Can Church Members Start Churches?

Church members need to be discipled in church planting. Jesus trained His disciples by sending out the Twelve and then the 70 in pairs (Matthew 9, Luke 10). When He gave the Great Commission, they were ready (Matthew 28:18-20). Why not make disciples who can be used of God in church planting?

Now, when I say, “church planting,” I mean seven tasks: assemble a team of church members, work among one specific people, place, or interest group, agree on a plan, evangelize, start small groups that can become multiplying churches, identify & equip church leaders, and mobilize others to amplify the work.

I used to think a church planter was a fully-funded seminary-trained missionary who was hired as a professional who stayed for life and pastored one church. Then I saw first-hand how difficult that is to reproduce. I saw how expensive it was. I saw how slow the evangelization process was. I saw the failure rates. What I used to be comfortable with changed deep inside of me. I’m certainly not saying a funded approach is wrong. It’s how God is using some who are obedient to start new churches. But I can’t help but wonder if there are thousands of church members relegated to spectator status. What if God is already calling scads of them?!

Church members can be trained as missionaries. I have trained them. I am training them! Let me know if you want the Workers in the Harvest book that will guide you in the process. Check out HarvestWorkers on Facebook. Order from me at SnowdenMinistries@gmail.com.