CHAPTER 6 – ROOTS GATHERING THE LAUNCH TEAM Root Development The First-Stage of the 4-Stage Launch “Launch-Team Development” Theme: You need to build a strong launch team of 30+ people Objective: After the foundational theological, spiritual, demographic and personal material, we begin the practical stages with Stage One of a Church Plant. Look at ‘Growth Marks” (and note the pages at the end of the chapter) Root Development: Finding & Developing the Launch Team Start date_________ Check when achieved: (usually takes 3-4 months) Start date_________ Check when achieved: (usually takes 3-4 months) “I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” 1 Corinthians 3:6-7

The Metaphor It starts with good roots God has provided a healthy environment with fertile soil (your mission field), and good seed (the Biblical foundation, core values, and God-given passion) to plant a new church…so what’s next? It’s time to plant the seed in the soil. At this point you must place your God- given vision for this new church into the soil, into your missional context, where this new church will begin to grow. The first thing a seed will do as it placed in the soil is to begin to develop a strong root system. First the roots develop and then the branches, leaves and eventually the fruit. In planting churches, you develop a launch team and then the rest of the pieces develop in the proper time frame. God is always a God of order. It is not only Biblical to plan and develop a strategy to reach people for Christ, it is smart. Planting churches this way will reduce the failure rate… A Good Root System provides for: StabilityAbsorption Movement Stories from planters:

1. You will know how to find and build a strong launch team What does a strong root system look like? -What is a “Launch Team?” -The Mission Team -Constantly Growing -Provides Ministry “Muscle” -It’s hard work -The Benefits of a Strong Launch Team -The Gifted Believers Needed on the Launch Team

1. You will know how to find and build a strong launch team -Doing Evangelism from the Start “The first 100 may well determine the next 300… If your new church is going to have 10% conversion growth in the first 100, it will have 10% conversion growth at 300 and I would add that that number will drop more and more over the life of the church. If you have 70% conversion growth in the first 100, then you will have 70% conversion growth at 300.” Evangelism must be an integral part from the very beginning of the new church. Growing the launch team through evangelism will help produce healthy roots for the new plant and create a culture of conversion.” Gary Rohrmayer It usually takes 3-4 months to do well TEAM APPLICATION

2. Strategies for Building a Launch Team Pray, Pray, Pray Parenting Churches Partnering Churches and Strategic Networks Gathering Events Personal Evangelism Gathering Strategies for the Planter

Gathering Strategies for the Launch Team New Networks Each Launch Team member take Invite cards to give to 10 friends + prayer/care/share On-line Invites, Face-book, etc. Gathering Events Vision Desserts Bar-b-ques, open houses, neighborhood gatherings Servant Evangelism What needs exist in your community that this growing launch team can begin to address? TEAM APPLICATON: Brainstorm 3-5 creative ideas your launch team might utilize to Gather?

3. The ideal mix for the Launch Team (Growing Healthy Roots) A Word about “Agenda Harmony” Jesus said, “Every Kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12:25 -Non-negotiable DNA, Mission and Vision -Avoid “vision collision” -Out-counseling Jesus also said, “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.” Matthew 12:30

The Make-up of the Launch Team 1/3 Committed Christians 1/3 Have said yes to Christ, but have never had an authentic relationship with Him 1/3 Brand New Believers or those on the journey.

3 Kinds of “Highly” People Highly NeedyHighly Needy Highly Mission- MindedHighly Mission- Minded Highly ControllingHighly Controlling The Problem: they all look alike at the first! 3 Key Activities: -Gathering-Connecting-Building TEAM APPLICATION:

4. Scheduling Launch Team Development Watering and Fertilizing the Roots As the launch team is growing it will be important that there is a focus on developing a sense of community. The best way to accomplish that goal is to gather the whole group on a regular basis. As the launch team is growing it will be important that there is a focus on developing a sense of community. The best way to accomplish that goal is to gather the whole group on a regular basis. “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25 -Suggested Schedule -Where to meet -Visiting other churches and church plants on Sundays -What to do during your Launch Team Meeting -What to do between Launch Team meetings -Length of Time for this Stage -The Rhythm and Time-line -What to study/teach TEAM APPLICATON

Benchmarks and Time Frames A Typical Launch Team Development stage will be 3-4 months. The Conventional wisdom is to have at least 30 adults before transitioning to the next stage of development. TIMELINE