Fear Not; Today is the Day to Start a Church
By Raul Rivera
In a dark and tense room, a group of followers huddled together, their hearts racing with fear of impending persecution. The walls seemed to close in, and the weight of their uncertainties pressed heavily upon them. Fear appeared to have the upper hand when suddenly the atmosphere was pierced by a profound calm as Jesus appeared among them. His voice reassured them that everything would be OK. “Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you” (John 20:21). These were not the ordinary words of an everyday greeting; they were a powerful assurance that, regardless of the challenges that lay ahead, they would never be left alone. If it had not been for that moment, Peter, Andrew, James, and John might have gone back to fishing. Matthew would have returned to collecting taxes, and the rest would have dispersed to what they were before they met Jesus.
Lord, Show Me a Sign
When I was in my mid-twenties, I had to make a big ministry decision. My wife and I were driving to Ft. Lauderdale when I asked the Lord to show me a sign. I asked for something simple. I felt that I was supposed to go into full-time ministry, but I was afraid that the ministry might not provide for all our needs. So, I asked the Lord to let me see a rainbow in the middle of a perfectly sunny day. Within five minutes, a small cloud formed in the west, and a small rainbow appeared against it. It was then that I knew for sure. By summer’s end, I resigned from my job and went into full-time ministry. To the humble and contrite, God is willing to show signs of His calling. For many of you, this very article is a sign that it is time.
To the Humble Heart
In John 3, Nicodemus saw the signs that Jesus was the Messiah and approached Jesus with humility, stating, “Rabbi, we know that you have come from God as a teacher, because no one can perform these signs that you are doing unless God is with him” (John 3:2). Jesus saw his humility and responded by revealing for the first time that one must be born again and then He spoke to Nicodemus the now most famous verse in all of Scripture: “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).
To the Proud and Arrogant
Those full of pride also seek a sign, but they never get what they expect. When the Scribes and Pharisees demanded a sign from Jesus, He responded firmly: “An evil and adulterous generation craves a sign. Yet no sign will be given to it except the sign of the prophet Jonah” (Matthew 12:39).
In John 6:30, the crowds demanded a sign from Jesus so that they might believe. Jesus’ response was not about performing another sign. He gave an answer that only the humble could understand. He said, “As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me.”
The Sign Given to Thomas
Thomas wanted to see a sign and said that unless he saw it, he would not believe. “Unless I see the nail marks in His hands and put my finger where the nails were, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” A week later, Jesus addressed Thomas’ doubts with tender reassurance, saying, “Put your finger here; see My hands. Reach out your hand and put it into My side. Stop doubting and believe.” This encounter reminds us that to those who sincerely ask, Jesus meets us in our doubts and provides the reassurance needed to fortify our faith.
WE Believe That StartCHURCH is a Sign to Many
God is always making efforts to lead and guide His people, and He is showing His people many signs that now is the time to do what He has put in their hearts (see footnotes). I have had hundreds of conversations with pastors who, upon coming across our website, meeting me in person, or speaking with one of our staff, have said they knew it was a sign from the Lord that the time had come to start their church or ministry.
We Fear What Could Happen, But Usually Doesn’t
Fear of something that could happen is the reason many would-be pastors and leaders never start a church or ministry. The world is filled with many types of fears that, when focused on, paralyze one into retreat. Come to think of it, let me share with you the top 5 reasons why some pastors have yet to pull the trigger.
- Government Persecution and Compliance: The IRS, taxes, audits, state governmental oversight, and complex compliance requirements loom large. While it is true that there is an anti-Christian sentiment, we must not allow fear to win. God always provides an answer for everything that could come against your church.
- The Risk of Putting Everything at Stake: With over 12,000 churches going to court each month, the fear of risking everything you own and learning how to prepare can be discouraging.
- Another Pandemic and Lockdowns: The haunting possibility of future pandemics and the threat of lockdowns can make some potential church planters pause.
- Adapting to Online Church Environments: As churches transition to digital platforms, they face new challenges and fierce competition in an ever-expanding online space. Starting a church and establishing an online presence can seem daunting.
- Moral Failures of Prominent Ministers: Recent scandals involving respected leaders like Robert Morris, Mike Bickel, and Tony Evans have shaken many, eroding trust and causing confusion. It seems that every time a well-known minister falls into moral turpitude, the whole world hears about it. Do not let that discourage you.
Let us Stand with You
We at StartCHURCH know that we have been called by God to help you find the confidence needed to lead. We understand the fears you face and the risks involved in starting a church. Today, thousands of churches and ministries are grateful because we were there when they first started. Through our StartRIGHT Service, we helped them get incorporated, obtain a Tax-ID Number, create iron-clad bylaws, establish a legally compliant ordination program, and secure full 501(c)(3) status. We also managed their bookkeeping, personal and ministry taxes, and state compliance. For many, discovering StartCHURCH was the sign they needed to conclude that God was guiding them to take the next step in their ministry journey.
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Footnotes:God’s willingness to show His people signs
Genesis 9:12-13
“And God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come: I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth.’”
Exodus 3:12
“And God said, ‘I will be with you. And this will be the sign to you that it is I who have sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God on this mountain.’"
Judges 6:17-18
“Gideon replied, ‘If now I have found favor in your eyes, give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Please do not go away until I come back and bring my offering and set it before you.’ And the Lord said, ‘I will wait until you return.’”
1 Samuel 10:7
“Once these signs are fulfilled, do whatever your hand finds to do, for God is with you.”
1 Kings 13:3-5
And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out. And he gave a sign the same day, saying, “This is the sign which the Lord has spoken: Surely the altar shall split apart, and the ashes on it shall be poured out. So it came to pass when King Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, who cried out against the altar in Bethel, that he stretched out his hand from the altar, saying, “Arrest him!” Then his hand, which he stretched out toward him, withered, so that he could not pull it back to himself. The altar also was split apart, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord.
Isaiah 7:14
“Therefore, the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son and will call Him Immanuel.”
Luke 1:34-37
"Then Mary said to the angel, 'How can this be, since I do not know a man?' And the angel answered and said to her, 'The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you; therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. For with God nothing will be impossible.'"
Luke 1:18-20
“Zechariah asked the angel, ‘How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.’ The angel said to him, ‘I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news. And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.’”