Failed Church Plant Redirects Pastor to D.C.

When Mark Batterson was 22 years old, his church plant in Chicago failed. 

“It was embarrassing. It was discouraging. It was a little confusing, to be honest,” Mark said. 

However, God used that closed door to redirect Mark to start a church plant in Washington, D.C.—this time with a very different outcome. Today, he’s pastored National Community Church for nearly 30 years and launched Kingdom-focused businesses to help people in his city.  

“I want people to hear my heart here that prayer is not outlining our agenda to God. It's about God outlining his agenda to us.”

Hear Mark share his story and more Biblical wisdom on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. 

Connect with us through email at gps@billygraham.org or on Facebook at Billy Graham Radio. 

If you’d like to know more about beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ, or deepening the faith you already have, visit FindPeacewithGod.net. 

If you’d like to pray with someone, call our Billy Graham 24/7 Prayer Line at 855-255-7729. 

Transcript

Mark Batterson:
[00:00:00] I think God sometimes closes one door to redirect us. We ended up packing all of our earthly belongings into a 15’ U-Haul. And we moved from Chicago to D.C. We had no place to live. We had no guaranteed salary. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:00:19] Mark Batterson and his wife were following God’s calling to begin ministry in the heart of Washington, D.C. 

Mark Batterson: 
[00:00:25] The turning point really was August 12, 2001. And it’s a date I won’t forget. There are decades when nothing happens. There are days when decades happen. And that was one of those days. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:00:40] You’ll find out what happened on that day in Mark Batterson’s story on this episode of GPS: God. People. Stories. It’s an outreach of the Billly Graham Evangelistic Association. I’m Jim Kirkland. Mark is the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C.. A church that welcomes several thousand people every week to its campuses on Capitol Hill and northern Virginia. Mark has learned the importance of living a life totally committed to Jesus Christ. What does it look like? Billly Graham described it like this. 

Billy Graham:
[00:01:12] You’re following Him. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ by studying the Bible. By prayer. By witnessing. By attendance in church. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:01:24] You’ll hear Billy Graham elaborate on being totally committed to Christ a little later in the episode. You can also explore what a life fully committed to Jesus looks like any time at our website. FindPeacewithGod.net. That’s the address. FindPeacewithGod.net. And by the way, you can always find that address in our show notes.  

Music and Audio Tag:
[00:01:47]

Jim Kirkland:
[00:01:53] Have you ever tried to recall your earliest memory? 

Mark Batterson:
[00:01:57] One of my earliest memories was an asthma attack. Woke up in the middle of the night. Couldn’t breathe. Went into my parent’s room. They rushed me to North Memorial Hospital in the Minneapolis area. Got a shot of epinephrine. Opened my lungs back up. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:02:14] As you’ll hear in a few minutes, Mark Batterson’s ongoing struggle with asthma would later serve as a mile marker in his walk with Jesus. That walk began at a very early age when Mark and his family went to see the Billy Graham movie, The Hiding Place.

