Church Planting Phases

Ken Guenther

www.send.org

Ken Guenther

Introduction to church planting phases

Description of the process of planting churches that can reproduce themselves

The model has been developed over a period of years

Introduction to church planting phases

SEND’s Six “C’s” in the Philippines Contacts Classes Converts Congregations Church Communication

Introduction to church planting phases

Frontiers’ model for church plants in Muslim countries

Developed by Dick Scoggins and James Rockford - www.churchplantingphases.com

A Vision of the Possible by Daniel Sinclair

The need for church planting phases

To clarify the goal of church planting To understand that church planting is a

process To identify the next steps To maintain the focus on what is most

important To measure progress To pray more specifically To appreciate the various gifts on the

team To decide when your job is completed

The phase descriptions

Agricultural analogy Threshold - the place or point of entering

or beginning A intermediate goal Change of primary focus

Suggested activities Not all of them Not only them

"So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. “

1 Corinthians 3:7

Phase 1: Seed (Preparing)

Primary focus of church planters: the church planting team

Need to identify the location, team membership and strategy

Example from Paul: Acts 13:1-4, 15:36-16:10

Phase 1 ends, Phase 2 begins

when most of the CP team is settled in the community, target groups and strategies are confirmed and the team is ready to focus on evangelistic ministry.

Primary focus of church planters: the unbelievers in the community

Need to spread the seed widely

Example from Paul: Acts 14:1-7, 8-19

Phase 2: Sowing (Evangelizing)

Phase 2 ends, Phase 3 begins

when members of the team are discipling at least three believers from the intended people group.

Phase 3: Seedling (Discipling)

Primary focus of church planters: new believers and their networks

Need to teach believers to mature in Christ

Example from Paul: Acts 14:21-22, 20:20, 27

Primary focus of new believers: personal spiritual growth

Phase 3 ends, Phase 4 begins

once there is a fellowship group of 3 or more new believers of the people group regularly meeting together.

Phase 4: Young Plant (Covenanting)

Primary focus of church planters: the congregation, the Body of Christ

Need to develop a unified fellowship of believers

Example from Paul: Acts 16:4-5, 19:9-10 Expanding focus of discipled believers –

salvation of family and friends

Phase 4 ends, Phase 5 begins

when the fellowship reaches these criteria (“critical mass”): GROUP COMMITMENT: The believers see themselves as a church SIZE: Around 10 or more believers regularly involved BREADTH: 3 or more married men (heads of households), and 2

or more mature women. LEADERSHIP: At least 2 key believers who seem to be “elders in

the making” STRENGTH: Baptisms, perseverance, sharing their faith, planning

for reproduction.

Phase 5: Fruit bearing (Empowering)

Primary focus of church planters: church leaders Need to train multiple mature, responsible

leaders for the church Example from Paul: Acts 14:23,

20:17-36 Expanding focus of local church

leaders: discipleship of congregation

Phase 5 ends, Phase 6 begins

when 2 or more elders are ordained and the church has embraced a Great Commission vision. The church planting team transitions to a background or support role.

Phase 6: Reproducing

Primary focus of remaining church planters: believers ready to participate in new church plants

Church planters need to withdraw from leadership in the church

Example from Paul: Acts 16:3, 18:18 Expanding focus of church: other communities

without churches

The DNA of reproduction

What can the church planters do at each phase to ensure that at the end, the church that is planted will truly be a reproducing church?

Plan for reproduction in Phase 1

Choose a location that is a natural bridge to other communities that need churches. Develop a strategy that is reproducible without foreign funds

Plan for reproduction in Phase 2

Think of networks, not just individualsAsk your new friends to introduce you to their networksCultivate relationships with respected people who can open up doors to other networksInvite new believers into a discipling relationship

Plan for reproduction in Phase 3 Teach the principle of reproduction to

new believers from the start Ask believers to teach their children

what they are learning Encourage new believers to share their

faith in their networks

Plan for reproduction in Phase 4 Teach the whole church to have a vision

of reproduction Ask older believers to disciple younger

believers Talk to believers who live far from the

church about the possibility of starting another church in their area

Encourage the church to give financial help to evangelistic projects and other needs outside church

Plan for reproduction in Phase 5

Move into the background (refuse to take the lead) to allow local believers to lead

Train leaders not just for preaching, but also for outreach

Teach extensively on the importance of reproducing churches

Encourage believers to pray about and suggest locations for new church plants

Plan for reproduction in Phase 6 Reproduction actually happens Coach or lead believers sent out by

church as they plant new church Encourage local leaders to continue to

teach about reproduction