be taken for graduate level credit. You can also audit the entire course (if you are in full-time ministry the course may be audited for $50. If you are not in full-time ministry, it costs $300). We've also arranged special hotel rates for those of you traveling from outside the area. You even get a free book from me! By taking this course, you would get the entire Church Planting package. If you're interested, contact: Kevin Kriesel, but also let me know. . . 

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Keep Turning the Flywheel

Jim Collins said in his book From Good to Great, "In building greatness, there is no single defining action, no grand program, no one killer innovation, no solitary lucky break, no miracle moment. Rather, the process resembles relentlessly pushing a giant, heavy flywheel in one direction, turn upon turn, building momentum until a point of breakthrough and beyond."

According to Collins, the key to success is not giving up. This quote has ministered to me many times. I'm planting a church here in  Moreno Valley, a desert community. Over the years I've come face to face with a very dry, desert-like spiritual atmosphere.   We have more recently seen God move in a wonderful, fresh way-yet the exciting things have come after facing numerous struggles and disappointments.

I'm convinced, in fact,  that one of the key reasons why 80% of church plants fail is because the church planter gives up too early. 

I'm coaching one church planter in Texas who has been doing all the right things. He is a student of cell church ministry and is practically reaches out through social outreach and evangelisic activity. He's also prioritizing prayer. He even recently had the opportunity to quit his day job to give himself wholeheartedly to church planting (God provided financially through other means). Yet, with all of his labors over a two to three year period, he has seen little tangible fruit. 

I've been encouraging this church planter to keep sowing the seed and doing the right things. Yes, ministry is rough. Disappointments are part of the job description.

Prolonged discouragement that results in hopelessness is sin, however. God wants us to press ahead in the midst of trials, knowing that He's using those very same trials to mold and shape us.

Didn't Paul say the same thing in Galatians 6:9, "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Keep turning the flywheel. It will begin to pick up its own momentum. Who knows, someday people might be calling you an overnight success. Little will they know. . . .

In what area (s) do you need to keep pressing on?

Joel Comiskey