Training men for church planting is a very exciting yet serious and exhaustive matter. With over 50% of all church plants dying before their second anniversary, more attention and effort needs to be given to the development of future church planters.
I. Realize churches reproduce churches • The authority lies in the local church to reproduce more churches • Remember, churches reproduce after themselves and their “kind” • The pastor and church must know and trust the church planter • The pastor has the authority to say when the church planter is ready II. Prepare the reproducing church • Instruct the church on the Biblical philosophy and mandate to reproduce themselves • Establish needy areas around the region and world that need churches • Support and join the efforts of other church plants • Set a church planting budget • Set aside funds through general or missions giving • Set aside funds to support the church planter heavily (possibly up to half of his needed support) • Set the terms of support. Suggestion would be a five-year term with a 20% drop each year • Establish a timeline. Possibly a two to three year turn around on each church planter • Realize that some interns will take longer and some shorter • Realize that some will not finish the process III. Plan for the church planter intern • Some church planters will come from within and some without the local ministry • Some church planters will come straight out of college and others will have ministry experience • The #2 reason why churches fail is putting an inexperienced novice in the leadership role of a pastor • It’s important to have a written agreement with the church planter. Have the idea that this is a process and that the Lord may lead differently as time progresses • Do not promise to the church planter a definite plan until he has been tried and proven • Do not promise or give false hope to the church congregation until the church planter has been tried and proven IV. Establish a timeline and detailed plan for preparing the church planter • First year – Proving period. Try to “get out of him” all that you can. Try his work ethic, self-motivation, people skills, organization skills, willingness to humbly follow instructions, etc… • Evaluate his progress every 3 months • Watch for issues with his family, finances, ect that may cause concern • Second year (first six months) – Preparing Period – Try to “put into him” all you can. Now that he has been tried and proven, take time to mentor and invest in him, prepare him to pastor • Have him watch the 25 hour “First Century Church Planting Course”, listen to every podcast, and read every article BCPM has • Have him “shadow” the pastor, following him on visits, meetings, and other critical training opportunities • Have him learn from the pastor on study habits, tools, books. Train him on organizing events, and help him understand how to lead people • Have him conduct music, preach, and teach in a variety of settings and opportunities • Second year (second six months) and third year– Promoting Period • Promote the church planter to the church with a timeline and goal of planting a new church • Deputation calling begins • Promote him in fellowships and pastor’s meetings • Have the church planter continue to work part-time with the church during his deputation • BCPM will prepare a detailed timeline to launch the church
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Jeremy RowlandGeneral Director of BCPM ArchivesCategories |