I just arrived home from two days away in Whistler. 15 guys from around the province joined together for two days of prayer and camaraderie. All of us were church planters. Six were bi-vocational (meaning that church planting was just part of how they filled their weeks); two were from the downtown eastside; one was from a plant in northern BC, devoted to the first nations people in the area; and another was spanish speaking, reaching out to the Latino immigrants now living in Surrey.

Part way into the first day, I became aware of a palpable excitement that was beginning to rattle around in my own soul. Nothing profound was being said. We weren’t engaged in any emotionally driven teaching or worship. Rather, I was simply excited by having the chance to share the room with these special people. Though they were all quite different from each other, they all shared a common spark: a desire to creatively engage the church and world, and a willingness to sacrifice comforts and financial rewards for the sake of the kingdom.

Entrepreneurs in the kingdom. Pioneers. Risk takers. I was excited because for two days this was the company I was sharing.

Now. Here’s the secret I’ve since been thinking about. What I experienced in Whistler is actually just a window into what I’ve experienced for the past five years. Since August of 2006, month in and month out, I’ve journeyed with a church family that looks every bit like the group I retreated with. You might not always see it, but I do. Though vastly different from each other, you share a common willingness to experiment and a desire to sacrifice for the sake of the kingdom.

In your own way, true to your own personalities, you are all entrepreneurs in the kingdom. Pioneers and risk takers define the whole lot of you. Were it not true, you would have dropped out years ago. But here you are, still working things out, still doing what you sense the Spirit calling you to do.

I bless you for it. I know that it’s not always easy. It’s not easy for me. Sometimes I dream of doing things differently (okay, that’s not entirely true - but I know that some of you do and that’s okay). Sometimes I wonder if it’s all worth it. But deep down inside, I have this recurring sense that somehow in God’s kingdom plans this is really important, and because of this, I choose to delight in the journey.

All that to say: way to go everybody. I love doing this with you. Let’s keep dreaming and trying. Let’s keep taking risks and pioneering. Let’s keep exploring new frontiers. Heaven knows we haven’t got it figured out yet, there’s much more to discover.