Missional Focus

Church planting is a vital Great Commission strategy for reaching North America and the world. Recognize that every existing congregation and legacy church has a responsibility to support the next generation of churches and church leaders. We can be a vibrant part of that effort by supporting church planting in our own communities, states and beyond.

Multiplying reach in new areas has always been part of church growth. We can outline at least four distinct multiplication opportunities for the local church:

• Revitalize an existing church – E.g. Recharge Your Church by MinistryActionPlans.com
• Repurpose an existing church belonging to a struggling congregation – E.g. Replant by NAMB
• Launch a regional campus – E.g. Multisites and New Campuses
• Plant a new church

Planting new churches is one of the most important strategies we have for growing the reach of the Church and for renewing existing churches with fresh growth ideas and spiritual renewal. Tim Keller says it this way: “A vigorous and continuous approach to church planting is the only way to guarantee an increase in the number of believers and is one of the best ways to renew the whole body of Christ.”

Why do we plant churches?

• Because Jesus’ essential call was to plant churches.
• Because Paul’s strategy was to plant churches in central urban cities.
• Because new churches reach new generations, new residents and new people groups.
• Because new churches reach unchurched people.
• Because new churches produce new ideas and new leaders for entire Church.
• Because new churches are an evangelism catalyst in a community.

   “Why Plant Churches?” by Tim Keller

   “Why Is Church Planting So Important?” by Chris Dowd

A Strategic Plan to Plant Churches

With limited resources to invest, your church needs to meet a set of contextual conditions before proceeding with any multiplication opportunity. A strategic plan for church planting is one part of your church’s missions and multiplication strategy. Consider:

• Where you will plant new churches
  • Local and Regional Considerations – How can your church impact lostness in areas of your community where your church’s reach is limited?
  • Unreached Areas – Consider unchurched and unreached areas that need gospel influence and impact.
  • Other Parts of North America – Where is God leading your church to make a kingdom difference?
• How you will fund those new churches
• What cooperation with other partners looks like
• How church planting fits into your broader Acts 1:8 missions plan.

Recognize that every existing church can play a role in planting new churches. We resource new churches with prayer, people, money, facilities and other support at a variety of levels. Whether you church is a lead sponsor, a co-sponsor or a supporter, the important thing is that you’ve taken kingdom-minded steps to multiply and reach unchurched people.

   Sample Church Planting Strategic Plan

   Sample Church Planting Strategic Plan

Send Cities and Unreached Areas

A key motivation for church planting is the need to reach communities and regions with less gospel penetration. That’s the rationale behind the North American Mission Board Send City strategy. It’s also a significant way that existing churches can impact lostness across the United States.