Have you every been at one of those conferences or denominational meetings where they have the latest explosive church leader share about how they started with their church with 3 people and it grew to 5000 in by their second Sunday? In addition to this, they started 50 churches and sent out 175 missionaries into international missions work by their third year? Ok, ok...I’m being a bit hyperbolic and snarky. But you likely know the feeling.
I was part of another planting network in the early days of Grace Church and it seemed that every message I received from our network leaders was, “you need to learn from this guy...he really knows what he’s doing.” So I did only to become more and more discouraged that I was in fact NOT like him! Certainly, I could learn from him...and I did in some areas. I wonder how many pastors who sit in rooms receiving messages like this year in and year out simply resolve they will never be able to see that kind of work happen in their ministries so they just cash in any thought that they can play any meaningful role in planting churches?
But church planting is not just for large churches with abundant resources, it is a mission that every congregation, regardless of size or budget, can participate in. This is clear in the New Testament. The call to make disciples (Matthew 28:19-20) includes starting new churches, and there are practical ways for every church to contribute to this vital work.
1. Pray for Church Planting Efforts
Every church can start by committing to regular prayer for new churches in their community. Pray for church planters, for God to raise up leaders, and for new congregations to reach people with the gospel. A church can also adopt a specific church plant to support through ongoing intercession.
2. Partner with a Church Planter
Churches can identify and come alongside church planters in their area. This partnership can take many forms, such as offering encouragement, financial support, or even providing a space for gatherings. Several years before I planted Grace Church, I found myself making room to simply take a church planter who moved to Nashville out to lunch each month. He loved sushi and that was all that mattered. We met for lunch and just talked for an hour or so. A smaller church may not be able to fully fund a plant, but by joining forces with other congregations and letting a planter know they are there can make a significant impact.
3. Send People to Help
Churches can encourage members to serve in a church plant, whether as temporary volunteers or as long-term team members. A group of committed people willing to support a new church’s launch whether through worship, hospitality, children’s ministry, or outreach can be an invaluable resource. I have seen the power of this in my own experience. We had some people
help plant Grace that intended to back to our sending church but never did. We had some who served for 3-5 years and eventually they went back to our sending church. The Lord uses all types of commitments to advance this campaign of redemption.
4. Offer Facilities and Resources
Even if a church cannot plant directly, it may have resources that can help. Churches can open their buildings for new congregations to meet, donate equipment, or provide administrative and logistical support to a planting team. When Providence opened their first building, they saved some great sound equipment that eventually was given to Grace Church. Both Providence and Grace got great use out of that equipment.
5. Develop Future Planters and Leaders
A church that disciples and trains leaders is already contributing to church planting. Encouraging members to consider a calling to plant or lead in a new church helps cultivate a multiplication mindset. Churches can also invite church planting coaches or networks to equip their members for future work.
Church planting is not just for a select few, it is a mission that every church can support. Whether through prayer, partnership, sending people, sharing resources, or developing leaders, every congregation can play a role in starting new churches in their community. By working together, we can see more people reached and more vibrant gospel-centered churches established.
Tom Agnew
Starting Churches Team Leader