1. Potentially Lethal Church Planting Short-cuts

2. #1 Lack of Incubation Period

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

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

5. 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.

6. 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.

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

8. SOLUTION -Establish values

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

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

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

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

13. 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.

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

15. 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.

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

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

18. SOLUTION -Refer additional members

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

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

24. 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.

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

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

27. SOLUTION Study community demographics and adjust accordingly.

28. SOLUTION -Link2lead.com, First View Radius

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

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

31. 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)

32. 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

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

34. 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.