Mark Batterson: 
[00:02:29] It was after watching that movie that I asked my mom if I could ask Jesus into my heart. At five years old, I gave everything I knew of myself to everything I knew of God. That is where the journey began for me. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:02:45] And it was a journey that was encouraged within his home. Mark grew up in a strong Christian family in Minneapolis. His godly grandparents were also a big part of his life. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:02:55] My grandfather, Elmer Johnson, had a habit of kneeling next to his bed and praying for his family. And he wore a hearing aide. He was hard of hearing, but he would take it off at night and put it on the bedside table. And he couldn’t hear himself praying, but everybody else in the house could including me. And that’s powerful when you hear your grandfather praying for you. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:03:20] Mark says if you would have asked him when he was a teenager if he was following Jesus, he would have absolutely said, yes. But his freshman year at the University of Chicago, God showed him something very different. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:03:33] The reality is I think I had invited Jesus to follow me. And that’s a very different deal. It was more about God serving my purposes than me serving His purposes. So, a lot of people who think they’re following Jesus but they’ve invited Jesus to follow them. And-and I think I was one of those people until 19. And I had one of those all in moments where you just surrender time, talent, treasure, past, present, future, heart, soul, mind, and strength. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:04:05] That surrender would change Mark’s career plans, which had always been tied into his study in Politics, Economics, Rhetoric, and Law. He sensed the new direction for his life while he was on a family vacation. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:04:19] I was on just a prayer walk through a cow pasture in Alexandria, Minnesota, when I heard what I would describe as the inaudible yet unmistakable voice of God. And I knew I was called into ministry. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:04:33] So, Mark gave up his full ride basketball scholarship at the University of Chicago and transferred to Central Bible College in Springfield, Missouri. That’s the same school his girlfriend, Lora, was attending. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:04:47] We actually attended a little church with seven pews. Twelve people on a good Sunday, but the pastor let me preach. And so, that’s where I began to cut my teeth in the joy of preaching God’s Word. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:05:02] His time there came to an end when he graduated from college. He and Lora had gotten married. And he decided to go to grad school. So, they moved to Chicago where Mark attended Trinity University. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:05:14] Now, that’s where the plot thickens a little bit because at the age of 22, we tried to plant a church on the North Shore of Chicago. Now, I had done a 25 year plan for one of my classes. And-and my professor gave it an A. So, it’s got to work. Right? Uh, wrong. Uh, it did not work. In fact, uh, that church plant was really a failed attempt. And it was embarrassing. It was discouraging. It was a little confusing to be honest. But I look back on it now, and I’m grateful for a couple of reasons. One, I think the cure for the fear of failure is not success. I think it’s failure in small enough doses that you build up an immunity to it. And two, we discovered at an early age that unless the Lord builds the house, they who labor, labor in vain. So when we failed, we discovered that God was there to pick us up, dust us off, and give us a second chance. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:06:17] As they prayed about what was next for them, Mark and Lora decided to visit a friend who happened to live in Washington, D.C.. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:06:25] My roommate from college happened to be living in the D.C. area as a youth pastor. And we just thought why don’t we go out and visit. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:06:34] This would be a life changing trip for Mark and Lora. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:06:38] I’ll never forget driving from the White House to the Capitol down Pennsylvania Avenue. And it was just a couple of blocks from the Capitol that I knew that I knew. I think we’re called to this city. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:06:53] But the church plant failure that they experienced in Chicago was still fresh in their minds. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:06:59] One big life lesson in that is we love open doors. Closed doors not so much. But you really can’t have one without the other. And so, I think God sometimes closes one door to redirect us. We ended up packing all of our earthly belongings into a 15’ U-Haul. And we moved from Chicago to D.C. We had no place to live. We had no guaranteed salary. But by faith, we made the move. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:07:30] The Batterson’s began their time in Washington doing parachurch ministry for about a year and a half. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:07:35] Then, the opportunity presented itself to take a core group of 19 people and began to plan a church really from the ground up. And it was scary because if you fail once, it might be an anomaly. If you fail twice, it might be saying something about you. So, it took a little bit of faith, a little bit of courage to give it another go. 

