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Earlier this month Cool River celebrated it’s 5th year.  That means that our family has been in Colorado now for 6+ years doing this thing called “church planting.”  Sometimes I sit here and I can barely remember what life was like prior to these days.  Starting a church has been a fantastic whirlwind.  And for those of you currently in the swings of it alongside of me, you can surely attest to the fact of its all consuming motion.  Time has literally flown by.  There are days when I float on the clouds, completely amazed at the “God motion” all around me.  And then there are days when I honestly want to throw in the towel, stop working so hard and convince my husband to get a steady and predictable “real” job.  (you laugh, but I bet you’ve been there) 

So what do you do when those “throwing in the towel” days hit? 

Recently I was in a conversation with a good friend in our church.  She asked, “how did you guys decide to do something like start a church?”  What a fair question.  I mean think about it. . .people decide to become lawyers and teachers and morticians and construction workers.  But who decides to start a church???  It’s really not the most normal of future decisions to make. 

Later that very day I was listening to a song on the radio that reminded me of another friend.  She and her husband did make the decision to start a church.  It wasn’t their first choice, but due to a set of circumstances that is where they landed.  It was a tough road.  Her heart wasn’t fully in it.  And today, do you know what she would say?  “It was a great growing experience, but I know now that I was never ‘called’ to start a church.”  “Call,” for her made all the difference.  And what did she and her family do when “throwing in the towel day” hit?  They threw the towel.

I know of yet another friend - they have struggled since day one of starting their church.  They live in a very hard to reach area of the country.  By now their church would be bursting with families and resources if they were planted in any other part of the nation.  But in their little corner of the world, establishing a community of faith is very difficult.  Some days they just don’t know what to do next.  But to move on - to go somewhere else is not an option.  She and her husband are equally “called.” and equally committed and when “throwing in the towel days” come, they squeeze the towel all the harder.

So what do you do when those “throwing in the towel” days hit?

For me, I can almost pinpoint the time, date and location of the moment that God collectively called my husband and I to start a church.  It was terrifying and exhilarating all at the same time.  At that very moment we were set on a mission that quickly became all consuming and wild.  That’s what I recall when my “throwing in the towel” days hit.  For others of you, you may not remember the exact moment that it happened, but you, too, sense a great “call” and assurance of God’s path in starting a church - and that assurance propels you into the next day. 

And for those of you who are reading this today - you are wrestling with the thought of starting a church.  Your husband just came home and said, “hey babe, what do you think about moving to ??? to plant a church,” and you bruised your chin as you fell out of your seat. . .this is my challenge to you. . .I’m fully convinced that even as the wife, we must be “called.”  Please comment and let me know if you think I’m completely off my rocker.  I’m not saying that the wife needs to be ready to equally carry the load of the husband in all things church planting.  But I am saying that I believe there has got to be a peace that goes beyond rational explaining in the heart of the wife.  Because let me tell you - “throwing in the towel” days WILL HIT!!!  And when they do, your “Call” may just be the only thing that will carry you through.

So what do you do when those “throwing in the towel” days hit?    

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posted by Amy Colón
To continue to connect even more, check out the church planting wives group on Facebook