1. Church Planting & Church Growth
Planting New Churches in a Postmodern Age (Material from Ed Stetzer book)
Church Planting & Church Growth

2. Common Objections to North American Church Planting
Large Church Mentality
Parish Church Mind-set
Professional Church Syndrome
Rescue the Perishing Syndrome
Already Reached Myth

3. Common Objections to North American Church Planting
Large Church Mentality
Belief that growing one large church is preferable to planting multiple churches
Churches under three years of age win an average of ten people per year for every one hundred members
Churches three to fifteen years of age win an average of five people per year for every one hundred members
Churches over fifteen years of age win an average of three people per year for every one hundred members
Bruce McNichol Interest Magazine

4. Common Objections to North American Church Planting
Parish Church Mind-set
Limits the possible number of churches possible in the area
Decline of church-to-population
1900 – 27 churches for 10,000 Americans
1950 – 17 churches for 10,000 Americans
1996 – 11 churches for 10,000 Americans
See Church Growth Status

5. Common Objections to North American Church Planting
Professional Church Syndrome
All churches must have a seminary trained pastor to be ligetimate
Rescue the Perishing Syndrome
The assumption that denominations should first rescue dying churches before planting new churches

6. Common Objections to North American Church Planting
Already Reached Myth
Flawed perception that the United States and Canada are already evangelized
U.S. Status
120 million secular undiscipled
Largest mission field in West
Fifth largest mission field on earth

7. Obstacles to Mission Effectiveness
Lack of cultural engagement
Lack of Biblical content
Technique
Tradition

8. Missional Perspective

9. Missional Church & Cultural Investigation
What is the worldview of the target audience? (see worldview questions)
What is the culture’s decision-making process?
What does it cost a person in this culture to become a Christian?
What redemptive analogy is best for this culture?
How does this culture view Christianity?
What does this culture understand about the basic components of the gospel story?
Is this culture a shame or guilt culture?
How will this culture understand Christian rituals?
What is the best delivery system for exposing the people of this culture to the gospel?

10. Biblical Basis for Church Planting
Adapted from Elmer Towns
Scripture
Where
When
To Whom
What
Key
John 20:21
Upper
Room
Resurrection
10 Disciples
I am sending you
Commission
Matt.
28:18-20
Mountain in Galilee
At least two weeks after the resurrection
11 Disciples
Disciples all “peoples” then baptize and teach
Strategy
Luke
24:46-48
Jerusalem
40th day
Preach repentance and forgiveness of sins in Christ
Content
Acts 1:8
Mt. Of Olive
Jerusalem to uttermost part of earth
Geography

11. Biblical Basis for Church Planting
Paul was personally prepared for his church planting ministry
Paul was an evangelist
Paul was an entrepreneurial leader
Paul was a team player
Paul was a flexible, risk-taking pioneer
Paul care for people
Paul empowered other (equipper)
Sacrificial ministry
Paul was willing to change plans at God’s guidance

12. Models of Church Plants
The Apostolic Harvest Church Planter
Paradigm
Starts churches, raises up leaders from the harvest, moves to new church
Biblical Model
Paul
Historic/Modern Example
Church circuit riders
House church movement
Networks of house churches

13. Models of Church Plants
The Apostolic Harvest Church Planter
Principles:
Planter starts and moves on.
Pastor comes out of the church and then goes back into it.
Pastor may or may not be classically educated.
Churches may provide core for each new congregation.

14. Models of Church Plants
The Apostolic Harvest Church Planter
Planter & New Core
Planter & New Core
Planter
New Planter
New Planter
New Planter

15. Models of Church Plants
The Founding Pastor
Planted Pastor
Entrepreneurial Planter

16. Models of Church Plants
The Founding Pastor
Paradigm
Starts a church as planter & remains as evangelist in new church
Biblical Model
Peter at Jerusalem church
Historic/Modern Example
Charles Spurgeon
Rick Warren (Purpose Driven Church)

17. Models of Church Plants
The Founding Pastor
Principles:
Planter starts and pastors the church long term.
Evangelist often moves from another location.
Evangelist often classically education.
New church taught to sponsor new church.

18. Models of Church Plants
The Planted Pastor (type of Founding Pastor)

19. Models of Church Plants
The Planted Pastor
Principles:
Organization and vision for new church usually external – from an apostolic church planter, mother church, or denominational leadership.
Planted pastor usually has a shepherding heart with administrative ability but not a church planter’s gift mix.
Planted pastor by definition does no leave but stays long term.
Planted pastor is usually classically educate and comes from outside the congregation.

