Planting A New Church

[gene]

Hello,

My name is Gene and as is obvious am new here. I have a great desire to plant a new church and can use all of the advice I can get. I have no desire to attempt to try to entice folks away from someone elses congregation, instead wish to reach out to those who currently do not regularly attend any church. My problem is that I do not have a core group on which to build the church. I know several people I would like to ivite to visit one of myt services in hopes of convincing them to join the church. However, these are not the firm believers needed to stand as the "pillars" needed to support a new church in leadership positions.

My question is how does one find such individuals to meet, pray together and help "bring the sheep to fold" so to speak?

In Christ,
Gene

[Mike Miller]

Gene,

I am a former church planter, I currently pastor a church that plants churches, and I am on the church planting team for the New Orleans Baptist Association. Therefore, I speak with some knowledge when I say that you have asked a very complicated question--one that many many books have been written to try to answer. It would be impossible for me to provide any kind of meaningful advice here about finding, recruiting, and cultivating a core group. In fact, multiple theories exist about this very thing.

However, I would like to give you what I think is really good advice. In my opinion, the most important thing you should do before you begin to plant a new church is to affiliate with a reputable church planting network (through your denomination or with a group such as Acts 29 or Mosaic). Those networks that are seeing the most success (meaning the highest rate of viable and sustainable churches) will offer you certain things that are crucial for success. First, they will provide you with thorough assessment. The assessment process is designed to help you determine your calling and giftedness for church planting. You will learn what your strengths are and how to build on them and what your weaknesses are so you can work with them and overcome them. A network will also provide training (most now have boot camps that are intense periods of training and assessment). Ongoing training is also a part of the network. One of the biggest advantages of a network, however, is the actual network itself as you interact with other planters. You will learn from each other and encourage each other in what is perhaps the most difficult ministry position there is.

[gene]

Mike,

Thank you very much for your suggestions particularly in regard to church planting groups. I am not affiliated with any denomination in accordance with the way "I" interpret Paul's word's to the Church Of Corinth in Cr 1:10-17. We all call our houses of worship by a name, that I find no issue with, but to separate ourselves and divide Christ with "denominations" does not sit well with me. For this reason the church I wish to plant will remain independent and unaffiliated. I have not yet Googled the two church planting groups you mentioned, but I get the feeling they also only associate themselves together in Christ and not as a denomination. Since the Church is one, I feel if we preach Christ crucified and resurrected we are associated or affiliated together. (I hope that make sense to you.)

Again thank you for you help and advice, and if I may, I am sure I will come to you with more questions and always with requests for your prayers. I do not expect you or any other individual to have all the answers, but your thoughts and opinions will always be welcome.

I am a sinner so I ask all clergy for the same favour: Preacher pray for me.

Yours in Christ,
Gene

[charliedale]

Gene,

I really don't mean this disrespectfully, but the reasoning you give for remaining independent doesn't make sense to me. It sounds as if you're saying: "Denominations divide us; therefore, I will separate myself from everyone." It seems as though we who affiliate are enjoying greater unity in the Body of Christ than you are.

In your specific situation, you need the help of other brothers and sisters, but you can't join any of them. Somehow joining them would mean dividing in the Body. This seem contradictory to me.

I think you would find greater unity (and practical help in doing ministry) in finding a group of like-minded believers that you can "join".

In the interest of full disclosure, Gene: I really tend toward the "team player" personality type.

[charliedale]

As I think a little more on it, I wonder if Gene and others like him think that you are insulting all Methodists by choosing to join the Lutherans. Of course some denominations do teach they're the only true church. I don't think I could join one of them.

One of the strengths of being Baptist is that we are independent churches who choose to cooperate, and our level of cooperation is completely up to the local church.

(That's my plug for Baptists!)

[gene]

Charlie you misunderstand me, I had typed out a long detailed explanation of what I am talking about and somehow hit a button that cleared it all. However, I am not saying we should not be associated one with another, to the contrary I am saying the opposite we must all be of one mind and of one cause and that is the preach Christ Crucified. Paul was more than a little clear and emphatic in his first letter to the Corinthians. (actually it may have been the second or third, but is the first that made into the scriptures we read today, but that is another topic and quite immaterial)

1Cr 1:10 ¶ Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.1Cr 1:11 For it hath been declared unto me of you, my brethren, by them which are of the house of Chloe, that there are contentions among you.
1Cr 1:12 Now this I say, that every one of you saith, I am of Paul; and I of Apollos; and I of Cephas; and I of Christ.
1Cr 1:13 Is Christ divided? was Paul crucified for you? or were ye baptized in the name of Paul?
1Cr 1:14 I thank God that I baptized none of you, but Crispus and Gaius;
1Cr 1:15 Lest any should say that I had baptized in mine own name. (this was a statement made in anger over the actions of the Church in Corinth)
1Cr 1:16 And I baptized also the household of Stephanas: besides, I know not whether I baptized any other.
1Cr 1:17 For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

Paul was chosen by Christ to spread the Gospel to the Romans and all other Gentiles lest only the Hebrew nation learn of salvation. We must not muddy those waters by dividing ourselves into denominations now. Whether you be a milk-toast minister who preaches only in a passive tone or the charismatic preacher who if he cannot set his congregation's feet on the path to salvation any other way he'll scare the "hell" out of them, we each must preach the same gospel of Christ and call it nothing different than the Gospel of Christ.

So as I plant a new church I will call it a Christian congregation and not call it by a denomination.

AS always I wish you HIS...

Peace,
Gene

[charliedale]

Gene: "We each must preach the same gospel of Christ and call it nothing different than the Gospel of Christ."

Charlie: "Amen!"

[Mike Miller]

Gene, you appear to know little about denominations. We are simply groups of churches united in like beliefs. As a matter of fact, as Southern Baptists, we unite with other like-minded churches in order to combine our resources for sake of Great Commission ministries. Nothing is more divisive in the body than someone who holds himself as above or superior to denominations, separating himself from such fellowship and cooperation. As a rule, Gospel-centered denominations are not divided or at odds, but we see each other as partners in the Gospel who simply have some different methodologies or some different perspectives on non-essential doctrines. Brother, there is much strength in numbers, and we need each other. I pray that you will reconsider your go-it-alone attitude and show some grace to those of us with denominational affiliations. I assure you that our loyalty is to Jesus and His Gospel and not to a denomination.

Moreover, 1 Corinthians really doesn't apply to denominations. Paul was talking about jealousy and rivalry (which could be true in denominations, but not necessarily) based primarily on personality preferences with regard to Christian leaders. In fact, for you to apply this to Christians "dividing" in denominations, you would also need to apply it to yourself for wanting to divide into another local church. Your argument against denominations, when carried to its logical conclusion, would also be applicable to local churches. If you don't think we should be separate at all, then why another church? Why not just get to work in an existing church? Because I think you see the validity of numerous local churches working for the same goal. Then why not numerous groups of churches working for the same goal?

Finally, Gene, I think you will find that church planting is perhaps the most difficult ministry calling there is. As many as 80% of church plants to do not survive (meaning they don't become sustainable churches). However, those that are affiliated with a good network, providing rigorous assessment and continual training and accountability reverse that statistic. My prayer is that you will be open to affiliation with other like-minded believers so that you can be most effective for the Kingdom.