last week i was invited to a meeting of denominational leaders and churches that are exploring planting churches. i appreciated the invite and it was good to meet the folks from about 5 different states.

but, i am reminded again how unusual WRC is when it comes to church planting. only 15% of churches in America actually have anything to do with church planting. and truthfully there is a lot of overlap in that so the percentage is probably less. for instance we encourage the church planters from WRC to develop partnerships with other churches. there is no way we could go this alone.

here is a couple of my takeaways from last week:

1. you can’t go it alone. the church in America (and the world) needs to multiply, not add. WRC is partnering financially with 15 churches this year in America. we are at our limit. if we gave those church planters a living wage we couldn’t make it. we would plant one church each year instead of partnering with 15.

2. church plants and church planters do not need 1,000,000 bucks. in fact several studies indicate that there is a tipping point at which the church planter/plant has too much money. too much money takes away dependence on God and any amount of faith. don’t get me wrong i don’t want anyone to go hungry but i also believe there is a little motivation in wondering how God is going to provide for one’s needs.

3. every church can provide something. i know a church of about 200/250 0ut west that has planted something like 40 churches, some that approach 1000 in attendance, but the pastor has a heart to see churches planted and a heart to stay small to pastor a people. if you think you cannot provide total funding (we can’t and don’t) partner with some of the brothers out there and work together.

4. it’s about evangelism. to be totally honest i believe a pastor is lying when he says he is “all about evangelism” and he is not planting churches. if you’re about evangelism, then why aren’t you doing the most effective thing to evangelize people. i am proud that some of the most successful church plants of WRC have been right here in our backyard. some are small, some are large but they all are reaching people that WRC might not reach. we think it is time to go multi-site. we will do it in our community first. but i hope we don’t forget there are some people in our county that won’t attend WRC and that we continue to partner with a church planter or two that will do something different to reach the people of Paulding County. 100% saturation that is what I pray for.

5. it is about raising up leaders. a church planter does not have to have a seminary degree. i don’t downplay education, but you can get a lot of what i got from seminary on line. i want someone with a passion for reaching people and a leader of men. he can learn the theological stuff. i sometimes complain that this generation of church planters are weak in theology but if they have a passion for people, i’ll help them answer some of those theological questions when they arise.

6. while raising up leaders, we need to raise up indigenous leaders. home boys is what we need. i truly believe that most (rick warren being one exception) church planters will do best in a culture much like what they grew up in. you don’t have to travel across country to be a good pastor or church planter. in fact you may be more effective in your home state than in a far away land. i applied for years to be a missionary in Europe, in Montana, in Chicago, in Baltimore…you know where i finally got a missionary appointment – Dallas, Georgia. 2o miles from where i grew up. i don’t know, others will have to be the judge, but i feel God planted me and appointed me in the right place. this is especially true in “pioneer” areas.

7. people with leadership gifts still need training. church planters should always be learning about best practices. no one has all the answers. training to LAUNCH, coaching to the NEXT LEVEL, mentoring for PERSONAL HEALTH, consultation to MAKE THE RIGHT MOVES. the wives of church planters need to be included.

8. it works best in teams. i will never forget my first associational pastors meeting. one, at 37 i was 20 years younger than the next guy there. two, these pastors accepted me in but  hey didn’t have a clue as to what i was doing and why i was doing it. three, i think there was an assumption that i was planting a church because i couldn’t get a “regular church” to call me. i was a very lonely guy. at that time i had no coach, no mentor, and my sponsoring church was supportive but unsure of what to do with me. don’t go it alone.

9. church planting is best done locally. WRC has sent out church planters to 14 states now. i encourage everyone of the church planters to find a network of other church planters, even find a mentor/coach in their area that will help take them to the next level. i know Atlanta (the burbs anyway) about as well as anyone. i know the culture of different communities, i can give you populations and figures, but i don’t know Orlando or Charleston (our latest church plants away from the ATL). those guys need to learn from some locals. i can offer them the basics. someone from those cities needs to take them further.

10. if you ain’t praying, you ain’t gonna make it. i had a conversation recently i won’t reveal any names. the church planter says to me “i’m pretty sure i can get 400 at launch without trying too hard, so we’re praying for 200. we only want the ones God will send us.” now me here’s the way i would pray that prayer, “God i know i can’t get 400 in my own power, but would you show up and give us 800.” i don’t want less than what i can do, i want God to do more. He is able.

lessons learned. hope you get ‘em.

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