Potentially Lethal Church Planting Short-cuts

#1 Lack of Incubation Period

Vulnerability - An individual or group can steer the plant in unplanned and undesired directions due to no formally agreed values and direction.

Lack of Focus - Members and visitors are uncertain regarding where the church is headed. Results in lack of passion.

Slowed Momentum - Church has to make many disruptive midcourse corrections. Note: It can take easily two years for church to accomplish what could have been done in the 6 months prior to launch.

Fallout - When clear core values and direction are finally established, a loss of some members is highly likely due to unmet expectations and conflicting agendas.

SOLUTION Incubate 6-9 months as a core group of leaders.

SOLUTION -Establish values

SOLUTION Incubate 6-9 months as a core group of leaders. -Establish values -Create Community (Get to know one another)

SOLUTION Incubate 6-9 months as a core group of leaders. -Establish values -Create Community (Get to know one another) -Pray

SOLUTION Incubate 6-9 months as a core group of leaders. -Establish values -Create Community (Get to know one another) -Pray-Unify

Potentially Lethal Church Planting Short-cuts #2 No Mother Church

Unnatural - Not having a “mother” isn’t normal. The church is organic. The birth of daughter congregations from established churches in the natural outgrowth of churches living out God’s mission.

Suspicion - Area churches look at plant with suspicion as they know nothing about it. As a result, criticism and false assumptions take place.

Separation - There is a lack of unity or desire to work together among the churches. This results in less impact and compromised witness in the community.

Sabotage - Newcomers to the area are discouraged from attending the church plant.

SOLUTION Seek to identify and establish a positive relationship with a mother or host church.

SOLUTION -Refer additional members

SOLUTION Seek to identify and establish a positive relationship with a mother or host church. -Refer additional members -Sending of “missionaries” to help with special needs

SOLUTION Seek to identify and establish a positive relationship with a mother or host church. -Refer additional members -Sending of “missionaries” to help with special needs -Mentoring for church offices

SOLUTION Seek to identify and establish a positive relationship with a mother or host church. -Refer additional members -Sending of “missionaries” to help with special needs -Mentoring for church offices -Combined outreach and social activities

SOLUTION Seek to identify and establish a positive relationship with a mother or host church. -Refer additional members -Sending of “missionaries” to help with special needs -Mentoring for church offices -Combined outreach and social activities -Financial participation

Potentially Lethal Church Planting Short-cuts #3 No Demographic Consideration

Mismatch - The church plant group may be a mismatch to the community they are trying to reach (ethnically, economically, geographically, etc.). Ignoring this will result in ineffective outreach.

Trends - Mistakes can be made due to no knowledge of important demographic trends (growth rate, ethnic population shifts, stress factors, community development, etc.)

Needs - Every population concentration has different felt needs. Ministry outreaches can be totally ineffective because they do not “scratch” where the community “itches”.

SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly.

SOLUTION -Link2lead.com, First View Radius

SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly. -Link2lead.com, First View Radius -Link2lead.com, Ministry Match

SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly. -Link2lead.com, First View Radius -Link2lead.com, Ministry Match -Community Door Knocking/Survey

SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly. -Link2lead.com, First View Radius -Link2lead.com, Ministry Match -Community Door Knocking/Survey -Analysis of other churches in area (both successful and failing)

SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly. -Link2lead.com, First View Radius -Link2lead.com, Ministry Match -Community Door Knocking/Survey -Analysis of other churches in area (both successful and failing) -Discover untapped opportunities

Potentially Lethal Church Planting Short-cuts #4 Limited methods utilized.

SOLUTION Cast a wide net. -Experiment with various outreach methods to determine which are most effective. -Incorporate proven methods on a regular basis: Public evangelism and Bible Studies.