A Holy Spirit Led and Empowered Movement: A Story About God’s Favor at FBC Holland

A dear friend of mine was in town recently, and I was sharing with him all the work that God is doing at First Baptist Church of Holland, in Holland, Texas. Yes, you’ve probably never heard of us. If you drove through our town, you most likely would not even realize you were in it. The moment you pass our welcome sign, within one minute you are on your way out of our city limits. Welcome to small town Texas.

Back to my friend. He asked me a question I get a lot when I talk about how God is moving at FBC Holland: “What did you do?” I love that question. It reveals the heart of a person who really wants to see people come to Jesus, be discipled, and sent out. It shows the attitude of someone who desires to fulfil the Great Commission and lead a healthy church (see Matthew 28:18-20). It is a question that longs to see God’s name glorified throughout the world. However, to be fully transparent, that question is extremely hard to answer.

God Chose to Move

On the one hand, I like to tell people that I really didn’t do anything. I didn’t implement some amazing church growth plan that I read in a book or heard at a conference. For whatever his reasons are, God just decided to move here. What some people might call luck; I call God’s providential plan for his church called FBC Holland. One of the things we remind ourselves is that this is his church. Jesus bought it with his blood. Therefore, he gets to do whatever he wants with it, and our response is to just say, “Yes and Amen,” to remain faithful, and to point people to Christ.

You see, God moved his people over 10 years ago to build a church that seats 300 in a town of 1100. God decided to take a church averaging about 50 people and in two years grow it to over 200. The power of the gospel propelled by the Holy Spirit is why men, women, and young people are turning from sin and trusting in the work of Jesus. God’s love for people, the power of his Spirit, and the life changing message of the gospel is why he allows us to baptize people who have turned from sin and trusted in Jesus. By God’s grace, he is bringing people who have special gifts to join and help us make disciples of those he has brought while making room for those he plans to bring. Again, God just decided to move here.

God Prepares the Leader First

I thank God each day for what he is doing here. I ask him repetitively to help me not mess it up, to stay holy, to preach his Word in the power of his Spirit, to keep us unified, and to grant us biblical discernment as he continues to bring the growth. But the only way I was able to get into this posture was by suffering deep church hurt at a previous place of service. He used that pain–something that almost caused me to quit ministry because of the injustice my family and I experienced–to prepare me for what he planned to do at FBC Holland. In other words, my pastoral experiences leading up to this moment were used by God to teach me humility and dependence so that when he worked at FBC Holland, he knew I would give him the credit for what he is doing in his church.

This is why I struggle when asked, “What did you do?” I’m not really sure I am doing anything outside of what God has called all believers to do. For whatever his reasons are, he just decided to reveal his glory by doing a mighty work at FBC Holland. Our task is to just remain faithful and ensure we point the spotlight on the right person who is bringing the growth–Jesus Christ.

God Is Preparing You

Now, I know that is not what many of you wanted to hear. I get it. When I was pastoring a struggling church, I was looking for any strategy to emulate so that we would become healthy and multiply. I went to the conferences. I asked other pastors who had vibrant ministries about their strategies. I read the 9 Marks books. I convinced the people I served to adopt new structures, systems, and processes to stimulate growth. As I reflect on my first three years as a lead pastor in South Carolina, here is what I’ve come to see–by the way, that was almost 10 years ago–God needed to do some major work in me before he was able to work through me.

Ten years ago, I was arrogant. I wanted recognition. I wanted accolades. I wanted to speak at conferences. I wanted to be known as a “somebody,” whatever that means. I wanted the publishing contracts for church revitalization. What I didn’t realize nor appreciate at the time was that God had to do a lot of work in me before he could bring me to Holland, Texas. I see this more clearly now as I was reading The Making of a Leader by J. Robert Clinton. He brought this truth to my attention:

The amazing thing is that during Phases I, II, and III God is primarily working in the leader. Though there may be fruitfulness in ministry, the major work is that which God is doing to and in the leader, not through him…. But He will teach us one thing, perhaps in a thousand ways: “I am forming Christ in you.” It is this that will give power to your ministry” (pp. 27-28).

What I didn’t see then was how God was forming me into the image of Christ. While I saw some fruit in my previous places of ministry, I was blind to the fact that God was preparing me for what he was planning to do at FBC Holland. Learn from me this one lesson: Embrace the time of internal preparation for what God plans to externally do through you in the future.

A Continuation of the Book of Acts

FBC Holland is experiencing a Holy Spirit led and empowered movement just like we read about in the Book of Acts. People are turning from sin. People are trusting in Jesus. Disciples are being made (I’ll talk about this in my next post). We have first time guests showing up each week. Marriages are being healed. Families are ordering their lives around God’s design. Men are being called to ministry. People are serving. People are being equipped to do the work of ministry. Prayer is continuous. But God is bringing the growth. He is advancing his kingdom. He is glorifying Christ. He is moving. He is using us in whatever way he sees fit to draw more people to himself.

Remain Faithful

So, stay faithful. Don’t get discouraged. Keep praying. Keep growing. Keep preaching. Keep pursuing Jesus. Keep making disciples. Keep reaching those who are far away. Keep being a place where people can bring their doubts, their pains, even their anger, and tell them God’s love is way bigger than all of them. Remember, only God brings the growth, but many times he must grow you before he does (Acts 2:47).

Don’t miss Jeremy’s next post. Enter your email below to have it delivered straight to your inbox: