How do I know if God is calling me to join the church plant?

Our church is following the Lord’s leading to plant a church in Richmond, Covenant City Church. Seeing the Lord’s hand bringing the different pieces together has been incredibly exciting and faith-strengthening as we look ahead to the Fall launch. However, while some of us have clarity that the Lord is calling us to join Covenant City, some of us continue to ask the question, “How do I know if God is calling me to join the church plant?”

A good place to start in answering that question is with what we already know God has called us to. Even as we seek God’s direction for things that may not be specifically laid out in Scripture (such as what job to take, which house to buy, or which church to attend), we can take reference from the things that God has clearly and unambiguously called all of us to. In this article, I want to highlight three of those areas of calling. 

And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:24-25)

Scripture calls all Christians to be part of a local church community where we meet together and stir up one another to love and good works. For some of us, being obedient to that call might mean staying in the church community we’re currently in, at least for now, because we are not ready to leave our current church community. For example, if you’re a new Christian finding your feet, it might be wise to stay in a church where you have spiritual mentors you can trust to walk with you in your first steps. Or perhaps, if you’re going through a challenging season, it might be wise to stay in a familiar environment that provides stability and care for you and your family. 

For others of us, the particulars of the church plant (such as size, location, timing, community, doctrine, culture, tone) might mean that joining the church plant would be more conducive for our growth in the gospel. We might be at a stage in our Christian walk where we are ready to leave our current church community. In fact, we might sense that the change and opportunities of a church plant might be what the Lord is calling us to and has even been equipping us for.

Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age. (Matthew 28:19-20)

All followers of Jesus are called to be on mission. There are no exceptions – every single one of us is called to go and make disciples of all nations. For some of us, this may mean leaving the place we call home for international missions. For the rest of us, this means being intentionally on mission wherever we are. Using this universal call to mission provides us with some helpful questions to ask ourselves when discerning whether to join the plant, such as:

And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. (Mark 8:34)

Following Jesus is hard. Anyone who’s followed Jesus long enough will know that he often leads us down the harder and less comfortable path. This doesn’t mean that we should join the church plant simply because it is the harder option. However, it does mean that our comfort should not be our primary consideration when deciding whether to join the church plant.

Our primary consideration should be asking Jesus what he wants us to do. For some of us, processing our calls to grow in church community and be on mission may be enough to clarify the steps Jesus wants us to take. We may discern that a particular church community is currently more conducive to our Christian growth or provides us with more opportunities for mission.

For others of us, further discernment may be required, and this discernment can come from various avenues, including scripture, prayer, promptings from the Spirit, and counsel from others. As we seek the Lord’s face, there may be a verse from Scripture that stands out to us. There may be a desire in our hearts that we can’t shake. There may be an insight from a trusted counsellor that has struck a chord. 

However, even after earnest seeking, some of us may still not have a clear direction from God. And that’s okay. Sometimes, the Lord in His wisdom provides us with two equally good options and gives us the space to decide. In such situations, we can find ourselves in decision paralysis, worried that we’ll make the “wrong” choice. This is where the assurance of our sweet saviour is particularly precious. As we seek God’s kingdom – following his leading with humble hearts and making our decisions in submission to his will – we can trust that His assurance that He is faithful to walk with us and provide for our every need. 

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. (Luke 12:31-34)