If you are going to be successful in church planting, you can’t be afraid to make what I call “the big ask” of people. That is, you can’t be afraid to ask people to make huge sacrifices and join what you’re doing.
One of my favorite “big ask” examples comes from Acts 16:1-5. “Paul went first to Derbe and then to Lystra, where there was a young disciple named Timothy…Timothy was well thought of by the believers…so Paul wanted him to join them on their journey. In deference to the Jews of the area, he arranged for Timothy to be circumcised…Then they went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem. So the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.”
Here’s four things we can learn about “the big ask” from this passage:
- Always be on the look out for good people to join your team. Paul was like a kingdom talent scout. He was always looking for good people to join him on his journey. Interesting to note that it was Timothy’s reputation that made Paul want him on his team. Timothy was proven over time (after all – that’s the only way to get a reputation for something). We should also be on the look out for people with solid reputations to join our work.
- When you’ve found the right person extend a formal invitation. The text says that Paul wanted Timothy to join him on his journey, and apparently Paul extended an invitation. The Bible says in James that we have not because we ask not. I wonder how many things we don’t have in our ministry simply because we haven’t asked for it? Seeing a good potential worker isn’t enough. We have to extend a formal invitation for them to join.
- Don’t be afraid to ask people to make huge sacrifices. What sacrifice did Paul have to ask Timothy to make? How about circumcision! Timothy wasn’t a newborn you know! Talk about the ultimate “big ask”! And just think…sometimes we don’t want to ask someone for help because they will have to give up one hour of their time! We have something to learn from Paul’s example.
- When you make big asks, you get big results. The Bible says that as Paul and Timothy went from town to town, instructing the believers to follow the decisions made by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem…the churches were strengthened in their faith and grew larger every day.” In other words – the experienced both spiritual and numerical growth!
Here’s three examples of big asks that worked out well:
- I asked my wife to go from living in our own house to moving into my parents basement. I asked her to relocate even further from her family. I asked her to believe in me that we could successfully start a church from scratch, in New England, and succeed! She said yes.
- I asked investors to support us financially. Hi. I’m Mike. I’m twenty something. I have a big dream and it’s going to take big bucks. Who’s in? Many people said yes, and the result was raising over $104,000 in our first year.
- I asked all the “staff” to work for free. Each volunteer that was part of our core team had a job description and a lot of responsibilities and zero pay. I asked them to be a part of setup, serve before and during service, help teardown and be a part of midweek planning sessions. They said yes.
Here’s three examples of big asks that totally tanked:
- I asked a certain church for $15,000 and to become our mother church. They said no.
- I asked someone to sell their home they just bought to join me in the work! They said no (which in retrospect was the right answer at the time).
- I also asked two very close friends from college to move to Massachusetts and be a part of the church. They said no.
What’s my point? Not everyone will say yes and that’s ok. Why? Because others will say yes! I pray that God helps you see just how important His kingdom work is. I pray he helps you to have the perspective that the best thing someone could do with their life is give it whole heartedly to God. If God helps you maintain that perspective, I think you’ll find the courage to make big asks so that God’s kingdom can advance on this earth.