One thing I’ve heard quite a bit is that statistics show that 3 out of 4 new church start-ups in America fail. How can this be? Where did the power of God go? This statistic sounds totally pathetic to me. I’m sure there are several reasons for such a statistic. However, I fear many of those reasons boil down to simply a lack of faith in the power of God. Do we truly realize that we can trust in the same power that created the entire universe, supernaturally healed diseases, parted the Red Sea, and raised Christ from the dead? Did we not start up this church because He called us to do it? Are we not building a church in His name with His power for His glory? That is, if you really do believe God created the universe, supernaturally heals, parted the Red sea, and literally rose Christ from the dead. Do you believe it? Do you believe we have that same Spirit inside of us, and that this same Spirit is at work in the world? Then what can stop us? What is stopping 3 out of 4 churches from carrying out Christ’s mission? Wasn’t Paul convinced that neither height nor depth nor… and didn’t Jesus say that nothing could stop His church–not even the gates of hell? What has happened? Has God suddenly faced the reality that His power, though strong enough for back then, isn’t a match for our modern world?

Here’s what I’m afraid that statistic really means: three out of four new church start-ups end up folding because they cannot financially sustain what they think it takes to grow a church. That’s right–it’s all about not having enough money. It’s too bad God doesn’t have enough money to fund His mission. The church had to be marketed and advertised, the pastor had to be paid, a building had to be rented or purchased, utilities had to be paid, and and support staff had to be supported financially as well (i.e. worship leader, youth pastor, etc). So if the church is unable to get enough people to start attending and give so that these financial issues are covered, God won’t be able to establish this church, and everyone moves on. Poor God. It seems that three out of four times, He can’t seem to come up with enough money.

Why do we do that? Do we not believe Jesus’ words that when there are just two or three gathered in His name, He is there? Do you realize the power this represents? Don’t we believe that Jesus and His power is WAY more than enough? Or is that not enough in our eyes? How much do we really trust in Christ to come through and see His ministry go forth? It is amazing to me that Jesus says that He is there with just two or three people who are gathered in His name. It blows me away. Is He really telling the truth? If so, that’s totally amazing. If He’s really there, who cares if we have enough money to pay everyone and everything that WE feel it takes to start a church. Could it be that we don’t really need the things we think we do? Isn’t this the same Jesus who multiplied fish and bread to feed thousands? Wouldn’t you rather have that resource than simply having more than enough money to resource what YOU and other “experts” think you need in a staff and facility to have a “thriving” church? Don’t we trust in the power of Christ more than we trust in church growth experts? Don’t we want to define a “thriving” church by the activity of God in the church vs. how many resources the church has at its disposal?

Thankfully, I hear many pastors these days rejecting the notion of a prosperity gospel. Yet doesn’t this sound eerily similar?

No wonder so many church starts close up shop. And no wonder churches are springing up left and right in other parts of the world that don’t feel the need to have so much overhead and expenses (and where there are no church growth experts). They are willing to start up churches at the expense of not having salaries, buildings, or money, because they are convinced that the Gospel must be spread regardless, and that Jesus (who called them) will see His Gospel spread through them in spite of not having that other stuff. Does this mean that it’s wrong to have that other stuff? No, after all, I’ve been a paid youth pastor, and I am thankful to have had that opportunity. I’m just saying that you don’t need a paid youth pastor, even if everyone else is telling you that you do.

We forget that the supernatural power of Christ’s resurrection was revealed after He died. We forget that God created the universe when there was nothing at all. We forget that God supernaturally heals where there is first a need of healing. We forget that before the waters of the Red Sea were parted, the Israelites were trapped. We fear going without resources, so we just give up. We think all is lost, when God typically gets ready to show just how powerful He is. And I’m willing to bet it looks a lot different from more butts, buildings, and bucks in our ministries. I am convinced that if we put aside our convictions that in order to start up a church, you have to have such-and-such, our statistics in new church start-ups would swing the other way. I refuse to believe that 3 out of 4 church start-ups can’t get 2-3 people to gather in Jesus’ name. Are there any pastors of modern churches who still believe in Jesus? If we believe His promises, 2 or 3 gathered in His name is plenty to start a new ministry–cuz that’s ALL it takes for Him to be there! NOTHING MORE!

In the end, to establish a church, our problem isn’t that we need more people or more resources; our problem is that we are neglecting to realize our need for Him. We are depending on other things to fall in line, instead of depending on Him. Pastors, this I believe: if in your ministry you’ve got 2 or 3 people including yourself who are together being supernaturally changed by the power of the Gospel (which means you need only one other person), watch out! The gates of hell can’t stop you.