There come certain points in life and ministry when you have to “raise” the stake. Here at InDependence we are getting ready to do just that. Thus far the investments we have made, other than the price of living here, have been pretty insignificant. We have made a total investment, including some conferences, of less than $5k. So we are in the game and feel like we have a decent hand, it is time to take this “game” to a new level.

I am getting ready to put down a deposit at the Hyatt for our Positive Parenting Seminar in September, purchase some promotion materials and send a mailer to promote the seminar. So in the next couple of weeks I see the “raise” to be in the neighborhood of $12k. Looking down the road this is really only the beginning of some expensive purchases in the next few months. We have to start purchasing audio/visual equipment so that we can use it at the seminar, which is a month before the scheduled start of preview services. We will be printing and shipping our marketing brochure out and delivering donuts to the businesses in Weston.

This may seem trivial to many but as I begin to see the investment dollars take big jumps I get a little nervous. We have found it to be relatively easy to be confident when there is little at risk. Now that we are laying larger chunks of our budget on the line the enemy has been very quick to drop negative thoughts into our minds. I have had to remind my wife and myself about who sent us here. Last time I checked He was still God and He has more “front money” than I will ever be able to “bet”. For all of the individuals out there wanting to play a hand as a church planter, make sure God has you covered because the “stakes” are incredibly high. I am not only referring to the money but to your family as well.

One of the Core Values at InDependence is “Be willing to take a risk, God did with us” and that is exactly what we are doing. We are trusting God to honor our efforts. We are putting our trust in Him to prepare the way for our invitations and introductions. We continue to believe God for ridiculous favor with the people that we come in contact with. Matthew 19:26 in The Message says “Jesus looked hard at them and said, “No chance at all if you think you can pull it off yourself. Every chance in the world if you trust God to do it.”

I love the wording in that translation of the Bible. My response to Jesus is this “I know that I can’t do this on my own, with my wife, my parents, my denomination or anybody else for that matter, but I am relying on my God.”

When God asks you to bet the “bankroll” of your life…will your response be “I’m all in”?