History of Church Planting An Overview CP Workshop – History of Church Planting.ppt

Ancient History Local Initiated and Led → Outsider Initiated and Local Led Local Initiated and Led → Outsider Initiated and Local Led Church was a mixture of Jewish Synagogue Tradition and House Church or Family-based Church depending on the ethnic makeup of the church and who was involved in starting the Church. Church was a mixture of Jewish Synagogue Tradition and House Church or Family-based Church depending on the ethnic makeup of the church and who was involved in starting the Church.

Modern History Outsider Initiated and Outsider Led Outsider Initiated and Outsider Led Church looked like the Outsiders’ Church Church looked like the Outsiders’ Church Methodology Methodology –Outsider won new believers –Outsider discipled new believers –Outsider led worship services –Local volunteers were equipped to do Sunday School type of work in the local church.

Modern History –Mature locals would be sent to seminary, and then would be qualified to lead a new congregation. –Focus is on Outsider church styles and programs Variation – if the Local was enough like the Outsider, then he would be allowed to do the above. Variation – if the Local was enough like the Outsider, then he would be allowed to do the above.

Recent History/Current Situation Outsider Initiated and Local Led Outsider Initiated and Local Led Local Leaders trained by Outsiders to be like Outsiders Local Leaders trained by Outsiders to be like Outsiders Church looks like the Outsiders’ Church (There may be a demand by the mission sending organization or church that this be the case.) Church looks like the Outsiders’ Church (There may be a demand by the mission sending organization or church that this be the case.)

Recent History/Current Situation Methodology Methodology –Outsider wins first converts –Outsider disciples new converts –Outsider trains new converts to lead worship and Bible studies –Outsider functions as a shadow pastor, making most if not all decisions. –Locals are expected to do things in the same manner as the Outsider.

Recent History/Current Situation –Mature locals are sent to seminary to be trained by Outsiders, and then would be qualified to lead new congregations if they fulfill the expectations of the Outsiders. –Focus is on Outsider church styles and programs. Variations –One Outsider may work in multiple locations or with multiple Local Leaders to affect the above. –Locals who have become adept at looking and acting like Outsiders lead in the same way as a Outsider.

New Approach Outsider Initiated and Local Led → Local Initiated and Local Led Outsider Initiated and Local Led → Local Initiated and Local Led –No public project or program is ever led by a Outsider. –New work is not started until and unless a local leader is ready to lead the new work. –Locals quickly become the initiators of new work. Key Local Leaders are equipped to lead and develop new leaders in multiple locations. Key Local Leaders are equipped to lead and develop new leaders in multiple locations.

New Approach Outsiders keep to the background and minimize cultural transmission. Outsiders keep to the background and minimize cultural transmission. Church is encouraged to develop unique cultural expressions of love for and obedience to Christ. Church is encouraged to develop unique cultural expressions of love for and obedience to Christ. Methodology Methodology –Outsider chooses key Locals to disciple to Christ and train as Leaders who will develop and train other Leaders.

New Approach –Each person trained stays in a mentor/mentoree relationship with the one who trained and the ones they will train. (This develops a self-correcting system.) –Leadership is defined by training and mentoring abilities as well as evangelism, church planting abilities, and/or other leadership abilities.

New Approach –Every new Christian is expected to be mentored and to be a mentor to those who come after them. –Every leader is expected to regularly replicate himself or herself. –Every church is expected to regularly replicate herself. –Christian behavior and Church actions fall into cultural norms when and where these are not explicitly limited by Scripture.

New Approach –Outsiders are careful not to understate or overstate what the Bible has to say about issues that may be strongly influenced by culture. Abstinence from alcoholic beverages Abstinence from alcoholic beverages Marriage, Divorce, Pluralistic Marriages Marriage, Divorce, Pluralistic Marriages Polity and governmental styles Polity and governmental styles

New Approach –Outsiders are careful to teach principles rather than rules. Teaching style is based more on asking questions rather than giving answers Teaching style is based more on asking questions rather than giving answers –Read the Scripture –Ask what the Scripture means –Ask how one would illustrate the Scripture

New Approach –Ask how this would require a change in personal behavior or cultural behavior as result of the Scripture –Ask for a commitment to make the discovered change to truth as expressed by Scripture