“The American Church in Crisis” David Olson. Is a book that should be required reading for every pastor. Perhaps if more pastors understood the magnitude of the problem they would get off their backside and lead their church to plant churches. Olson says that any denomination that is not starting churches at least at the rate of 2% is losing members in relation to population. This amounts to 1 new church for every 50 churches! If denominations want to stay ahead of population growth they need to think in terms of 3-4 churches per 100.

What are the building blocks of successful church planting?

1. Parenting - not by a denominational agency, but by churches. Too many of our SBC churches wait for NAMB or some state convention to plant churches. They will NEVER do it as successful as a good parent.

2. High Quality Pastor who can GATHER and LEAD people.

3. Training and EFECTIVE launch process.

4. Coaching and Support System.

I believe we have 3 of the 4 available. We are working on number 4. If you are a church planter or know a church planter we want to help them. A new class forms this August. Can’t wait!

If you are a pastor. Find a quality guy you can pour your life into, train them, send them, coach them. Build the Kingdom! Sounds pretty simple. It’s a shame more pastors don’t get it.