If Seth Godin wrote a book on church planting, part 2

Every church plant starts out as a highly enjoyable experience for the planter. He's in the mission field, meeting new people, imagining the possibilities, and learning something new every day. And then "the dip" happens...

He realizes the community doesn't really want a new church. They've already picked "the winners" and can't be bothered with the long tail of other options. This dip in excitement, success, momentum - you name it - begins to feel like an insurmountable up-hill battle. This is where the 80% failure rate of church plants occurs.

This dip is where Ed Stetzer points out the declining survivability of new churches in the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years. Trouble is, Stetzer doesn't go far enough. If... a church planter can hold out... push through the dip... learn valuable lessons that will refine the church... there are indescribable rewards waiting.

Rewards such as becoming a "winner," gaining do-no-wrong momentum, developing word-of-mouth. But... and here's the catch. Your church plant has to become the best in the world... at something.

So you're not sure you have what it takes to be the best? Nonsense. Otherwise, how do you explain all those lousy churches and church planters that are thriving? They stuck it out through the dip.

Working harder won't do jack. Doing more will just make things worse. To be the best in the world, we have to quit doing everything that's keeping us from being the best. It's called strategic quitting.

Coming up... Strategic quitting. When you're in the dip, you've got nothing to lose. You might as well break outside the box to become the best.

*This series of posts is based on Seth Godin's new book The Dip

Comments

[Josh Karrer]

Great stuff. Keep the post coming.

[Brenton Balvin]

So Ben, what is RCC shooting to be the best at, and what things are you going to have to strategically quit to achieve that?

[Ben]

see next post brenton!

[jason allen]

Great post Ben. Very helpful for where I sit on this church launching precipice. Looking forward to the next posts.