Intrinsically Motivated
Planting a church is an exhilarating, yet extremely demanding journey. The initial inspiration might be positive, but staying the course through challenges requires intrinsic motivation, a fire burning from within, a deep tenacity. Unlike external rewards or pressure, intrinsic motivation fuels your passion, resilience, and joy even when the path gets tough. During the CPAC process, assessors are looking for candidates who possess this important building block.
Why is intrinsic motivation important in church planting?
● Sustainability: External motivators like recognition or praise can fade, leaving you feeling deflated. Intrinsic motivation, rooted in your personal values and beliefs, sustains you through thick and thin through your ministry.
● Creativity and Innovation: When driven by a genuine desire to serve your community and share your faith, you're more likely to tap into innovative ideas and approaches, making your church planting journey unique and impactful. There are new ways to plant churches to reach all sorts of people. Some of you know that I planted Cities Cop Church that focuses on first responders. We meet on Sunday nights on the first and third of each month.
● Resilience in the Face of Obstacles: The inevitable setbacks and challenges won't extinguish your passion. You'll find the strength to persevere because your "why" is deeply personal and meaningful. We are looking for candidates that have a willingness to work long and hard, being a self-starter that builds something from nothing.
Can a person cultivate intrinsic motivation? I believe there are some things a leader can do to foster this building block.
● Reconnect with your "why": Regularly revisit the core values and beliefs that ignited your passion for church planting. Reflect on the impact you desire to make in your local community and the lives you hope to reach.
● Find joy in the journey: Celebrate small victories and milestones, appreciating the growth and progress, not just the final destination. Focus on the positive interactions, the lives transformed, and the connections being built.
● Surround yourself with like-minded people: Build a team and community of individuals who share your passion and values. Attract encouragement and support from their shared journey. You never plant alone, but sometimes it does feel like it.
● Practice self-care: Maintain a healthy balance between your church planting commitments and your personal well-being. Prioritize physical, emotional, and spiritual renewal to prevent burnout and nurture your inner fire. Practice sabbath rest, get plenty of sleep and exercise.
● Remember, it's a marathon, not a sprint: Church planting is a long-term endeavor. Embrace the ups and downs, learn from them, and trust that your intrinsic motivation will guide you towards sustained success and fruitfulness.
You are not alone in this journey. Draw strength from your deep faith in Christ, your local community, from your LEAD team, and your own intrinsic passion. If you need help with this, or have questions on how to develop this, feel free to reach out to me. We are here to serve you.
Glenn Herschberger, Executive Director of Church Planting