I read Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer & Daniel Im a couple of years ago, and I am currently reading through this book again. It is a handbook for all aspiring church planters!
Here are some interesting pieces and highlights from the book:
Page 7, “…missional church planters focus on the Great Commission by reaching the unchurched, not by seeking to attract area Christians.”
As Christians, we desire to reach the lost with the gospel. As church planters, it can be easy to slip into the comfort of hanging out with people that are like us; other Christians. We want a solid group of committed Jesus followers to help launch our new church, but a planter’s goal should not be growth through transferring members from an existing to church to your new church.
Page 35, “Advertising claims of ‘programs for the whole family’ and ‘quality Bible teaching’ seem more designed to attract members from other churches.” However, Jesus caim to call the outcasts; not the righteous. The church planter should seek the unchurched, the lost and hurting.
Page 46, “…researcher Jeffrey Farmer…published a paper, ‘The Effct of Sponsoring a Church Plant on the Sponsor Church,’ and found that churches which sponsor church plants are positively affected in Sunday morning worship attendance, baptisms, and Sunday school attendance.”
Sponsoring a church plant can be exciting for an existing church! Some older churches may have not experienced much life change for a while. Investing and partnering with a church plant can excite the sponsor church!
Page 55, Stetzer and his team have compiled a list of assesment resources that can be found at http://www.NewChurches.com/PMC
Page 84, Stetzer explains that the goal of a church plant should be incarnational in nature. Instead of attracting non-believers, the church “disassembles itself and seeps into the cracks and crevices of a society in order to be Christ to those who don’t yet know him.”
Starting on page 137 is the suggested daily responsibilities and schedule for a work week.
15 hours per week on evangelistic outreach (3 hours per week for bivocational)
10 hours per week on sermon and study preparation (3 hours per week for bivocational)
10 hours per week for administrative duties (2 hours per week for bivocational)
15 hours per week for ministry care (3 hours per week for bivocational)
Page 204, Connection cards: We don’t want to overwhelm or single out guests. These connection cards allow us to collect basic information so we can make connections with our guests. These connection cards are also for regular attendees when they would like to take a next step or request prayer.
Page 206, Stetzer lays out a schedule for follow up for the connection cards.
Sunday: mail a welcome letter to guests, send an email and brief phone call to guests
Monday: complete phone calls
Tuesday: list of guests submitted to pastor, pastor mails a follow-up letter or email
Wednesday: postcards and invitations mailed to prospects on mailing list
Friday/Saturday: the pastor personally calls guests to invite them to return for the second time.
Planting Missional Churches can be purchased here.
