2. Why Start Churches?
It is the NT pattern
World population growth exceeds the capacity of existing
churches to evangelize and assimilate, even if they were
trying
Most established churches plateau by the ten-year mark
New churches are more flexible and adaptable to new people
3. Reasons to Start
Diversity exceeds the ability of any one church to adapt to
all the different kinds of people
Easier to win people in their own setting, which means
planting a church there
New churches are more evangelistically effective
New churches inspire the starting of additional churches
New churches mobilize a higher percentage of their
members for ministry
4. Principles for Planting
Work through existing local churches
Do careful study before choosing a target
Communicate the message with relevance
As seekers become believers, congregate
Implement a plan of continual development and growth
5. Application: How to Involve Churches?
Mission committees and sponsorship
Volunteers to become a new core group
Sacrificial giving for a new congregation
Introduce church starting as a core value
6. Involving Churches (Cont)
Hire a planter to plant a daughter church
Hive off a significant number of members
Become a partner with other churches to plant
Convert the church into multiple congregations
Develop a satellite congregation of a different style on a
different day or place
7. Application: Target audience
Do a demographic analysis – whether near or far
Criteria for selection include some or all of
The group most like the current congregation
The group most open to the gospel
The group most unchurched
The group like the intended planter
8. Application: Relevant Communication
How does the gospel address the pressing concerns of the
target audience?
What crises have emerged that provide entry points for
service and a message of hope?
Obtain answers through prayer-walking, surveys, and
friendship building
9. Application: Congregating Believers
Gather converts into home-based small groups
Quickly identify and work through potential leaders
Develop a time of worship and teaching that involves
converts and seekers and reflects their sensibilities of what
is proper
Extend the ministry though convert-led evangelism and
ministry
Formalize the new church only after a pattern of
multiplication of converts, leaders, and groups is
established
