Church Planting

[Brandon Bowers]

In your circles, and I think most on here are in the COGOP circle, what are you doing regarding church planting?? Any denominatinal initiatives? Local church initiatives?? Nothing at all?

Just wondering. I'm in the midst of planting an indy church through a church planting network. Just wondering what's going on outside of the Southern Baptists and COG..

Thanks!

[cndlou]

I haven't heard of any church planting going on around here...with any denomination... There are new churches but it is usually just a break off of another denomination...

[scooter]

Chirp, chirp goes cricketville.

Our area is saturated with churches.

New churches are still springing up, planted, all the time.

I've been thinking about this a bit lately.

It seems that most, not all, "plantings" are really just someone that wants to do it their own way or without denominational controls.

It seems here what you get is people simply going from one church to the other.

I think most denominations are struggling to keep the churches they have open open.

Sometimes I have felt like our church would do better if we closed and started a "new" church with the same people.

[dalebert]

[quote="scooter"]Chirp, chirp goes cricketville.

Our area is saturated with churches.

New churches are still springing up, planted, all the time.

I've been thinking about this a bit lately.

It seems that most, not all, "plantings" are really just someone that wants to do it their own way or without denominational controls.

It seems here what you get is people simply going from one church to the other.

I think most denominations are struggling to keep the churches they have open open.

Sometimes I have felt like our church would do better if we closed and started a "new" church with the same people. [/quote]


You know, that really has some pretty good truth with that statement!

[Brandon Bowers]

Chirp, chirp goes cricketville.

Our area is saturated with churches.

New churches are still springing up, planted, all the time.

I've been thinking about this a bit lately.

It seems that most, not all, "plantings" are really just someone that wants to do it their own way or without denominational controls.

It seems here what you get is people simply going from one church to the other.

I think most denominations are struggling to keep the churches they have open open.

Sometimes I have felt like our church would do better if we closed and started a "new" church with the same people.

You bring up some great points.. If a new church is started for any other reason than reaching the lost, then I would argue that they haven't started a church, and whatever they have started is doomed to fail at its mission.

Replanting your church may not be a bad idea (although I don't know you or your situation). It's hard work, but I know a few guys who have done it well. Check out www.replant.blogspot.com for a guy who's done it a few times.

[paul]

A key factor in Church Planting (I'm not a novice in this) is with whom you plant the church with.

The few you start with will determine to a great extent the direction the new plant will go.

Make sure the foundation of your new plant is not being built on toxic soil (those who are starting the church plant with you.)

If you and a few people are leaving a church to start a new work, be sure to have the Pastor and Local church pray and release you to go and plant a new church. If this can't be done in a right spirit. Possibley you are making the wrong decision and should stay.

[Brandon Bowers]

You're right Paul..

In my case, I'm moving back to my hometown. Those I'm planting with are good soil.. At the same time, while I'm not taking anyone from the church I grew up in, the pastor there gave me his blessing. I'm excited. This is a great move for us!

[Dr. Ron]

The majority of churches that are being planted in my area are being "mothered" by other churches. I don't think Scooter's assessment is quite right. To plant a church right now without a sponsor is nearly impossible.

Then a lot of the new church plants are exactly what he said. They are the old churches starting over as though they had not existed.

It is quite a neat strategy...and it is working in both situations.

As a person how planted many churches IN a denomination and founded the one I now pastor, there is a huge difference. The later is very much more difficult....and as for the idea of less accountability, that is ludicrious...I have more accountability now than ever in the denom...

It's a matter of realizing that some things have had their day. Many locations are giving their old churches a decent burial and moving on to more effective methods. No foul there.....

As for people changing churches.....well that's life in the church world. Would love to see the church started only with new converts...Now that would be a real church.....

[Brandon Bowers]

Would love to see the church started only with new converts...Now that would be a real church.....

Forefront Church in VA Beach was started by Vince Antonucci with only unchurched people. He refused to allow church people to join him. Because of that, they always kept a focus on reaching the lost.. Forefront is still going strong, and Vince just moved to Las Vegas to plant a church near the strip.