Renfrew is Dedicated to Replanting Churches
The righteous flourish like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.
They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.
Ps 92:12–13.
What is a Replant Church
Local Churches have a life cycle. When they get to the end of their cycle, they sometimes need to be replanted. Church Planting is the practice of establishing a core of Christian worshipers with the intention they develop into a thriving congregation. Pastors and church leadership teams do this. A church is more about the people, the community and the congregation than it is about the actual building.
What is the biblical basis for church planting?
God designed church planting to expand his kingdom. The eternal perspective of church planting rests in the fact that it is a means of rescuing lost souls for Christ eternally. Thus, a survey of the biblical concept of church planting will be appraised.
What Scripture talks about planting?
Jesus told this parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches."
What are the challenges of church planting?
There are many but with the right Biblical understanding and solid leadership, they can be overcome. Here are just a few challenges:
- Anxiety. "Where will the money come from?" "Will anyone show up?" "Is this even going to work?" These are a few of the fear-fueled questions that regularly fill the heart and mind. ...
- Insecurity. Like most pastors, I want people to like me. ...
- Uncertainty. ...
- Jealousy. ...
- Irritability.
Fresh Start
New Foundation
Target Biblical Goals
Grow Faster
Friendly
Understanding that churches reproduce churches, it is the responsibility of every church to oversee the birthing of baby churches. Reproducing churches isn’t a passive decision but a purposeful one. The Biblical mandate for the local church is to “go.” Reaching Judea, Samaria, and the uttermost is not conditional but imperative. Below are two practical, helpful, and Biblical phases churches should go through to reproduce.
New Converts at the replanted Mt. Pleasant Church
Steps to planting a church
Phase 1
1. Help the church cultivate a desire to reproduce
Since churches reproduce a new church, more than just the pastor needs to have the burden and vision to reproduce. Cultivating a unified desire from the members of the church is crucial and can be done through a study on Biblical church planting or by having a special conference or seminar. We teach the principles of why a church should birth a church. The church plant will die prematurely without the church having the desire and commitment to reproduce.
2. Make it a part of your budget
Start setting aside funds. You can do this through your mission’s budget, general budget, or special monthly or quarterly offerings. You will know if the church is “on board” if they give to reproducing themselves. These funds can be helpful to the start-up costs. Some have also designated funds monthly to help with the church planter’s support.
3. Have special prayer meetings throughout the year
Encourage the church collectively to pray over their Judea and for your people to pray for areas as they travel around their community.
4. Get involved with a church plant close to your church
When a sister church plants a church, get involved. You can help by evangelizing the new area, supplying needs, and helping with the opening services.
Pastor Josh and his Family
Phase 2
1. Select the Targeted Area
Pray earnestly about needy areas. A particular area might make sense, but there needs to be a clear direction from the Lord and a moving of His Spirit.
2. Evangelize the New Area
Possibly go soul-winning twice a month for a few months. Take groups from the church and pray that the Lord will give fruit. People will come to know Christ as Savior and there will be more excitement in the church for the new area.
3. Start an Extension Service
Begin to hold a service to minister to the new community. Although a Bible study can be conducted during the week, a Sunday afternoon service is preferred as this is the best time to reach the majority of people. Have church members from the reproducing church sign up and commit to help conduct the services each week.
4. Pray for a Church Planter
Begin to pray for the right man to pastor the church. This might be someone from within or someone who the Lord brings from without. Remember that churches reproduce after their “kind.” Even if the man has a college education and experience with other ministries, he needs to be mentored by the reproducing pastor which could take several years. The reproducing pastor has to be the one who approves the new pastor and his family. A novice cannot be placed into the ministry.
5. The Long-term Finances
The church planter should be fully supported when starting the church as he needs to give his full time to teaching and pastoring people. The lack of finances is the number one reason why church plants die prematurely. It is very difficult to work and be a good husband and father all at the same time. Although most support will come from other churches, pray about what the reproducing church can do long-term. The support can be reduced by 20% each year for a five-year term.
6. The Launch Strategy
Once the above steps have been taken, it is time to prepare for the official start of the church. Because the church will only get one birth, much time and planning needs to be given to a healthy beginning. Preparing a timeline with a checklist, organizing a cooperative effort with other churches, and establishing the best advertising methods are all important factors during this preparation stage.
7. Post-start Nurturing
Continue to find ways to nurture and be a blessing to the baby church. Send members over on Sundays to help with ushering, music, and nursery. Continue to help the new church with the evangelism and outreach. Provide resources such as curriculum and printing needs. The reproducing pastor can speak to the men of the new church about being faithful, supporting the new work, and taking care of the pastor. The nurturing relationship can go on for several years and is a vital source of strength for the new church.
What People Say About Replant Missions
