Moving: Risk vs Reward

I am in the sprint of my life!  Our move to the Woodinville Movie Theaters is no doubt a risky one, but I’m convinced that unless we take risks, we don’t ever get to where we really want to go. 

Risk is a strange thing.  Very few of us actually risk anything.  It’s only until we are forced to risk, or, so fed up with our circumstances that we determine to make a change.  Besides…who actually loves risk?

Starting a church in Woodinville is risky.  Woodinville is a great community with great people and some very good churches.  I’ve met some of the pastor’s there.  But why start another church there?  Don’t they have enough? 

Asking the right questions is pivotal.  Asking the questions about risk and if Woodinville needs another church, however, are really not THE questions.  The real questions are,“Are there still people in Woodinville and surrounding communities that don’t know Jesus?  What is the reward?”  If there are still people in the area who don’t know Jesus, then yes, another church might be a good idea because new churches with new styles attract new people.  That’s pretty much it.  

We’re not interested in stealing people from other churches.  In fact, we pray for other churches.  In fact, most of the churches in Woodinville and surrounding communities can offer what we cannot…fully furnished ministries with the facilities to support those ministries, multiple pastors and support staff.  We simply don’t have those resources.  We have volunteers who aren’t in it for the money or prestige.  We don’t even have an office (although we’d love one!).

But what we do have is Jesus. 

We are not angry young Calvinists.  We are not neo-fundamental.  We don’t believe we have to be flashy and polished to attract people.  We don’t have to be sexiest church in town.  We’re just who we are…average people who want to make a difference in the world by introducing Jesus in tangible ways.  We actually don’t think we need to put down other churches to make ourselves look better.  We want to be known for what we do, not what we think about everything. 

So, if you’re tired of the status-quo, the only way out is intentional risk.  God is both the God of of security, but he’s also the God of risk.  The church has always thrived in situations involving risk.

What is God asking you to risk?  Whatever it is, the reward is greater and in front of you.