A Day in the Life of a Church Planter Wife

The following post was written by Tina Cole. Tina’s husband is a cowboy church planter.

5:30am  Wake up … coffee … quiet time … pray for my worship team and the two services today, youth band practice, youth Bible study

6:30am  Wake David … get dressed in my good jeans, boots, and a nice blouse … what a change from the “Sunday dresses” from four years ago … yes, easier.

7:00am  Wake the kids … everyone has a job on Sundays: Ira, children’s church; Seth, base player for the worship team; Rebekah, Joda and Abigail, “whatever Dad asks them to do.”

7:45am  Arrive at the church, (greeting team is already making coffee, yeah! That used to be my job!) sound check, pray, practice the music set.

8:45am  First service

9:45am  Greet those who came to the first service and those coming in for the second

10:30am  Second service

11:30am  Visit with people… pack up the portable sound system and send home with Hank for tonight’s youth get-together at his house… lock up the church… go home and collapse for a few hours

2:00pm  Make “sweet team” and lemonade… head to Hank and Renny’s house for youth band practice

3:00pm  Youth band practice

4:00pm  Youth swimming party and Bible Study

9:00pm  Pack up the sound system, say thanks and good-bye for the 11th time to Hank and Renny… count the kids… did we get all fo them out of the pool?… head to the church to put up the sound system

9:30pm  Debrief the day with David and the kids over some popcorn …talk about the week ahead

10:30pm  Day is over. Thank you, Jesus.

It didn’t used to be so smooth. This is after 3 and a half years of a LOT of hard work and sacrifice. We have come a long way, but have so much further to go. We started with 27 people in our living room in December, 2004. Now, in July of 2008, about 160 people attend each Sunday. We are a Cowboy Church and have ropings and playdaystwice a month in the arena at our church. This particular Sunday, we did not have either, so we planned a youth party. We reach a lot of Cowboys and their families.

Don’t be discouraged when you are the one who seems to do everything… the Lord will send you the workers. We still do a great deal of the work ourselves. It isn’t always easy to delegate. You want help, but you also have to be willing to give up the control to someone else in order to get rid of the obligation.

Psalm 37:23-24 says, “The Lord delights in the way of the man whose steps he has made firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with his hand.”

In the words of MercyMe, “Hold fast… help is on the way.”

The following post was written by Jennifer Antonucci about her struggles as she and her husband prepare to plant a church in Las Vegas.

I have no doubt that God wants us to move to Las Vegas. I’m more sure of it than just about anything. Just because I know it, doesn’t mean that I’m happy about it all the time. I was recently with my parents. The conversation came up that we probably won’t be able to come home for Christmas anymore. My mom and I started crying and proceeded to spend the next hour sitting in a chair together bawling.

God is so sweet to me. Ever since the moment that I knew He called us to Vegas, He’s been whispering to me. Even as I was crying in my bed, when I first realized that we were moving, He spoke to me. Nothing loud or earth shattering—just whispers. He used songs, Bible verses, Bible studies, friends’ words, etc. to give me peace. He knows this is a huge step for me. He knows I need Him to constantly reassure me.

This morning I was doing my Bible study and read these verses: “Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them. The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you, as he did for you in Egypt, before your very eyes, and in the desert. There you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went until you reached this place” (Deuteronomy 1:29-31).

The truth is that I’m terrified of this church plant. Everyone who lives in Las Vegas that my husband has talked to has pretty much implied that he’s crazy and that we shouldn’t expect more than 50 people…EVER!…Do not be terrified; do not be afraid of them.

I’m also afraid of what lies ahead of us. I mean, who really wants to raise their kids in Las Vegas? The school system sucks compared to Virginia’s. This is Satan’s playground, for crying out loud!  We’re entering his turf…The Lord your God, who is going before you, will fight for you.

I have so many questions. My heart is broken. I’m really struggling with depression right now…the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son, all the way you went.

