Let's get church expansion right!

Church Planting?

Earlier this week I sat in the office of a young man- who is not yet 30, but who I believe is destined to be a great leader in the church here in the United Kingdom. We were discussing amongst other things my last blog and church planting. It amused me to hear that when I used the words church plant he used words such as extension service, or multiple campuses. The principle may be the same but the language has changed. It got me thinking even more about how we grow God’s Kingdom, the principles may be the same but if language has changed so too has the way we establish new churches. The culture of church planting has changed.

It is my opinion that we do not have enough churches, we need more, lots more. I am not talking about denominations, we have enough of those. What I am talking about is young vibrant, contemporary churches, church that is relevant to community and the message of the cross.

Whatever the language we use - multi site churches, extension services, campuses or church planting the principles are the same. First and foremost church planting is pioneering, but it need not be a step of faith into the unknown.

In the past church planting has been the domain of a denomination that has a specified church planting department with a small, very small budget or it is the desire of the brave. In the past church plants have been established from a denomination base and then after initial support left to their own devices after 12 months. (I generalise I know but I am trying to paint a picture). There is a sink or swim attitude. Church planting in the 21^st Century should, I feel be somewhat different.

I am sure that others have covered this subject far better than I ever could. Below are a number of points that I have observed over the last few years that I think best illustrates church planting:

1)      It should be part of the heart of the house. In other blogs I have said that one of the signs of a successful growing church is that they have an outreach program. The desire to reach the lost for Christ is part of the vision. For many of these successful churches planting other, sites or campuses, call it what you want, is part and parcel of that vision. Planting in other strategic locations, by people from the central church, churches with the same vision and heart. A prime example of this would be the Hillsong Church based in Sydney Australia.

2)      You can’t run before you can walk. Pioneering a church is still hard work, be sure it is what you want to do.

3)      Think Strategically. A few months ago I was at a church leader’s conference and was given an in-house magazine. In it was an article on their new campus in London what I thought particularly good was that they had done their homework on the city. They had targeted a particular area. They had found out how many churches there were what size congregations they had. How many schools, pupil numbers there were in the area. They looked at restaurants, shopping centres and entertainment centres. In other words they were thinking strategically. There is a reason that Hillsong have chosen capital cities and large metropolises around the world. It is part of their strategy. Even when you study the book of Acts and read about Paul’s journeys you see that he had a strategy of where to go and where to plant.

4)      It is not about facilities or finance it’s about people. If you have begun from a strategic plan then stop looking at the obstacles and see the opportunities.

5)      Start from strength not weakness. There is a cost. Be prepared to send out 40 or 50 people to help populate the new campus or plant. Sow the best people. Church planting experts believe that this number is the minimum required to establish a base and a presence in a community. There is a leadership cost, you will lose your best and even your brightest, this will release others to take their place. Be prepared to cover the financial costs to ensure a sound start and to ensure there is not a feeling of panic on the part of the new senior planting leader, as to what he will eat this month. Their job is to build church not find a secular job. Two to three years should be the norm.

6)      Don’t transfer your problems. It is not a good idea to get rid of the people who are your problems, you are merely spreading the problems around

7)      Teamwork building takes time. If you are going to plant out other churches ensure that your leadership teams work well together and that they have been together for some time. I know of one church that have planted a church in another European country and have sent a number of families to that country. However three years before they did three of the leaders and their wives were sent to language classes. Monthly trips to the European city turned into two week stays and then six monthly until they were immersed in language and culture.

8)      There are bound to be disasters. Not everything will work perfectly there are bound to be times when things don’t mesh, don’t panic it is all part of the learning process for you and your teams.

9)      Church planting is not sheep stealing. You are planting a church to reach the lost not to deplete another person’s field. Too many churches talk about their growth when really all it is, is growth by influx. People see what you are doing and like it more than the staple diet they are getting at their own church. It is good to discourage this from the beginning so that other local pastors see that you are trying to establish something new. Or you attract the problems of others and in the early days of church planting can prove to be a distraction from the real work at hand. Anyway the 40 or 50 people that you have planted with should help to disseminate the heart and culture of the house.

10)   Build relationship with other pastors. Whether you are the one taking the lead or are the one sending out a leadership team to plant a church, it is important to build relationships with other local pastors. Because of your integrity with regards to the previous point, they will tend to see you as a colleague rather than a threat. Anyway pioneering is a lonely job and you will have need of these people and their prayer support and their local knowledge and wisdom at some point or other. Remember you are all on the same team.

11)   Running home to mommy doesn’t always work. At first your relationship with your central hub is very important and because of the way that modern 21^st century church planting works you will always have a strong leadership link and relational link. But there will be a time when you will have to make the decisions. The culture and heart of the house may be the same but the community will be different.

In summary then, make church planting part of your outreach vision. Be prepared to lose the best leaders to it and ensure they have a strong base both financially and in people. People attract people. Be prepared to plant in the right place, at the right time, with the right people in other words think strategically. Build strong relationships with those around you and others in the community. Remember your mission; it is all about people and reaching them for the cause of Christ Jesus.