"Through Many Dangers, Toils and Snares"

[Nahum]

"Through many dangers, toils and snares."

I recently passed my eight year anniversary at the church I planted and pastor. The familiar line "through many dangers, toils and snares" came to mind as I sat at the church and looked through our archived photographs.

So many lives impacted, so many opportunities to make a difference, such minimal retention of souls. As I went through my records I found that, in eight years, we have had over 1500 first time visitors from our community.

1500 first time vistors, and we struggle to average 50 in attendance.

Each picture brought back memories of laughter and joy. Each picture represented an event, a special service, a baptism, a church sponsored sporting event, a camping trip, a picnic, a community service project and more.

Each picture full of faces. The faces of faithful saints, and the faces of those who have moved on, backslidden, or vanished without a trace. 1450 souls that we somehow failed to retain. The enormity of the thought staggered me.

In my eight years of pastoring, I have learned that it is much easier to win folks into an established church than to win people into a church that lacks critical infrastructure and support.

Those that stayed did so "through many dangers, toils and snares." They are a steadfast, hardy lot. They are true heroes.

In eight years we have survived a church split, extreme financial difficulty, lack of a suitable church building, `and minimal musical talent. As we have grown God has blessed, and each time we gather, whether it be a Sunday morning worship service or a Wednesday "Teen Night", the presence of God is present in a real and measurable way.

I have never seen a group of people who are more faithful, more committed, more loving and kind. They are as poor as old Job's turkey, but they are rich in relationship with our Jesus.

Last Wednesday night I had the luxury of sitting in one of our pews as one of our young ladies led us in worship. She had recruited two other helpers and, as they sang, the Spirit of God fell.

This young lady comes from a broken home. She has been through many "unmentionables", but she is faithful. I have watched her life as Christ worked on it. I've experienced sheer joy at the changes I've seen. God is so good.

Her two helpers come from similar situations. Broken homes, busted lives, shattered dreams, parents with no previous idea how to live as a family.

"Through many dangers, toils and snares."

I will admit that I do not feel successful. I would definitely be considered a failure by many of my peers. But in that moment, as the Spirit fell, I felt a fulfillment I have never known. I realized afresh that this is my calling, my mission, my passion. And that is enough for me.

Church planting is the business of survival.

Church planting demands longevity.

Church planting is deflating, rewarding, disheartening and joyous.

Church planting is the ultimate roller coaster ride.

I can make it through the good times, because I realize I am doing His work, and rewards are to be expected.

I can make it through the bad times because I realize that I am doing His work, and rewards, yet unseen, are to be expected.

It is the struggle that brings fulfillment.

It's the work.

The work of, and for, God.

"Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come; ‘Tis grace has brought me safe thus far, And grace will lead me home."