20. Models of Church Plants
The Entrepreneurial Planter

21. Models of Church Plants
The Entrepreneurial Planter
Principles:
Enjoy the challenge of starting churches but are often bored by pastoring the same church long term but generally not attracted to the apostolic method because they love pastoring.
Often leaves before the congregation is “fromalized” (three years).
Often classically educated and comes from outside the congregation but may avoid education because of boredom.
Planter my sponsor new churches.

22. Models of Church Plants
The Church Planter Team
Consensus
Decision Method
Leader
Decision Method

23. Models of Church Plants
Planter Team
Paradigm
A group of planters relocates into an area to start a church. Often the team has a senior pastor.
Biblical Model
Paul
Historic/Modern Example
Missionaries at Iona
Team church

24. Models of Church Plants
Planter Team
Principles:
A team forms in, or relocates to, a specific area to plant a new church.
Church planting vision often comes from one key member of the team.
Good teams have a gift mix.
Team may amicably split up the mother church into multiple daughter churches or become traditional staff members of the founded church.

25. Models of Church Plants
Team Plants

26. Models of Church Plants
Team Plants

27. Church Planters
Who can plant churches?
Teams
Individuals
Laypeople
Agencies
Churches

28. Church Planters
Church Multiplication

29. Church Planters
Mother Church

30. Church Planters
Church Planter Assessed

31. Church Planter Assessment Ed Stetzer
Church Planters
Church Planter Assessment Ed Stetzer
S.H.A.P.E.
Spiritual gifts: Gifts of ministry given by the Holy Spirit
Heart of passion: A burden to establish an outreach toward a specific people group, in a particular location, or through a specific type of ministry
Abilities: Entrepreneurial talents useful in planting
Personality type: Analysis of personality type often appearing in church planters
Experiences: Tools for describing experiences to help the planter understand when, where, and how to plant a church

32. Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Church Planters
Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Visionizing Capacity
The ability to envision the potential future, persuade other to work toward the dream to bring the vision to reality
Intrinsically Motivated
Approaches ministry as a self-starter with strong work ethic and determined mind to fulfill vision
Creates Ownership of Ministry
Instills in others a sense of personal responsibility for growth and success in ministry and trains leaders to reproduce

33. Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Church Planters
Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Relates to the Unchurched
Develops rapport and overcomes barriers with the unchurched to influence the toward a personal relationship with God
Spousal Cooperation
Couple agree on ministry priorities, their roles, and integration of ministry and family life
Effectively Builds Relationships
Takes initiative developing relationships toward ministry goals

34. Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Church Planters
Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Committed to Church Growth
Values congregational development for spiritual, relational, and numerical growth.
Responsiveness to the Community
Ability to adjust ministry to the culture and the needs of the target people.
Utilizes Giftedness of Others
Equips and releases other people to minister on the basis of their spiritual gifts.

35. Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Church Planters
Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Flexible and Adaptable
Ability to adjust to change and ambiguity, shift priorities when necessary, and handle multiple tasks at the same time.
Builds Group Cohesiveness
One who enables the group to collaborate to accomplish ministry goals while managing divisiveness and disunifying elements.

36. Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Church Planters
Ridley’s Assessment Categories
Demonstrates Resilience
Ability to sustain oneself emotionally, spiritually, and physically through stresses and failures.
Exercises Faith
Translates personal conviction into personal and ministry decisions and positive actions.

37. Wrong Reasons to be a Church Planter
Church Planters
Wrong Reasons to be a Church Planter
A strong desire to preach but no opportunities
Frustrated where you are because you are not able to do what you want
No invitation to be a minister of a church
Out to prove something.
Nee to get some experience in ministerial skills

38. Proposed Schedule & Responsibilities
Church Planters
Proposed Schedule & Responsibilities
Evangelistic Outreach – 15 hours per week (bivocational – 3 hours)
Sermon & Study Preparation – 10 hours per week (bivocational – 2 hours)
Administration – 10 hours per week (bivocational – 2 hours)
Ministry – 15 hours per week (bivocational – 3 hours)

39. Church Planters Personal Adjustments Culture Fatigue Team Fatigue
Relational Demands
Network of Support
Accountability (Supervisor)
Mentor Assistance

40. Church Planters
Supervisor - Accountability

41. Church Planters
Mentor Meetings

42. Key Ministers in Church Plant
Evangelist (Pastor)
Worship Leader
Preschool Children’s Minister
Assimilation Coordinator
Evangelism Networker
Spiritual Gift Mobilizer
Welcome coordinator
Financial Organizer