Crash Landing and Church Planting
January 22nd, 2009 Posted in Church, Church Planting, Jesus, Leadership, MissionalWhat does a miraculous Crash Landing have to do with Church Plantingand/or pastoring?
I think a lot!
First of all, pilots and pastors have in common the objective of transporting people from one place to another. Pilots transport people from one geographic location to another. Pastors influence people from this life to the next.
Captain Sully, piloting USAir flight 1549 had an objective of transporting a plane full of people and his number one objective was to keep the people on the plane safe, but when his flight was at risk, he quickly had to consider not only the safety of the people on board but also the safety of the people outside of the vessel.
Churchplanters/Pastors are also in the business of transporting people, but they too are focused on the welfare of people outside of their community.
Captain Sully found himself and the people on board his aircraft quickly at risk after hitting birds that damaged his engines. As he navigated his vessel he knew that everyone on board was at risk, but he also knew that his choice of landing would determine the welfare and safety of many people outside of his vessel. He chose a risky crash landing on the Hudson River to protect those on board and to save those outside the craft.
What a great metaphor of the journey of a planter/pastor!
We must navigate the risky waters of a journey of people on a misson, while at the same time remain focused on the spiritual safety and welfare of the people on the outside of our vessels (church community).
Other Comparisons:
Pilots/airlines aren’t successful if their vessels are empty.
Planters/Pastors fulfill their mission by transporting people into eternity. They aren’t successful if people aren’t traveling with them.
Pilots manage high risk with people placing their trust in the pilot’s leadership.
Planters take people on a risky journey, asking people to trust God’s leadership through them.
Pilots that fail to transport the people in their trust to the intended destination are considered failures and likely lose credibility in reaching new people to their business.
Planters that fail to lead those entrusted to their care, will inevitably lose influence with those people on the outside of their organization.
What Captain Sully was able to do was miraculous!
When Planters and Pastors are able to see their mission successful, it is a miracle of God as well!
I love Churchplanting!
