About once a week, or sometimes more frequently, I get an email from someone who says they feel led to plant a church. They almost always have the same questions.
What do I do now? What's my first step?
After answering dozens of times, I decided to put my thoughts in a post.
Step one: Run as fast as you can!
Just kidding. Although that does give you a testimony like Jonah. And just kidding again.
Here are five immediate steps I would recommend:
- Check your heart. Are you sure planting is what you are being called to do or is it a desire because everyone else is doing it? We need lots of church planters, but we also need people willing to help established churches thrive. Make sure you know what you're getting into is actually what God's drawing you into.
- Check your spouse's heart. Church planting is not a sole venture. No ministry is for that matter. If you are married, you will need to be on the same page as your spouse. Trying to do this without complete buy-in from both parties will destroy one or the other—the church plant or the marriage.
- Determine where you feel called to plant. Much of your future steps will depend on this one. I think God gives tremendous latitude in this. We need churches in lots of places—small towns and big towns. But this will be one of the most difficult decisions you make if you don't know. I once thought I wanted to plant in New York City. But when I spent time talking to God about this, I sensed Him pointing me in another direction.
- Find others interested. If you tell me you can't find anyone—and I hear it often—I'd question how successful you are going to be. As in 1 Kings 19, in my experience, God is always "reserving" (1 Kings 19:18) people who He plans to use in the vision He is shaping in you. To build a body, you need those who are part of the body to start.
- Find experienced help. It can be a denomination, another church, or an experienced pastor or mentor, but don't do church planting alone. Let me say that a little more clearly: Don't do it alone. Too much has been learned about church planting to miss out on someone else's experience.
For the original article, visit ronedmonson.com.
Get Spirit-filled content delivered right to your inbox! Click here to subscribe to our newsletter.
Dr. Mark Rutland's
National Institute of Christian Leadership (NICL)
The NICL is one of the top leadership training programs in the U.S. taught by Dr. Mark Rutland. If you're the type of leader that likes to have total control over every aspect of your ministry and your future success, the NICL is right for you!
FREE NICL MINI-COURSE - Enroll for 3-hours of training from Dr. Rutland's full leadership course. Experience the NICL and decide if this training is right for you and your team.
Do you feel stuck? Do you feel like you’re not growing? Do you need help from an expert in leadership? There is no other leadership training like the NICL. Gain the leadership skills and confidence you need to lead your church, business or ministry. Get ready to accomplish all of your God-given dreams. CLICK HERE for NICL training dates and details.The NICL Online is an option for any leader with time or schedule constraints. It's also for leaders who want to expedite their training to receive advanced standing for Master Level credit hours. Work through Dr. Rutland's full training from the comfort of your home or ministry at your pace. Learn more about NICL Online. Learn more about NICL Online.
