If You Could Plant A Church...

[FireStarter2003]

Hey guys,

Imagine the following scenario: God has laid a burden on you to plant a church in a certain area. Your senior pastor has heard you and has blessed your decision, so that's all good. Now the following questions remain:

- what people would you want to form the nucleus of your church plant team? (i.e. worship leader, intercessor, children's pastor, etc.)
- what would the vision and values of your church be?
- what would your key distinctives be?
- what kind of worship styles would you utilize and embrace?
- who would be your target audience?
- what would your long-term goals for outreach and growth be?

You can be as serious or as outrageously funny as you want, so feel free to be as creative as possible, aight? Let the good times roll!

[Ashley]

Let's just be careful with a thread like this not to step on too many toes...remember we have several different denominations represented here, so I would ask everyone please be considerate of others. Just a reminder from your friendly neighborhood Ash.

[FireStarter2003]

Heya Ash,

Thanks for your heart and concern with this subject. I too wouldn't want people to fight about this. If anything, I'd hope that this would allow for an exchange of ideas that would strengthen and encourage each other.

Anyways, to get the ball rolling, I guess I'll start with my ideas:

1. Church Plant Team: I'd like to start with a team of fifteen to twenty people. Among them would be some married couples, as well as some singles. Agewise, I'd like a good variety, not all young, not all old, but a healthy mix. As far as people with distinct giftings to serve in leadership and equipping capacities, I'd like to have a worship leader, an intercessor, an evangelist, a children's worker, some cell leaders, a prophetic person, a mercy ministries person, and some gifted teachers. These individuals would eventually train, equip, and release others into their gifts and ministries, thus allowing the church to naturally grow.

2. Vision and Values: The vision for the church would be that it would be a local church that seeks to follow the mandate to be witnesses and agents of transformation in "Jerusalem (our immediate community), Judea (surrounding communities and counties), Samaria (other states), and the ends of the earth (the nations)." We want to be a church that makes disciples, equips them, and releases them into their gifts and callings, impacting their world. Our values would include: the foundation of God's Word; the centrality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; the power of the Holy Spirit; church as a community and family of believers; restoration and wholeness; nurturing of the traditional family, etc.

3. Worship Styles: There would be an endeavor to bring together the best of old and new, and an openness to the arts being used in worship. Musically, some hymns, mainly contemporary worship of different styles. Expressions of worship would include: bodily expressions, spontaneous songs, dance, flags, etc.

4. Target Audience: All God's people! Jesus said that His house would be a house of prayer for all nations. Therefore, with a vision that sees all nationalities, colors and ethnicities as being equal in God's sight, we would do whatever it takes to foster an atmosphere where blacks, whites, Asians, hispanics, and believers of different ethnicities and backgrounds can be one in Christ. It would be a "united diversity", where "the color line was washed away by the Blood."

5. Long-Term Goals: For the church to become an apostolic center, training and sending forth other leaders to plant churches, both in the US and in the nations. Developing a networking of like-minded ministries, working together for the harvest and to spread renewal and revival. No emphasis on a huge megachurch, but a "city church" with many satellite congregations, reaching more people.

That's about what I'm after for what I'd do for a church plant. I look forward to hearing more awesome stuff!

[JediSonic]

[skips reading everything after first 2 sentences]

This sounds like harvest moon or some similar rpg lol

I can see it now...

SIMS: Church -
Build a church and form a congregation with other players online!

[JediSonic]

[reads whole thread]

I think people's answers are going to vary a LOT depending on what denominational background they come from.. maybe the denomination should be the first category in which you discribe your church I think there will be less flaming problems if we tell eachother up front that we arent going to agree on everything.

[cbwing0]

There isn't a lot to add; I mean, you have a pretty good plan FireStarter2003. Perhaps that means something...

I guess the only thing to keep in mind is, the more the better.

[kaji]

I would plant a church in my back yard, that way I wouldnt have to drive 30+ min just to get there......

[FireStarter2003]

Hiya Jedisonic,

If denomination were a factor I'd consider, I personally would lean more toward the Vineyard (as my home church is a Vineyard church). Aside from that, I'd rather my church be nondenominational, but connected with other churches as part of an apostolic network.

Heya Kaji,

Cool idea, starting the church in your backyard. I know of people who've begun churches in their backyards, living rooms, etc. Just remember, when that church starts growing, it'll be time to find another location. Hopefully, you won't have to drive 30 mins. to get there