August 25-27 Track 1: Current Church Planters Session 1: Seven Key Issues Planters Face (Thursday 8:00 9:00 p.m.) The Rev. Dr. Tom Herrick Canon for Church Planting (Diocese of the Mid-Atlantic) and Executive Director of the Titus Institute for Church Planting The Rev. Jay Baylor Founding Planter and Co-Pastor Apostles in the City, Baltimore, MD
Seven Key Issues Church Planters Face Prepared by Exponential in partnership with Dr. Ed Stetzer Seven Key Issues Facing Planters 1. Leadership Development and Reproducing Culture 2. Financial Self-Sufficiency and Viability 3. Launch Team Development and Mobilizing Volunteers 4. Systems, Processes and Cultures 5. Casting Vision and Avoiding Mission Drift 6. Evangelism and Discipleship 7. Spiritual, Physical and Mental Health of the Planter and Family Leadership Development and Reproducing Culture Leadership development is the most frequently cited challenge of planters. The topics cited include: recruiting and developing leaders; implementing teams; creating a reproducible leadership development approach; developing a leadership team; hiring and leading staff; discerning changes required to facilitate growth; healthy decision making; learning to delegate to and empower volunteers. 1
Leadership Development and Reproducing Culture Developing New Processes from Scratch Leaders Promoted Prematurely Hiring Too Quickly Chicken and Egg Syndrome when to Add Staff or not. Reality of Vision implementation Financial Self-Sufficiency and Viability The financial strains - one of the most significant challenges Move from a safe, stable job (including pay) into an entrepreneurial, risk-taking endeavor with an uncertain future. Thrust into fundraising for the first time with little or no training. Many plants take three or more years to become financially self-sufficient, relying on other churches and donors. The journey to financial self-sufficiency often places a heavy burden on the church planting family. Financial Self-Sufficiency and Viability Bi-Vocational Realities Finances Significantly Shape Approach Budgeting Inexperience Cash Flow Forecast versus Total Cash Commitments Draining Personal Finances to Fund Plant 2
Launch Team Development and Mobilizing Volunteers Building a launch team and mobilizing volunteers are huge challenges. Launch team size becomes more important in larger, well-funded launches where more defined ministries are offered at the start. Mobilizing volunteers is an issue regardless of size of the launch team. The well-funded, full-time planter and the part-time, bivocational planter expands their ministry impact through volunteers. Launch Team Development and Mobilizing Volunteers Healthy Launch Team Parachute Drop Plants The Administrative Paradox Pre-Planter Volunteers Pitfalls Launch Team Losses over time Systems, Processes and Cultures Almost intuitively, planters link church growth with healthy systems and cultures. Most commonly cited areas of importance include: reproducing leaders; generosity; externally focused, missional living; small groups; worship planning; strategic planning; and evangelism. 3
Systems, Processes and Cultures Establishing Healthy Systems, Processes, and Cultures The Silver Bullet Syndrome Emerge during Pre-Launch Phase Importance of Pre-Launch Phase The Tyranny of the NOW!! Lack of Building Standards Planter s Work Load Investing in Production Capacity TIME as a Resource Casting Vision and Avoiding Mission Drift Report respondents expressed vision casting and avoiding mission drift in several different ways, including: eliminating pressure from churched people; navigating distractions from good ideas that get in the way of allocating limited resources and energy to the critical growth path; making disciplined decisions consistent with mission; clearly defining priorities for getting unstuck and growing; and overcoming challenges of finding the right balance between evangelism and discipleship (leadership development). Casting Vision and Avoiding Mission Drift DRIFT Mission, Vision, and Core Value Clarity Establishing Core Values Ministry Philosophy Table Banging Priorities 4
Evangelism and Discipleship Most planters start new churches to reach lost people and to grow disciples. Planters highlighted several challenges: their desire to put increased focus / time on evangelism and discipleship (planters are pulled in many other directions); discerning how to put theology into practice in a way that represents the broader movement of God s Kingdom; how to live incarnationally and be relevant in today s culture; how to best implement a deliberate and consistent evangelistic and disciple-making strategy; and, making small groups work. Evangelism and Discipleship Challenges: All of the Above That Nagging Sense of Falling Short Spiritual, Physical and Mental Health of the Planter and Family Planters cite the following struggles in these areas: the internal battle to overcome pride, self-reliance, drivenness and an uncoachable attitude; loneliness and isolation; mistrust; lack of rest; and, maintaining joy. Although most planters understand the importance of making personal development, soul care and family nurturing top priorities, these things often get lost in a planter s busyness. The result is a fragile foundation for dealing with the discouragement and loneliness of planting. Eventually, any unresolved family of origin issues or weaknesses in the marriage will surface, often in the midst of the planter s other struggles. 5
Spiritual, Physical and Mental Health of the Planter and Family The Exciting Dream Emerges The Reality of Messy People Burden of Responsibility Finances always Short Tyranny of the Urgent Crisis of Belief Question Effectiveness Spiritual Warfare Should we quit or should we persevere? Track Overview Session 1: Seven Key Issues Church Planters Face (Tom & Jay) Session 2: Leadership Development and Launch Team Formation (Taylor) Session 3: Five Ways to Love and Reach Your Community (Jay) Session 4: Growing Your Family While Growing Your Church (Winfield) 6