I've heard people say that in dreams a vehicle can often symbolize different types of ministries. I don't know if this concept can even begin to actually be supported theologically, but I guess God has spoken in much weirder ways than this. As you can probably imagine, every person I talk to who has a dream like this always explains how the vehicle they dreamed of was big. I've heard the stories of dreams containing jumbo planes, giant cruise ships, massive buses, and trains that stretched on for miles. However, the most profound dream I've ever had that included a vehicle was about a tiny little helicopter. In the dream I was flying this helicopter through an extremely dangerous and narrow passage between two jagged mountains. If I had flown to far in any one direction by even just inches I would have crashed.
In my opinion, church planting is like piloting a helicopter. You have to be able and willing to maneuver. You have to have the capacity to drastically adjust at a moments notice. The Bible says, "Man makes his plans, but the Lord determines his steps." Over and over I have had to repent of my sin of idolatry because I put my plans above allowing my steps to be led by Jesus. Now this truth should never be used as an excuse for apathy, but the hard work of planning should always remain vastly inferior to the genuine prompting of the Holy Spirit.
On the other hand, it also makes me sad when I hear people talk about how they've had to back-pedal in ministry when the Holy Spirit began to lead in another direction. I personally don't believe there is such a thing as back-pedaling when it comes to ministry. I have no regrets. I've done things that may appear stupid now, but at the time it was exactly what was needed. This not only includes my methods, but also even my theology. I can clearly see now how God has graciously used even my wrong beliefs in order to guide me through tricky and difficult situations. I can't see what He sees. I don't know what He knows. As the Bible says, "His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are much higher than our ways."
So if I make my human plans, but am incapable of seeing God's overall divine plan what can I do to ensure success? The answer is simple. Success in ministry is defined by obedience. Immediate, spontaneous, impromptu obedience. Some of us plant and some of us water, but God makes things grow. I am not responsible for growth because growth is outside of my control. God is the only one who can control growth and results. Remember Jesus said, "I will grow my church." So when we see growth it's always Him who deserves the credit, and when we don't see growth we must also be careful not to take the blame. The only thing we are responsible for is obedience. This revelation is what will sustain any genuine follower of Jesus, but especially a church planter. It gives me peace to know that the pilot of the tiny helicopter is not in the least bit inferior to the pilot of the humongous cruise ship as long as both are responding in obedience to what God has called them to do.