As I read these verses this morning, I was changed. I was filled with hope and encouragement. I’m like a hunting dog, looking for God. I’m on the prowl for encouragement and for His sweet words to comfort me.

How about you? When you are facing a daunting situation, where do you look? How do you deal with the dark days of depression and fear? Do you keep your eyes and ears open for God?

I’ve got to admit that sometimes my eyes are shut and my ears are closed. And on those days, it’s darker. My prayer for me and for you, as church planting wives, is that we stay alert to God and allow Him to carry us as a father carries his son…all the way we go.

The following post is used by permission from Amy Colon. The original post appears on Amy’s blog.

 
Sunday. It is traditionally the holiest of days. . .at least that is what I was taught as a kid. My thoughts on the matter? Sunday. . .it is the CRAZIEST of days. But maybe that’s what ends up making it so holy. . .

I woke up to what I had braced myself for—a fast, furious exercise of leading and directing and mothering and running back and forth and driving and smiling and. . . I knew it was a day that I was going to wear 42 hats instead of the usual 20, but I never could have prepared myself for the whirlwind that it quickly became. And I could have never imagined the crazy sense of fulfillment that it gave me at the end of it all when I finally snuggled into my pj’s and fell quickly asleep to the voice of Paula Dean as I ended it all with Paula’s Party on the FoodNetwork.

5:45am – alarm goes off – I only hit snooze 2 times!

6:15am – shower, dress, gather all the last supplies for church, out the door

7:15am – Safeway hadn’t even finished making their fresh bread for the morning. . .communion bread and grape juice would have to be bought later. BUT Starbucks is already open. . .Tall Americano with cream, please!

7:30 – Unload my van at the doors of the school – trays and bowls for Communion, 4 boxes of children’s supplies, oj, half and half, coffee to be made, bags of nursery items, my purse, my Starbucks. . . all unloaded. AND the door is locked! I know Kevin is in there. . .bang, bang, bang on the door.

7:40 – (Kevin) “You really are early!!”

7:45 – All the contents of the van are now in the school – Starbucks in hand. . .run. . .

8:00 – I have now run down the hallway to the gym of the school a total of 12 times delivering various kids supplies and getting things set up. The setup crew is here now. They (okay, I mean, Kevin ) stole my cart so I am carrying everything down the LONG hallway by hand. . . this is where the smiling part came in handy. . .

8:20 – “Can you please make the coffee – make 30 cups, that’s 3 cups of coffee – thanks, Matt.”
“Where is that box full of name tags we use for the kids check-in? Has anyone seen it? They must be lost. Martha, can you run to Wal-Mart and grab some? Oh, and the communion bread, too, while you are at it?”
“Kimberley, we had to set up the nursery in a different hallway today because they are cleaning out the classrooms and our usual spot is full of desks and books and globes from the library – can you manage?”
“Kevin, you look stressed. . .how can I help?
(Kevin) My cell phone isn’t working and I’m leaving for South Carolina at 3:30.
(Amy) Don’t worry. Give it to me and I’ll somehow take care of it.”
“There are chalk drawings all over the walkway coming into the school. Can somebody find a bucket of water and clean that up?” “Where are my keys?” “Who is working the greeting table today?”
“Jenna, did you find someone else to work in the nursery today since it’s the 5th Sunday? Yep, they’ll need a new name tag.” “Can I give these snacks to our kids? I checked and they are peanut free, gluten free, wheat free. . .taste free. . .yep, they’ll work.”
“Karen, I’m so glad to see you! I’ve gotta go home and pick up the girls and Kevin’s mom. I’ll get back as quickly as I can.”

8:40 – Out the door of the school and driving back home

8:50 – Oops! That was a cop! (I hold my breath and keep going.) Whew!

