Here’s my bias: Church Planting is where the action is.
New Churches can experiment with crazy ideas and new forms of community. They often grow faster than established churches. New churches can reach many who would never walk into an established church.
But as anyone who has been around a church plant or planter knows, it’s much more complicated than that.
The statistic is often quoted that 80% of church plants fail. The pressures of being a “start-up” often lead to an overworked and relationally strained pastor. Many who join church plants eventually leave bruised by poorly prepared leadership that over promises and under-delivers.
So are church plants are a bad idea? Do they do more harm than good? Not at all.
via Skinny Diver
Any missionary endeavor is hard work. Proper preparation goes a long way to helping avoid many of the pitfalls in planting. Genesis is the Church Planting training experience of Ecclesia Network. It aims to prepare planters for the work ahead with three essential assets:
1) Initial Training
Frankly, some church planters don’t know what they are getting themselves into. They are what the E-Myth refers to as “frustrated technicians.” These are individuals who are, in many ways, experts with brilliant ideas. They are frustrated by the systems that are holding them back, and think they can do it better.
Frustrated technicians are often accurate in their assessment, but unprepared for the ins-and-out of the task ahead. They might be youth pastors who have great ideas about how the Church should be, but are unequipped for the ins-and-outs of building and maintaining an organization.
Here’s a short sampling of what’s covered at Genesis:
- Planting Missional Churches
- Planting Equipping Churches
- Staying Healthy While Planting
- Developing a Philosophy of Discipleship
- Incarnational Ecclessiology: Reading Your City
- Developing Your Team
2) On-going Coaching
Initial training may give you a good idea of what you are getting yourself in to. But then the rubber meets the road. Initial difficulties and unexpected crises can cause leaders to loose their vision.
At Genesis, you’ll be introduced to Church Planters who have traveled the same road before you. You’ll have the opportunity to establish an on going relationship with a coach who can help you navigate the unique difficulties of life as a planter.
3) Supporting Community
Training is important, but it’s only the beginning. Genesis is a great way to launch a new set of relationships that will help be with you for years to come. Many of these new churches go on to become part of the Ecclesia Network. These relationships are strengthened at regional and national gatherings for years to come.
I have spoken met many Ecclesia network planters and pastors who will tell you that the relationships they made at Genesis have become their closest friends and allies in their work for the Kingdom of God.
Genesis Church Planting Training takes place May 20-24. You can learn more here, and sign up here.
Click here to download the brochure.
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