Church Plant Rant

Now that I'm not a part of a church planting organization where I have to toe the party line, I'm going to say it...

I'm an advocate of "momentum-based church planting."

Rather than starting a church from scratch with no people and no resources, this is where you get a mother church behind you, a team of leaders with you, a strong core group, and substantial start-up funds.

Sometimes God calls us to whack weeds, be pioneers, start something from nothing.  But sometimes we're guilty of trying to initiate the work of God rather than join it. 

If I could make any contribution to the church planting world now that I'm out of it... I'd like to help planters invest more into their plants before they ever launch.

Church planters are a rare breed. The same idealism that drives them to face impossible odds and charge the gates of hell also causes them to... start too soon. I want to help planters pull back the reins. The effectiveness of a church plant is often determined by everything that's done before it's ever launched.

Comments

[Tally Wilgis]

Great post. Thanks for the call. I look forward to getting together sometime soon. I appreciate ya bro.

[Ben Arment]

You too Tally. Can't wait to see what God does through you in Baltimore.

[Scott Cheatham]

Ben,

I would agree with you that it makes more sense to plant affiliate churches from existing ones. Here in Denver where I am, we had NO churches so I didn't have that luxury but my BHAG is to make Rangeview Church a church that will launch others with help, funds, and support.

Good thoughts.

[Sam.]

I hear you, and I think that can be the case. But I think there's lots of problems with what you propose too.

All too often when a church plant starts out with a big group of Christians who get involved from the start alongside lots of resources, the church goes straight into planning services. And this normally ends up putting the church plant straight out into competition with other churches. When you start out this way, almost from the word go, the church plant is attracting Christians.

I honestly prefer small, mission teams who don't start out thinking 'church'. Or, as one guy put it recently: "They do not 'plant' a church so much as seek to anchor the presence of Christ in a place that represents the heart and soul of the city."

Missional ventures in the world, out of which a church community can form can, I think, lead to a far greater momentum when it comes to actually influencing people who haven't yet encountered God (as opposed to quickly building a crowd of predominantly Christians).

I'm not say this is the only way. I just no that for me it is THIS sort of venture and approach I'm hoping for more of.

[Jonathan Brink]

Wise words my friend.

[Ben Arment]

are you bivocational Sam?

[Scott in Vegas]

I think one of the most important investments that could be made is lowering the planters expectations, and providing excellent, simple, specific training about winning souls and making disciples, as opposed to broad training or equipping regarding a certain style or structure.

So much of what we train is not transferable to alternate situations and scenarios, and becomes style or situation specific training.

For instance, many could plan a service in a particular building, but very few can meet someone on the street, develop a relationship with that person, lead them to Jesus, and then disciple that person...and not step foot in a building or use no other text than the Bible...without stepping foot in a building or using another book besides the Bible (not that buildings or other books are bad at all).

We give church planters a whole bunch of equipment they don't need, but fail to give them the simple things they do need.

Scott in Vegas
http://www.newchurchreport.com - New Church Report
http://cells-twelves.blogspot.com - Expectation Blog

[Nick Poole]

Hey Ben,
I'd be interested in how you do this? Are you referring to identifying a community that is growing a planting a church there or what? I definitely agree with what you said about 'identifying where God is moving', but how exactly would you do that?

BTW - let me be one of many, I'm sure, to recommend you write a book on church planting - you have some great insights!

[Sam.]

Yep. I work as an IT Manager. Just started doing a day per week employed by the church but that is more for new ventures outside of where we are. Why do you ask?

[Joshua Cryer]

TOTALLY AGREE!!! I believe the key to making church planting happen this way (as opposed to other options), is for the local church to have a vision/passion for planting churches.

...so many churches operate as though they are spiritual islands - no vision beyond the sheep shed they meet in.

Again - totally agree with Senior Ben.

[Don Record]

It's funny that I find myself agreeing with you Ben even though we pretty much did the opposite...(Started in February with just a hand full of people and no financial backing) I think we had to do what we did to be obedient to God (and quite frankly because no church in their right mind would plant a church in a nightclub as we did)...but now that we are growing and thriving I look forward to being able to give much more help than we had to future church plants. (Kind of like saying I am glad I learned from the "school of hard knocks"...but I want better for my children.)

[Jeff]

Great thoughts Ben. I couldn't agree with you more. We're planting in Cheyenne, WY. We launched in October of 07 with a mother church behind us fully paying my salary for year one and $150,000 in seed money. We started with a full time worship leader, office manager, myself and two other volunteer staff, one who is now full time. I can't tell you how much momentum we felt we had from day one because of that backing. It has definitely paid off into continued momentum. Thanks for the great posts.

[Will Henderson]

Hey Ben (there's no way you remember me) I'm an aussie planter taking a year to pray, plan and prepare before returning to Brisbane Aust. to lanch. I'm spending time with the Mountain Lake Crew at Cumming and would love to shout you lunch some time and pick your brains about launching with momentum. Love your blog man, it's part of the reason I'm on this journey!!

[Trevor DeVage]

Ben,
Thanks so much for this post. We just launched as a multi-site location yesterday. We spent six months pouring into the community around us and as a result we have four people getting baptized, four families joining the church and over 250 people showed up. We have all the resources we need and support we could ask for. As a result we have been able to make a real impact in a community that truly needs the authentic love of Christ to them. Thanks again for this post.