Hill Country Bible Church

4 Year Birthday of Hill Country UT

Posted: Sep 14, 2009 by Denny Henderson

This past Sunday Hill Country Bible Church UT turned 4 years old. Unaware to my church, it was a very sobering day for me as I woke up early Sunday morning before the sun came up to reflect on the past four years of ministry.  I spent much time in the early morning hours Sunday thanking God for His faithfulness. I recounted the beginnings in my mind. I can remember when we first started the church with only 12 college students and a vision to reach 50,000 students at UT.  I recalled the first group of adults who sacrificed time, energy and resources to help launch this new church with a long list of challenges. Now four years later we have 100's of college students, but still have a long list of challenges and still have 50,000 college students who need to hear the gospel. The task in front of us seems even more daunting then it did four years ago.  However I rest in knowing God is faithful to His redemptive purposes.

With all of that said, I thought i would share a few lessons I have learned as a church planter - some the easy way, but most lessons the hard and painful way.

1. Check your  ego in at the door:  I learned very quickly in the church plant experience that I am a nobody! Prior to starting Hill Country UT, I had the privilege of serving at a very large church on the east coast as the teaching pastor of a successful young adult ministry. At the young age of 25 I really thought I was "something".  But out here in the desert of church planting you quickly come to realize that no one really cares who you are and they want to know if you care.  The church planting experience was so humbling and still is very humbling. I have come to realize that I truly am a nobody and my only hope is that God still uses nobodies in spite of ourselves.

2. God's Economy vs. the world's economy: I have learned -  in very difficult ways - that God's economy and measure of success is so much greater and different than what the world views as success.  I am not sure if God really cares about how big our church buildings are, how good our band is or how cool our lights are during worship and I would even say how skilled our preaching.  I think what really matters to God is plain and simple, are we reducing the lostness of our communities in which He has called us? If all we are doing is filling up our buildings with "church-folks" and building our resumes with a pulpit ministry but not reducing the lostness of our communities - I fear that our measure of success may be in jeopardy of not measuring up to God's economy.  The greatest failure is not failing in the eyes of the world, but succeeding in the eyes of the world but failing in the eyes of God.

3.   God Is Faithful and Gives Us Our daily Bread: Ever since the very beginnings of HIll Country UT there have been very specific and unique challenges. Some of the realistic challenges that we faced and still face are ( for example): how do you fund a college based church?  How do you get adults to sacrifice for students without expecting anything?  What I have learned is God is always faithful and gives us exactly what we need at exactly the right time - our daily bread for every day.  There have been times that we have been down to almost pennies in the bank account with no rescue in sight - yet God has always provided and even more than we need. There have been times when we have not had enough adults to effectively coach, disciple and mentor college students.  Just about the time you are ready to throw your arms up in defeat - God supplies. I have learned that God is gracious and that His supply for our every need is inexhaustible.  Denny - ye of little faith.

4. Mission is more important than our "ministry":  One of greatest learnings I am finding myself become more aware of is that to be successful in a God sized vision - we must realize that the mission is more important than making a name for ourselves. God's mission at the University of Texas is very simple: to see every student at Ut have the opportunity to see and hear the gospel of Jesus Christ.  For this vision to become a reality we must abandon our selfish gain and partner with others for the kingdom. We must pray for the success of other ministries. We should feel obligated to help support and resource other ministries. Even more, we need to be humble enough to accept the support and help from others. A God sized vision is way to big for any one ministry. It will take the partnering of all Christ- followers  to see kingdom advanced at The University of Texas.

So, I was going to write my top five --  But this blog post is getting long and elder meeting will come early in the morning.  So I guess the top four will have to do.  But even as I prepare my mind for sleep, I cannot believe how faithful God is to this little church, Hill Country UT, that most people will never hear of or know.  But I God knows of this small band of students and adults who are striving to redeem the University of Texas with the Gospel of Jesus... and you know what?  That Is perfect for me!

Denny