Jim Kirkland: 
[00:07:57] Mark named the newly formed church National Community Church. He held the first service on January 7th, 1996. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:08:05] And that happens to be the weekend that the blizzard of ’96 left two feet of snow on the nation’s capital. And so, that first Sunday only three people showed up. My wife, myself, and at that point our oldest son who was just a few months old. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:08:07] Attendance quickly increased though. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:08:28] The next week, we had 19 people. And we were off to the races and, uh, just excited to have a second chance at church planting. Now, that first year, nothing glamorous about it. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:08:43] But that’s not to say nothing significant happened that year. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:08:47] Eight months into planting the church, I was reading in Joshua 1 and came to verse 3. It says I will give you everywhere you set your foot. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:08:58] So, Mark made a prayer walk around the Capitol Hill. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:09:02] It was August 16, 1996. And it was so hot and humid. When I felt that prompting to pray that perimeter, I’m like, Lord, can I just do in in my imagination right here in the comfortable confines of my air-conditioned home? But it-it was a moment where I knew you probably need to break a sweat. And, uh, ended up walking, uh, walking 4.7 miles in some hot and humid weather. But there’s something about putting physical steps to something. There comes a moment where you almost need to put physical steps to what you believe. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:09:47] Mark prayed this prayer for the people of the city. Lord, let Your kingdom come. Let Your will be done in D.C. as it is in heaven. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:09:59] And, you know, years later, I would connect the dots that God told the Israelites to literally circle Jericho. And they did it for seven days. And then, they did it seven times on the seventh day. And I’m not sure what kind of forecast the meteorologist was giving them back in the day, but my hunch is they broke a sweat just like I did. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:10:22] Although Mark didn’t see an immediate answer on his prayer walk like the Israelites did in Jericho, he kept leading his small church. And he kept walking by faith. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:10:33] Before we had our first drummer, there was a moment where I felt prompted to go buy a drum set by faith. I felt a little foolish. Like I’m buying a drum set for an imaginary drummer that doesn’t even exist. But wouldn’t you know it, I bought that drum set on a Thursday. And our first drummer showed up that Sunday. There’s something about taking steps of faith. And it’s not name it, claim it. Like I-I don’t play that game. God’s not a slot machine. You-you can’t play, uh, God like a slot machine. But I think you do have to exercise faith. And the truth is, uh, if you don’t get out of the boat, you’re never going to walk on water. And I think a lot of us wait until we’re ready, but you’re never going to be ready. And so, it’s got to be go, set, ready. There’s got to be a moment where by faith you take a step. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:11:26] There were a lot of those  moments in the first year of National Community Church. Money was tight. And Mark relied on God for provision. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:11:35] It was tough sliding the first year. We averaged about 25 people on a Sunday. Our income was $2,000.00 a month, which costs $1600.00 to rent the D.C. public school where we met which left $400.00 for our salary and all other expenses. But do not despise the day of small beginnings the prophet Zacariah said. It was a tough start, but we really believe in long obedience in the same direction. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:12:05] Within five years, the congregation slowly grew from 19 to about 250. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:12:11] The turning point really was August 12, 2001. And it’s a date I won’t forget. There-there are decades when nothing happens. There are days when decades happen. And that was one of those days. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:12:26] A reporter from The Washington Post had heard about National Community Church, and its demographics. Mostly twenty somethings; 80% single. Statistics that the reporter thought were newsworthy. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:12:39] We were so excited. Like, hey, there’s a chance we might make the news. And I think the Good News ought to make the news. And so, the reporter did the interview. Said, hey, um, if my editor gives it a thumbs up, check out the “Religion section” in the weekend paper. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:12:57] That Sunday, August 12, 2001, Mark walked to a newsstand at Union Station, picked up the paper, found the “Religion section”, and opened it up. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:13:08] We weren’t in it which was totally discouraging. And so, I folded it back up and put it back on the newsstand. And that’s when I discovered that we had made the front page of the Sunday edition of The Washington Post. And I used to joke that it was a slow news day. You know what, it wasn’t. It was God’s timing. It was God’s favor. And so, five years in, the Lord put us on the map. And that year, we grew from 250 people to 500 people. And we never really looked back. That’s kind of the moment that the church took off. And what I love about it is that I can’t take any credit for it. It was just God’s timing, God’s favor, and I might add God’s way. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:13:56] Mark wanted National Community Church to live out Scripture. To do everything God’s way. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:14:02] One of our core convictions is that the church belongs in the middle of the marketplace. Jesus didn’t just hang out at the synagogue. He hung out at wells. Wells were natural gathering places in ancient culture. And I think coffee houses are post-modern wells. And so, we thought, hey, why don’t we turn what was then a crack house into a coffee house, which sounds kind of crazy. And the truth is I-I don’t know that we had a lot of qualifications. But last time I checked, God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the call. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:14:37] So for five years, Mark and others from the church prayed around this crack house in the northwest corner of the Capitol Hill. Eventually, they were able to buy it and transform it into Ebenezer’s Coffee House. The doors opened on March 15, 2006 not realizing that March 15th of that year was National Coffee Day. And they’ve been serving coffee ever since. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:15:01] That coffee house has been voted number one coffee house in D.C. multiple times. And the Holy Spirit plus caffeine equals awesome. So, we have been caffeinating Capitol Hill for almost two decades. And what’s beautiful is that it’s coffee with a cause. So, every penny of profit we give to kingdom causes. Uh, more than a million dollars at this point that we’ve been able to invest in other causes. In part just because we created a place where church and community could cross paths. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:15:34] The coffee shop approach is one example of how Mark believes the church at large should operate. