As I was praying for you the other day, for all of the daily challenges that we face as church planters, pastors and leaders, I was reminded of the powerful truth that Jesus gives us in Matthew's gospel account (Matthew 16.13-20). Jesus tells Peter that, upon his confession that He is the Son of the Living God, He will build His church, and as a result the gates of hell will be pushed back.

Jesus will build His church – this is not for us to do. Our responsibility is to keep the gospel at the center and forefront of all that we do as we live into the our calling to make disciples (Matthew 28.18-20). We are also reminded by Jesus in the Great Commission that "he is with us to the end of the age."

I know the many challenges that you are going through as you faithfully do what God has called you to do - the sacrifice, the pressure, the loneliness, the betrayal, the weariness of persevering, the misunderstanding in our communities from other churches and the very people that God has called us to reach, and the financial strain that we find ourselves under.

As you well know, there are many changes on the horizon in regard to the funding that many of you are receiving starting in June or July. I know that many of you were counting on this to be there as you put your budgets together for 2011. For this I am truly sorry. I am in this with you. Potentially half of the money that I have raised for 2011 to lead Plant NC could dry up this summer. We are working hard to find options and solutions to this news that has been passed onto us recently from the BSCNC.

The truth that I want to remind us of again is that, "He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it." (1 Thessalonians 5.24). Psalm 50.10-11 reminds us that God owns it all. And Jesus tells us in Luke 18.17 that we need to have total dependence, full trust, frank openness, and complete sincerity like a little child.

Don't let this strategic shift in your funding distract you from what God has called you to do. There is an opportunity for all of us to step up and be less dependent on man and more dependent on God. Like many of you, I have seen God show up time and time again in situations like these. We are with you and we are for you. God is doing something significant in our midst. By God's grace and goodness, Plant NC has come so far in such a short time. Pray hard, work hard in the gospel, and trust God for the outcome.

Your Partner in the Gospel,
Will Plitt
Executive Director | Plant NC

Psalm 31.24