There's a fun article (at Next-Wave Ezine) that takes off from a typical list of "10 Keys to Effective Church Planting." Here are a few excerpts starting with #4 of the 10 keys:
4. Determine your target audience.
I guess on this one I would just say- Look in the mirror. Expect that the people who will be part of your community will largely look like you. Expect that, but pray for different.
And quit targeting people. I think it freaks them out.
5. It takes big money to plant a church.
Okay...
If you'll excuse my language, that's a load of shite. And a dangerous lie to tell to church planters. I wish to God (literally) that people would stop saying this. Is it easier to plant with "big money"? In some ways... And I'm really glad for churches that are able to start with a lot of support. Seriously. The fact that someone is willing to put up that kind of money on a venture that statistically has an 80% or more chance of failure is amazing in the best sense of the word...
So why not start simple? Let it grow organically...
6. If you build it they still might not come.
Amen, brother. So... focus less on building and more on being. Be the kind of community (whether you are 10 people or 100) that others will find loving and welcoming, where they can find God and themselves be found. People will show up for that. You can figure out the bells and whistles later. I say, quit being a builder. Try being a gardener...
7. Clarify the “win”.
Yeeeeahhh... got no idea what this means. I know about setting quantifiable goals and all that. But we're talking people's souls, not numbers. We're talking about community, not benchmarks.
Do your people love God?
Win!
Do they love each other?
Win!
Do they love others outside of your little thing?
Win!
Are you together figuring out how that all works together in community? What that looks like for you as a unique group of Christ followers? Are you feeding people who need food, clothing people who need clothes and generally being Jesus to those God brings in contact with you/your community?
Win, win, win!
Don't have your five-year plan together? No mission statement? No idea what comes next?
Join the club.
And don't sweat it.
Do the things Jesus is telling your community to do, love people and trust God to build His church and...
You'll know the win when you see it.
The whole article, written by Bob Hyatt, can be found here.