8:56 – “Where’s the dog?” He needs breakfast, the fish need to be fed, luckily all the girls have had their showers and are dressed. “SHOES! Would you girls please find your shoes? And please make sure they match! No boots, Olivia! It’s 90 degrees outside!” “Get your hair brushed, brush your teeth, “No, you can’t bring that rock to church or that Barbie or that magazine. Let’s go, get in the car.” “Please, please stop whining!”

9:15 – In the car headed back to the school.

9:20 – Greeted in the parking lot with more questions about children’s activities for the day. . . Smile, more conversations, the band sounds great, “Is that coffee ready yet? My Starbucks got cold.” Where are the keys to the cabinet? Are my teachers here yet? Emma, where’s Emma? She is up in the tree outside with Dylan. “Emma, please don’t fall. There is no time to go to the emergency room this morning.” “Olivia, stay inside and watch Presley.” Claire needs orange juice. Looks like I’m working at the children’s greeting table today. All ready to go. . .”I wonder what time the AT&T Store opens?”

10:15 – Everyone is in place. The kids are ready to start their classes. Emma and Dylan find their way out of the tree just in time to go to the gym. The band starts. Alena (2 years old) needs a sticker so she can stay in her class without mom. We go to the cabinet to find just the right one. Finally in the service. Worship ends. Communion. . .video. . .

10:55 – The service is still going on. Kevin starts to speak. Out the door to figure out how to take care of this broken cell phone.

11:00 – Cell phone is dead. $300 for a new one.

11:20 – Back at the school just in time to catch the final song. Smile, smile, talk, talk, Say “hello” to some visitors. Gotta find Kevin’s mom. Where did she go? Clean up the gym. Pack the cabinet. Load the trailer. Dump the coffee. Where are the girls?. . .running in the parking lot and hiding in the McCormick’s van. Reload my van. Turn off all the lights. Whew!

12:30 – Drive out of the parking lot. Spend $75 on gas. Grab some Sonic for the road. Kevin has to go home to sync his new phone (which by the way, brightened his day). Let the dog out. Jump in the car again and fly to the airport. 45 minutes later, hugs and kisses to Kevin and hurry up to get out of the departure lane before the security guard motions me along. Drive home 45 minutes.

3:00 – Crash. . . .

And there is still at least 7 hours left in the day. . .

To say that my day was crazy yesterday is an understatement. It was insane! But the oddest thing is that it was the greatest insanity. Why? Because in the middle of it all I knew that I was doing exactly what I was created and equipped to do on that day. . . and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Days like this are such a rush for me. I am so amazed when I see it all come together – all the craziness and frantic rushing – when it all does come together – when all is accomplished and well done – when it’s finally dark and I’m in my pj’s watching Paula’s Party. . .it’s almost like a holy moment. . .because there is no way I could have ever pulled it off on my own.

The following post is written by Susan Lister. Susan and her husband live in South Carolina and planted a church two years ago.

I’ve decided that planting a church is a lot like the emotions you experience with an unplanned pregnancy.

1. Shock: When God delivers the news that YOU have been chosen to start this “new life.”

2. Joy: In sharing the news with everyone (after you get over the shock).

3. Excitement: In making preparations for the due date… What will its name be? Where is it going to be born? Who is going to help deliver it?

4. Anxious Anticipation: Of the arrival date and all the thousands who will be there to share in your joy.

5. Labor Pains: Setting up the nursery, the waiting room (with lots of refreshments), and even teh delivery room.

6. Shouts of joy: When the big day arrives and the new life is born… WOW, there is nothing like it!

7. Disappointment: After the new life is born and there are not as many people as you had hoped for that would share in your joy.

8. Anxiety: The cost of funding this new life with little or no income.

9. Fulfillment: In knowing that God is at work in this new life and other lives are being born again as a result of this wonderful gift from God… His Church!

Would I do it again? ABSOLUTELY!!!

For another take on the comparison of church planting and having a baby, check out the first chapter of My Husband wants to be a Church Planter… So What Does That Make Me?