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:15:41] I think God has called us to get outside the four walls of the church to be the church. And for us, one way to do that has been to start business as mission. So, we have Ebenezer’s Coffee House. And then on the other side of Capitol Hill, we have a city block that we call the Capitol Turnaround. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:16:02] The Capitol Turnaround comprises an entire city block. That’s about 100,000 sq. ft. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:16:09] It was built in 1891 as the Navy Yard Car Barn. So, it was the last stop on the Red Line where street cars were repaired, rerouted, and then turned around and sent back into the city. And so when we bought it, that name, Capitol Turnaround, is a little tip of the cap to the history. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:16:30] It was 18 years to the day of Mark’s first prayer walk around Capitol Hill that the church put a contract on the Capitol Turnaround. Today, the area serves as National Community Church’s Capitol Hill campus. People gather there to worship God on Sundays and come for a prayer service on Thursday nights. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:16:50] And then what’s unique is that it has also become an event venue. So when we aren’t using it for church purposes, last year about 150 events rented our space. And it allows us to then roll out the red carpet and show hospitality to different groups that use this space. And it also becomes a revenue stream that then we can take those earnings from those rental events and again put them into kingdom causes that we care about. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:17:23] To date, National Community Church has given more than 30 million dollars to Christ centered causes and gone on more than 300 mission trips. Mark is quick to point out that God’s provision began with small steps of faith. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:17:38] It started with our first $50.00 gift to missions. And we didn’t have $50.00 to give. We were in a tough spot financially. We weren’t even self-supporting until year three. But if you give it, God will show up and show off. And so, we gave that first $50.00 check to missions. And the truth is, uh, we’ve never looked back. And so, I believe that law of measures. Give and it will be given unto you. Good measure pressed down, shaken together will be running over. Be poured into your lap. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:18:13] Even so, Mark never imagined that the church would own seven properties along the prayer walk loop he made around Capitol Hill back so many years before. In fact, he wasn’t sure they’d ever own any property at all. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:18:26] The truth is we didn’t have a category for City Block. And we didn’t have a category for a 29.3 million dollar building either. But God has blessings in categories we can’t conceive of. Those seven properties are worth now approaching 100 million dollars. And we own them debt free. And that’s where I would say only God. It is really a testament to the power of prayer. And I want people to hear my heart here. That prayer is not outlining our agenda to God. It’s about God outlining His agenda to us. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:19:05] Mark believes prayer is the difference between the best we can do and the best God can do. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:19:12] Every prayer has to meet a twofold litmus test. It has to be in the will of God and for the glory of God. But I will say this. If-if it’s not, it’s a non-starter. If it is, game on. And so, I think that as we began to pray a perimeter around Capitol Hill, I think the Lord was putting a contract on those pieces of property decades before we would actually purchase them. And I would remind us that we live our lives forward, but God is working backwards. We’re God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works prepared for us in advance. I think prayer is how we write history before it happens. And that prayer walk ended up being really a defining moment. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:20:00] Mark describes himself as a traditional pastor who loves to preach. But he adds that God has also given him and his church an entrepreneurial streak. That’s what’s driven them to develop outreaches throughout Washington including opening the D.C. Dream Center to serve the children of Capitol Hill. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:20:17] We have a theology of the city. Jeremiah 29:7. Seek the peace and prosperity of the city. And it if prospers, you will prosper. And so the prophet Jeremiah said plant gardens and build houses. And the reason why he said that is because there was a false prophet named Hananiah who said you’ll only be in exile two years. Well, if you have a two year mindset, you’re not even going to unpack your suitcase. You’re going to rent the city. Jeremiah said, no, no, no. You’re going to be there seventy years. So, you need to think long. And so really, we’re trying to do things that will make a difference 70 years from now. That what-what God does for us is always for the third and fourth generation. We tend to think right here right now. God is thinking nations and generations. So, our mindset as a church is we’re not just trying to build a church. We’re trying to bless this city to the third and fourth generation. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:21:15] There have been a number of milestones in Mark’s 30 years as pastor of National Community Church. One of them is very personal and connects back to that earliest childhood memory of his first asthma attack. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:21:28] I prayed hundreds of times over 40 years that God would heal my lungs. Why did he answer on July 2nd, 2016? I have no idea. That’s past my pay grade. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:21:41] While he may not understand the why of his healing, Mark says there’s a powerful lesson in it for everyone who hears this story. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:21:49] God hasn’t given up on you. Let’s not give up on God. Let’s continue to pray through. And I think if we do that, we’re going to see some miracles along the way. And by definition, God sized dreams are going to be beyond your resources and beyond your ability. It’s probably going to take longer than you like. It’s probably going to be harder than you hoped for. But when God actually does it, those are the moments then you can’t take credit for it. And God gets the glory for that miracle. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:22:20] Mark doesn’t know what God has in store for him next. And you don’t know for yourself either. But Mark reminds us that God is always writing a bigger story. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:22:31] And so, to those who maybe get a little discouraged here and there, you watch the news and see what’s happening. Can-can I just remind us there is a hill higher than Capitol Hill. It’s a hill called Calvary. And nothing can change what was accomplished. My sin is nailed to that cross.  There is a court higher than the Supreme Court. It’s the Intercourt where Jesus went on our behalf and intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. And I would say there’s a house more important than the White House. It’s the house of prayer for all nations. And so, the kingdoms of this world are becoming the kingdom of our Lord and of Christ. Every tribe, every nation, people, language will gather around that throne some day and-and worship God. And so, uh, don’t lose faith. Don’t lose heart. I believe that the best is yet to come. May His kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven, in Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Music tag:
[00:23:29]

