tutorial01 getting started
Where do you start? There is so much that must happen from the time you show interest in planting a church up through launch day. This tutorial, our free resources, and our online planning system are all aimed at helping church planters launch healthy churches. The following provides an overview of the key items that a church planter must deal with through launch (not necessarily completed in this order). You can either follow this tutorial through sequentially by clicking on the "next" button at the top/bottom of each page (recommended path for completing this tutorial) or you can jump around. Click on the "tutorial site map" link at the top of each page to see a complete listing of the sections in this tutorial. Also, you can download a copy of the entire tutorial in pdf format here.
1. Calling - The first step is to verify your calling. Complete a pre-assessment (self-assessment) and a formal assessment. Pre-assessment involved completing a series of written surveys and reflections about yourself. Formal assessment is typically a 1-5 day, on-site, in-depth review that culiminates in a recommendation regarding your readiness to plant a church. Click here for more information.
2. Equipping - Learning about church planting and what is required to get a healthy new church started. Actions include reading [see our books page or our three bibliographies (which are listed at the top of the books page)], attending conferences (e.g. National New Church Conference), networking with other church planters (see our blog and the church planting forum at www.pastors.com), reviewing online resources (see our church planting search directory), and attending a boot camp or planning workshop.
3. Church Planting Model - There are a number of different models to use in starting a new church (e.g. house churches, parachute, team, independent, mother/daughter, etc.). Determine which model you will use. Click here to learn more.
4. New Church Location - Determine the city or area where the new church will be located. Obtain demographic information, visit the potential areas, and talk with other local churches.
5. Target (People) - Develop a clear picture of the average family in your target area. Obtain demographic information to help assist you in defining who you will reach.
6. Church Planting Partners (sponsors) - Will you have a primary sponsor (an established church, a denomination, an independent church planting organization, etc)? Recruit partners.
7. Prayer Team - Get a prayer team started as soon as possible (one of your first actions). Use a group email program such as Constant Contact. See how quickly you can get 50-100 people praying for you and get weekly prayer emails out. Prayer is obviously one of the keys to the health of your new church. Click here to learn more about starting a prayer team.
8. Coach - Find an experienced coach with church planting experience to work with you through at least launch (preferably beyond). Click here to learn more.
9. Philosophy of Ministry - Before developing a detailed plan of action to get your from where you are to where you want to be at launch, spend time developing a Philosophy of Ministry (purpose, values, beliefs, structure, strategy, priorities, etc.). Click here for our template paper that will help guide you through this process.
10. Plan - Develop a detailed plan of action (customized launch plan) to get you from where you are to where you want to be at launch. We suggest starting with looking ahead to opening day. What will it look like? Our free template launch plan checklist is a great place to start in turning the vision for the future into an action plan. We specialize in launch plan development and management via our online planning system and our full-service support.
11. Schedule - After developing a detailed launch plan, put dates to the actions (i.e. develop a schedule timeline of when specific actions need to be completed to support your launch date).
12. Staffing - Staffing is one of the most important things you will do. Spend the necessary time doing your homework. Don't cut corners. Hire the right people at the right time. Click here for free hiring resources.
13. Equipment - Equipment represents a significant percentage of total expenses for a new church. Simply managing the list of required equipment can be a daunting task. Find out more here.
14. Legal Issues - To become a recognized legal entity, certain legal considerations must be made. Click here for a step by step guide.
15. Budgeting / Fundraising - After developing a detailed launch plan, determine what the required funds are to support the plan. Don't be discouraged. Your first attempt at a budget that supports the actions you'd like to take will come up short. Generally the three largest areas in a new church budget are staffing, equipment and marketing. One of three things will happen at this stage:
- Cut back on the number and type of actions to reduce spending
- Commit to raising additional funds to support the plan of action. Use the plan as a vision tool for raising more money. Revise your fundraising plan.
- Some combination of a and b.
Click here to learn more about finance / budgeting.
16. Core Team Development - The health of your church at launch will largely rise or fall on the size and commitment of your core team. Make it a priority to stay focused on people; particularly your core team. You will feel a constant tension between the seemingly endless details that must be taken care of and spending time developing relationships.
17. Delegation / Help - Don't do anything in your launch plan that someone else can do. Delegate actions to your spouse, core team volunteers, part-time high school students, interns, staff, etc. There are many actions that can and should be completed by others. Be creative.
18. Networking / Evangelism - Like core group development, this takes time; a thing you will continually feel you don't have enough of. Strive to spend at least half your time during the pre-natal phase on relationships.
19. Name Recognition / Branding / Outreach - The prenatal phase through launch is all about building momentum. At launch, your strategy is to have a crowd. Drawing a crowd at launch will largely be based on your ability to foster a culture of "friends inviting friends" and the name recognition you have in the community. Constantly look for ways to brand your new church in the community and to build name recognition. Don't make the mistake that so many new churches make in relying on a direct mail campaign to develop name recognition. Instead, your strategy should be to develop broad name recognition before your large direct mail campaign is delivered. Our Church Marketing Solutions ministry specializes in helping new churches with their marketing and outreach plans. Click here to learn more about marketing and outreach.
20. Facilities - You must decide where the new church will meet. Most new churches meet in rented facilities such as schools, movie theatres and community centers. These facilities are "safe" for seekers and typically cost less than purchasing a facility. Click here for more information.
21. Launch - Start by defining "launch" in your context. There are several different definitions of launch. Some churches have a launch day, while others have a launch month. Some choose preview services with an official launch months later. Figure out what is best in your context.
22. Help - Don't be overwhelmed. There are so many resources available to help you. Click here for a list of recommended next steps.
Simply click the "next" button to continue with this tutorial.
