New Churches
Why Start New Churches?
Why Start New Churches?
1. Church Planting responds to Jesus’ Great Commission –
GO – Matthew 28:19 and Mark 16:15 –
And in Luke 5:27-32; 15:1-10; AND 19:1-10 – THAT IS CLARIFIED
Far too many churches wait for the non-religious and nominally people to come to them. This tactic may have worked in the 1940’s and 50’s when the culture was churched, but it doesn’t work now with a culture that’s predominantly unchurched . . . the 21st century church will have to take the initiative and pursue these people. The church that isn’t seeking unchurched people, has lost its purpose.
Church planting is an exhausting but exciting venture of faith that involves the process of beginning and growing new local churches in obedience to Jesus’ great commission.
One of the critical problems in many churches today is that they have forgotten their mission. Somewhere in the process of “doing church” the church has wandered away from its original intent. The investment of resources in new church development is a witness to the desire of the Church to be faithful and obedient.
2. Church Planting is essential for passing on the faith to future generations
Paul traveled to plant churches among the Gentiles.
Later, missionaries went from Europe to England.
Circuit Riders opened up churches on the North American frontier.
After WW II, older churches helped plant new congregations in burgeoning suburbia on all continents.
Starting new churches is an historic way in which the Church throughout the ages has responded to both the needs of people and the call of God. As Christians have moved to new lands and new communities, they have taken their faith with them. Wanting to have a place in which to worship and gather with other followers of Jesus, they began to organize churches and construct buildings.
3. New church development allows for the creation of churches that match the demographics of the community. North America has countless number of churches whose membership is not reflective of the community in which they are located. A large number of these churches are not effectively reaching their community nor do most of them have the cross-cultural skills needed to do so. To effectively reach people with the life-changing message of Jesus, it is imperative that indigenous churches are created and conveniently located near their target populations.
4. New churches are more effective at reaching new people – they provide more entryways for an increasingly diverse public to respond to Christ.
Some people find it easier to participate in a new church that does not have a complex set of long-standing traditions, customs and practices and that does not have a set of established (entrenched) leaders. In addition, new churches reach out to people out of necessity—they will cease to exist if they do not attract people to the new church.
5. New Churches Evangelize Better than established Churches –
And to evangelize a new generation on its own terms.
Generally, the younger the congregation, the greater the number of baptisms per year. In a study that appeared in Christianity Today, Bruce McNicol writes that churches under three years old will introduce ten people to Christ per year for every one hundred members.
Those three – 15 years old will introduce 5 per year per every 100 members
After the age of 15 the number drops to 3 people per every 100 members.
George Barna writes, “In the past seven years, the proportion of adults who have accepted Jesus Christ (34%) has not increased. Many folks are tired of “transfer growth” and are calling for conversion growth.
6. New churches tend to reach a higher percentage of unchurched persons
(60-80% of those who join new churches have not participated in a church previously). Older congregations tend to reach a much larger percentage of “transfer members” than unchurched persons.
7. New Church development is an investment in the future. The life cycle model of churches predicts that, unless an intervention is made into the cycle, most churches will begin, grow, plateau and start to decline within a time frame of less than forty years. Many churches are significantly older than 40 years and the state of the Church in North America reflects what the life cycle model predicts. New churches are needed in order to provide the opportunity for the Church to exist for the generations yet to come.
8. People are more open to change in new churches
Over the years, established churches build up a number of traditions that become set in concrete. This is because they’ve proved valuable and helpful in the past. Of course, the problem is that times change and so must those traditions. But this is never realized in far too many of these churches.
People who are attracted to a new church come into a new situation in which they’re open to jettisoning much of their old “baggage”. The result if that those involved are extremely excited about the new church which, in turn attracts other people.
9. New churches Grow Faster than existing congregations
The highest potential for growth is generally within the first 10-15 years of a congregation’s life. In a study conducted by Dr. Stephen Compton, NC Conference Director of Congregational Development, several interesting findings were noted:
a. more than 50% of the congregations in the conference that had more than 500 members had been organized since 1950.
b. Since the 1950’s, 65% of the net membership growth of the entire conference has been the result of new churches.
c. As Peter Wagner says, “It is easier to have babies than to raise the dead.”
10. Planting new churches is the implementation of the Great Commission –
If we re-read the book of Acts, we see where the early church sought to put into practice the commission command of our Lord. A careful reading reveals that the early church implemented the Great Commission mandate primarily by planting churches. A study of the missionary journeys recorded in Acts reveals that they, in fact, were church – planting forays into what was predominantly a pagan culture. Consequently, if the church is to obey its visionary Savior and implement His commission mandate, then it’s imperative that it start significant churches that are led by visionary leaders.