We live in a world that is obsessed with the big splash. As a church planter, I am keenly aware that churches have succeeded in making a big splash and growing quickly.

I don’t know if that will happen for us. Would it be nice? Yes. But I wouldn’t want to do it if we were poor at shepherding the people God gave us.

Ray Ortlund is the founding pastor of Emmanuel Nashville. It took that church 2 years to see 150 in attendance. That isn’t explosive. But it is faithful. Now they reach hundreds in the area, are seen as a very influential in the region, and Ray Ortlund is seen as a father-figure to many church planters.

The lesson is do what God called you to do. Work at it little by little. And let God work on His timetable.