Church Planting Outside the Box
By Dr. Winfield Bevins, Director, Church Planting Initiative and speaker at Ministry Conference, March 16-19, 2015
There is a church planting movement happening right now all around the world. It is causing a rapid multiplication of new disciples of Christ across denominational lines and cultural divides. God is raising up a new generation of church planters who have a bold vision and a sincere passion to plant new churches to reach the world for Christ. Some are called to plant churches in cities, some in the suburbs, some in small towns and others in out of the way villages in remote parts of the world. There are new churches waiting to be started by those who dare to step outside of the box and follow God’s call to plant new churches in the 21st century.
There are many different types of church plants: missional, multi-site, ancient-future, multicultural, urban, and house churches, to name a few. Planting culturally relevant churches in the 21st century is one of the best ways to reproduce disciples through rapid multiplication. It takes different kinds of churches to reach different communities and cities for Christ. We need churches that will reach urban, suburban and rural communities. One size does not fit all and one church cannot win all. It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people. The key is that the church needs to be Christ-centered and culturally relevant to whatever community or culture that they are called to serve through planting. It is important to take into consideration the culture, race and ethnicity of the culture in which you plan to plant a church. There are many ways to plant a church and no one way is the only way. In fact, there are numerous ways that people can and do plant churches. For instance, some people choose to plant as a team, while others may choose to plant as a solo church planter.
It will take all kinds of new churches to reach all types of people for Christ. The church is like a mosaic or tapestry that is made up of many colors. Each piece makes it a beautiful masterpiece. Today there are many different expressions and types of church plants. Some new churches meet in buildings while others meet in homes. Some church plants meet in bowling alleys, funeral homes, YMCAs, schools, and even outdoors. Some new churches are traditional, some are contemporary, and some are home fellowships. A commonality is that each new congregation of believers is gathered in a local expression of being the church wherever they are.
Everyone can get involved with planting new churches, especially existing congregations. Existing churches can be a part of the exciting work of church planting by sending out people to help plant a new church in their area. Churches in a region or community can partner together to plant new churches to reach their geography for Christ. Churches can also help financially support a church planter or new church plant. Planting a church is hard work and can be a very lonely business. When planting a new church, there is also a lack of fellowship and accountability. Existing churches can provide valuable support to new church plants and their planting teams. When churches partner together to plant new churches it is a powerful witness that inspires the church’s mission and brings spiritual renewal to the members.
Join us March 16-19th for Ministry Conference. This conference, entitled “Witness. Repeat,” accents both evangelism and church planting as a means of circulating grace and hope and is designed for both clergy and lay leaders who want to intensify their passion for inviting others to Christ. You can find more information and sign up here!
We have worked in Guatemala since ATS class of 1952,,,,retired since ’96 but now building two schools for MayanQuiche Indians…our son, Ron Anderson, grad of AUniv..now Senior member of Lausanne Movement for church planting. We are proud of his Asbury footprints.
Outsite this box is very cool.