Jim Kirkland:
[00:23:39] If Mark Batterson’s story of trusting God completely with his life has prompted you to want to do the same in yours, we’re here to help you take the first step. You can connect with us in a couple of ways either online or over the phone. To connect online, go to our website. FindPeacewithGod.net. That’s FindPeacewithGod.net. You can find answers there as well as an option for a live chat with someone who’s waiting now to talk with you. Or you can talk with someone on the phone, call the Billy Graham 24/7 prayer line. The number is (855) 255 – PRAY. That’s (855) 255 – PRAY. There are times when it’s easy to get frustrated with your current situation and wonder if or when it’s ever going to change. Mark Batterson knows that well. And he has some encouragement for us in just a moment. 

Audio tag:
[00:24:34]

Billy Graham:
[00:24:43] Now that word faith may cause you to stumble. 


Announcer:
[00:24:46] Billy Graham… 

Billy Graham:
[00:24:48] It means that you commit. That you surrender your total life to Jesus Christ. You’re not trusting any other god. You’re not trusting any other religion. You’re not trusting anything but Jesus Christ and Him alone to save you. That’s faith. Total commitment to Christ. And then, you’re willing to follow Him. You’re willing to be His disciple. You’re following Him. Growing in the grace and knowledge of Christ by studying the Bible. By prayer. By witnessing. By attendance in church. You say, well, Billy, most of things I’m already doing. But do your really know Christ? Are you sure of it? If you’re not sure, if you’re not certain that Christ is in your heart tonight and that your sin is forgiven, He’s calling you by name. He sees you. And He says make haste and come. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:25:33] If you’d like to answer that invitation from Jesus, go to FindPeacewithGod.net. That’s FindPeacewithGod.net. Or call now the Billy Graham 24/7 prayer line. The phone number is (855) 255 – PRAY. (855) 255 – PRAY. Our guest on this GPS is Mark Batterson, lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C. He founded the church in 1996. And ever since then, he’s seen God work in some truly remarkable ways. But Mark also knows well that it’s easy to get frustrated when things aren’t happening as quickly as we want. 

Mark Batterson:
[00:26:18] One of the things I’ve learned is you have to enjoy the journey. Now, that’s true for parents. You have to enjoy every age and stage. But I think we easily fall into the when/then trap like when I get my driver’s license, or when I go to college, or when I graduate from college, when I get a job. No, when I get the promotion. No, when I retire. When we have kids, our kids are out of diapers. Um, when our kids are in college and we’re empty nesters, then life will be good. I’m not buying what you’re selling. You have to enjoy the journey right here, right now. And so, I think one of the big lessons I’ve learned is that, you know, you live life one day at a time. And you play the long game. And over time, God has a way of doing things that are above and beyond what you could ask or imagine. 

Jim Kirkland:
[00:27:10] We’ve had so many good insights from Mark Batterson during his time with us here on GPS. Like prayer is the difference between the best we can do and the best God can do. Or there comes a moment where you need to put physical steps to what you believe. We’re very grateful to Mark for sharing his insights and his story. In addition to pastoring National Community Church in Washington, D.C., Mark is also a New York Times best-selling author who has penned 25 books. And he is still husband to Lora, dad to three kids, and grandfather to one. If you’ve enjoyed hearing Mark’s story, got a favor to ask. Would you please rate this episode or leave a comment about it. And also, make doubly sure that you are subscribed to GPS. That way you’ll never miss an episode. We release new episodes every other Wednesday. I’m Jim Kirkland. And this is GPS: God. People. Stories. It’s an outreach of the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Always good news. 

Music tag:
[00:28:12] 

End of transcript