In an era where so many churches are struggling with keeping things going and the U.S. culture is moving to be largely post-Christian, there is still a need to continue planting new churches. In Alabama on Sundays, most do not go to church, and many need a saving relationship with Jesus. New churches and replanted communities of faith represent an opportunity to bring the Gospel anew into new communities, peoples and affinity groups throughout Alabama.
Yet what are the blessings for the existing churches that step out in faith?
1. Growing and living out the Great Commission.
Christ, at the end of his earthly ministry, commissioned His followers and the new church to go to all nations and proclaim the Gospel making disciples as they went (Matthew 28:18-20). The Lord gave the Great Commission not as an option to follow but a command to obey. The mission of the church is our guiding vision and mission that focuses and leads the church to fulfill its purpose.
2. Raising up lay leaders and missionaries.
As churches move out to send and walk beside church planters, volunteer team members are activated and their gifts and calls are ignited. Leaders are the result of an ongoing discipleship process in the church, but leaders are born and developed as they serve and are mentored in leading others. The ongoing relationship with a church plant and the sending church will have some moving over to the new work and then returning more invigorated and excited about mission.
3. People give and invest their treasures in Kingdom opportunities they can connect with over time.
In years past, church members may have given because of loyalty or duty, but in this era there is an imperative of connection. As volunteers serve and help in the church plant, their hearts will be ignited for the Gospel and for the needs. It is natural for believers to give and invest where they serve and connect with the mission. Sponsoring or sending out a planter is a blessing that moves members to see where their giving can go and how they can be more involved.
4. Whatever is celebrated is expected.
Your church will be blessed as you celebrate what God is doing and how God is using His people to plant a church. As you connect small groups to a church planter and they serve and then come back and share with the congregation, you should celebrate and keep the story growing. Over time, more people will want to join in and see how God is working. Testimonies, united celebration services and projects will raise the bar of member ownership and participation.
5. For church planting, outreach is an integral part of their plan and rhythm, but for many established churches this is a twice-a-year push – Easter and Christmas.
Plants must have outreach and community touches as a regular part of their life, and this can come back to help members in the established church be more intentional and involved in outreach.
Though these points are not comprehensive, hopefully they will be encouraging and affirming to many who are stepping into being a sending or sponsoring church for a church plant. May the church be as the church in Thessalonica:
“As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out” (1 Thessalonians 2:7-8a CSB).
State Missionary Brian Harper is lead church planting strategist for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions. He may be contacted at 1-800-264-1225, ext. 2332, or (334) 613-2332, [email protected].