Rational for a Church Plant (part 2)
Recap from part 1
The question: Don’t we have enough churches already? Why do we need more churches?
We are losing America
- According to the numbers we are coming up short. 3,300 plus more churches need to be planted to keep pace with population growth
-New churches are much more effective in reaching lost people
-Existing churches are plateaued and declining
-Of the 15% of churches that are growing, 14% are from transfer growth.
-New churches grow faster than established churches
-People are more open to change in new churches ÂÂ
Part 2 The question: Won’t this hurt the mother church? We are to small to plant a church?
-Although there are isolated cases in which this is true often times the oppisite is often the case. A church plant ignites the faith and witness of those who choose not to be directly involved in the church plant and thus bless the mother church.
-The churches that give find that it will be given to them. Luke 6:38
-Small churches have successfully started new churches. One current trend is that of multiple house churches.
-Several small churches can partner in starting a new church.
-Large churches sometimes have a more difficult time persuading people to leave than do medium-sized churches.
The question: Won’t this hurt existing churches?
-Again it is possible but often the opposite happens. Many churches are fueled not by the threat but by the life that comes from the church plant.
-New churches set new standards and raise the quality of ministry in a community. This is a good thing.
-New churches seek to reach the unchurched. In most communities this is well over half the population.
The question: Aren’t you a little young? Won’t this drain the number of leaders we have?
-YOUNG! I’m 29 and feel like I’m getting a late start. Age doesn’t have anything to do with this (although I do advise a healthy accountability, mentoring, and advisory group to work with all ages)
-Why not give some of your best leaders to such a significant cause? Isn’t this why we are here?
-Starting new churches can give talented younger leaders a chance to move into ministry.
November 16th, 2006 at 9:18 pm
Funny post!
I’m 45 and working on planting a church and I feel too old!! Like I am getting a real old start. The plant will not actually launch until I’m like 48?
I want to reach across all generations and it will require me to hire some younger staff to make that happen me thinks?
Keep choppin away, and I’ll put on the prayer list. Check out “Seed Stories” website, you can find it on the Ooze! Specifically for planters.
Later bro!
December 13th, 2006 at 6:32 pm
Nice thoughts on the church plant question. So where are you planting?
December 13th, 2006 at 7:38 pm
We will be planting in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania (Allentown/Bethlehem/Easton) area. It is about 45 miles north of Philly and about 1 hour south of NYC. It is a growing area; turning over from Blue collar to white collar, but hard working tough people. A lot of de-churched Catholics roam the area. My wife and I are prior Catholics ourselves. Should be a good fit. We currently attend Forefront Church in Virginia Beach (www.forefront.org) and my hope is to match that kind of style but mold it and shape to the culture of the land. God and time will tell!