I’m so excited that our Converge churches all around the United States are taking a weekend this summer to highlight church planting. If you haven’t heard about Church Planting weekend, you can learn more here. If you have any questions or want help highlighting church planting, please email or call me, and I’d love to help your church.
With that said, I want to dispel five false assumptions that I often hear when I invite churches to consider church planting as part of their church’s mission and vision.
False Assumption #1: We won’t have enough money to get involved in church planting.
Church planters raise their own financial support just like most missionaries do. There are some churches that are able to financially support church planters and others that can’t support with a lot of money. Even churches with very small budgets and little money to give can be effective at supporting and sending out church planters. Don’t let your budget size or budget margin prevent you from considering getting involved with church planting.
False Assumption #2: We don’t have enough expertise to get involved in church planting.
You don’t need to know a thing about church planting to send out a church planter. That is what our district is here for. We exist so that we can come alongside you and help you through the process. Your heart and desire to multiply is what is important, not your knowledge of church planting.
False Assumption #3: If we plant a church, all of our good leaders will leave and we will implode.
It is true that you may have some leaders leave. This is always a difficult thing, and I don’t want to minimize the fact that sometimes you have to sacrifice hanging onto leaders when you plant a church. But the amazing thing is that God always seems to replenish leaders and fill the gaps of responsibilities. Many times, it takes leaders leaving for a new group of leaders to be raised up.
False Assumption #4: If we plant a church, our numbers will dwindle.
Similar to the above, the fear of losing leaders or people from the pews can be fear-inducing. However, we see in scripture a sending mentality, but there can be those weeks where you feel the loss of those sent off. It always seems to happen that God blesses the sacrifice and generosity of giving people away. Churches that are willing to operate in this way often see an overall growth in their church when they are involved in church planting. I believe this happens because you demonstrate to your people the concept of mission, sacrifice, and generosity. This ultimately is the gospel in action, and it stirs the whole church to be on mission.
False Assumption #5: We don’t have anyone in our church who is ready to be a planter
How do you know? 🙂
