for new people new churches in new places for new people in new places Strategy Lab September 2014

Your Ministry Plan Envisioning a new church Envisioning success brings you an inspiring image, but bringing that image to life requires action ~ Larina Kase Preparing your ministry plan is an act of creation. According to Stephen Covey, this is the first creation, the mental creation. We have seen an awe-inspiring connection between the ministry plans prepared from Strategy Lab and the churches that have resulted from them. What you do here is the most highly predictive activity of your future.

Hidden Treasure The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field (Mt. 13:44) ? Your ministry plan will answer these questions: Why are you doing this? Where will you do this? Will anyone be doing this with you? What will this new church look like? How will you get there?

3 views of the plant Narrative Illustration Financial There are 3 ways you need to learn to view your church plant. You’ll work on 2 of those this lab and we’ll introduce you to the third way. Narrative – you’ll work on writing this picture so you can gain the language to speak it Illustration – Missional map Financial – You need to learn how to see your church plant in financial terms.

30 day product We ask you to complete the writing of your ministry plan in 30 days. This gives you enough time to dream but not so much time that you can procrastinate.

How much is your Ministry Plan worth? $ Quarter Million? You need to have a WOW ministry. If you follow our process you will have one. We have heard many times that our planters’ ministry plans and presentations are the best that churches have heard. In the first 3 years of planting you will likely spend over $250,000 for: Your personal salary Launch preparation activities Rent Working funds for operation Salary: Your best opportunity for success is for your salary to be fully funded for 3 years from external partners. This gives you the time and opportunity you need to launch this new church well. Your biggest financial danger will come if you are not fully funded and you use the offerings of your seed team to supplement your personal salary. At that point you begin starving the church and limiting what the church can do. Workfund: You should plan for the majority of your operating costs, your workfunds, to be paid from the tithing of your seed team, launch team, then your church. There are times when you will need $20,000 of special funds, but consider those funds to be truly special. If you can help your church see that it is self-supporting in operations from the beginning you have laid a good foundation.

Ministry Plan Reflects: Your personality Region of the country Personality of the church Your ministry plan will have two critical documents: Strategic Summary: this is a one-page, front & back, summary document that is highly formatted and structured. It is something you will want to hand out to everyone you can. Ministry Plan: This is a 12-15 page document where you use photos and color, fonts and graphs, to display your personality, the region of the country where you are planting, and the personality of the church.

Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Cover Table of Contents Page numbers Orientation You want your ministry plan to orient the reader even when you’re not around. The cover performs two critical functions It creates interest. Do this via color, photos and themes. Regional color schemes, motifs, well known features or structures make great covers. When you print, print your covers (front and back) on card stock paper It gives key information. From your cover people should know Where you will be planting Gain a sense of the style Who you are

Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Cover Table of Contents Page numbers The Table of Contents gives people a quick, easy snapshot of the contents. And don’t forget page numbers!

Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Letters of support Kairos Elder or minister Faculty The cover performs two critical functions It creates interest: color, photos and theme. Regional color schemes, motifs, well known features or structures It gives key information: it places the plant geographically and clearly tells who you are and how to contact you

Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Letters of support Kairos Elder or minister Faculty Strategic Summary Strategic Summary This is your second credibility piece. Go to KairosChurchPlanting.org > Resources > Strategy Lab Resources > Groundwork. Under Vision download the Strategic Summary Directions sheet and the Strategic Summary Kainos for an example.

A concise, one-page document that defines the new church Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions A concise, one-page document that defines the new church The Strategic Summary links the vision of the new church with the community and the plan you will use to reach the vision. Prepare your strategic summary last, when you have all your work done on your Ministry Plan.

Why the branding? Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Credibility Directions Why the branding? Credibility Movement ambassador The SS gives you credibility, you are part of something bigger than you, a network. You are also an ambassador for a movement. Have printed the SS directions and an example.

Your Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Planter Directions People Missional Map Seed Team Timeline Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Your Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Planter Directions People Vision frame Seed Team Timeline Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Your Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Planter Directions People Missional map Seed Team Timeline Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Your Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Planter Directions People Missional Map Seed Team Timeline Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Your Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Planter Directions People Missional map Seed Team Timeline Critical dates Tasks Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Your Financial Plan Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Your Financial Plan Group by: Salary Start-up Ministry Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Then . . . Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Make your ASK! Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

GIVE! And. . . Orientation Credibility Mission Capacity Directions Tell them how to GIVE! Whoever reads your ministry plan should already have a good feel of your work from the SS and your previous conversations. The ministry plan almost serves as a reference work. It provides answers to questions they will ask when you are not immediately available as well as giving a more in-depth view of the plant project. Give people a fair look at how all this will work but don’t wear people down with details. Because this portion is information heavy your themes, motifs and a few illustrative photos do a lot to keep the interest level up.

Details matter Don’t use fancy fonts Don’t overcrowd the pages with text or details Have it spiral bound