Church Planting Wisdom
Recently, I responded to a general question about church planting with a few bits of wisdom. Below is my response with some general wisdom for churches or church planters:
Biggest lessons
(as one who has been a member of 2 different church plants (both outside the CRC) and am part of a planting church in the CRC (currently planting a Chinese-speaking church in Ada)
1. Planting churches is like having children. You'll never have "enough funds" or "feel prepared". Start the planting process, be faithful in that, and the Lord will show Himself to provide abundantly as you walk in faith. If you aren't planting now, start the process. Begin with prayer and then move!
2. Church plants have changing needs on a faster basis than "established" churches. The best way to pull a muscle is to exercise without warming up/stretching, or continually working the same muscle without rest. The same principle applies to church plants. Different muscles, skills, and abilities emerge and need to be exercised and rested at different times. Do not fall prey to thinking "this time/season is how it will continue to be". It won't. Be ready for change, expect it, long for it, and live looking and leading with changing seasons in mind.
3. Be faithful to the Lord. Lots of trends, lots of fads, lots of sin, lots of temptations (especially for church plants and those involved in them). Your highest duty and best path forward in everything is to remain faithful to the Lord. This includes diligent, fervent prayer.
4. Some brief logistics/practicum advice.
A) Start your budget (no matter how small) with a % based system. The particulars are up for debate, how much $ goes to outreach, the denomination, missions, staffing, meeting space, etc. Start with setting %'s for everything and allow those % to set a tone. I've never seen a church stop giving to missions or staffing once they've started, but I've seen plenty never get off the ground, even with the best of intentions.
B) don't be hasty in laying on of hands (establishing leaders too quickly). Build disciples, and put those who are trustworthy into paths for leadership over time. The pressure to establish leaders can cause huge problems down the road. Don't rush it. Be faithful.
C) Your meeting location isn't as important as meeting people. Meet people, and people will drive/bus/walk to be with people whom they love and live among.
D) Spread your net as wide as possible for funds and prayer. Get newsletters going, let your Classis know, share it with fellow seminary grads, etc. Get the word out about the plant and set the project before the broader church.
E) Get a Dolly/Hand Truck. It will save you and your people's backs for a long time.
That's all I've got for now. I'm sure other brothers and sisters will give much more than this!
