Church Plant Resources

The following material has been prepared to help you develop your ministry. Although this guide is designed for a church plant, it may be used if your congregation is re-defining it's vision or if you are involved in a para-church ministry. This could also be used as an aid if you are considering self employment and are developing a business plan. As you use this section of our site pray for the Holy Spirit to guide you and your team in the direction the Lord is leading you.

Defining The Vision

"Helping you define your vision for ministry."

Points to consider as you develop the plan for your church plant:

Defining Your Target Audience

What is your target audiences age range?
Who is your target audience? Children? Youth? Young adults? Couples? Married? Divorced? Widowed?
Are you equipped to serve your target audience? Is further training necessary?
Is there a specific culture you are targeting to reach? If so, do you understand the challenges they face? Are you aware of sensitive issues this culture faces so your presentation isn't done as an offense?

Proposed Programming:

What need in the community are you going to be filling?
Do you have the practical resources necessary for the proposed programming?
Is there already similar programming in operation within your community?
What networking are you able to do in order to build bridges within your community and to foster unity in your ministry?

Managing Your Church Fellowship

"A look at the day to day life of a church fellowship"

The following exercise is to help prepare you for the real situations you will face:

Caring For Your Congregation:

One of the key defining moments in your ministry is going to be when you respond to the first pastoral care emergency. What will your plan be in responding to the following situations so no one burns out or is taken advantage of:

When a member is hospitalized?
When there is a death in the family?
When child protective services becomes involved in a congregation members life?
When there is a marriage break down?
When there is the birth of a child?
When a family member is arrested and involved in the legal process?

Are you equipped to handle these and other similar situations? Are you able to begin building your network so hurting people will receive adequate care?

Decision Making Process:

Accountability is essential in establishing a structure that will stand the test of time. The following are to help so no one ends up in an "untouchable" or God-like position, as this will lead to a moral failure:

How many people will be required on the board of directors?
How many people will be required to agree on a matter before a high impact decision is made?
Who will be the accountability partner for the person or people who prepare the teaching?
What will the process be and the fellowship involvement look like for setting the church annual budget?

Volunteered Resources:

Over time volunteer hours are what drive a ministry forward. The following is to help you prepare and manage people as a resource:

What training will need to be provided for specific tasks?
What support system will need to be implemented so people aren't taken advantage of and to protect volunteers from burning out in the name of God?
What venue will you establish so volunteers may voice their concerns to maintain the health of the fellowship?
What will the process be for reimbursement? What dollar value or pre-approval level will be required when materials are purchased on behalf of the fellowship?
Are you requiring certain volunteer positions be filled only by those who are members of the fellowship?
Are you requiring criminal background record checks be performed for those who assume responsibility of and oversee the children's ministry?

High Risk Individuals:

Some individuals in society require more care and attention to live a full and healthy lifestyle. These questions are to help you prepare to care for these individuals without burning out:

After identifying a high needs individual are you able to network with other community resources to help guide this person to wholeness through both activities and counseling focused workshops?
Are you able to gently guide these individuals to people you judge would make good friends?
Is there a senior citizen of the same gender you know of who might be able to mentor this individual?
Is there a task which may be assigned to help this individual to contribute to the church fellowship?
Are there reading materials you may give this individual to help them in their life?

Marketing Your Church Plant

"A marketing guide in promoting your new church plant"

A marketing plan is necessary so your new ministry will grow beyond infancy:

What venues already exist where you plan to set up your ministry which you may utilize in "getting the word out"? Make a list of each venue, the cost to utilize it and the estimated target audience.
Weigh out the effectiveness of each venue in terms of how many people could be reached by the advertisement verses the cost of promotion.
Are you able to plan and have the financial resources to support an ongoing marketing campaign for 18 consistent months, the goal of which is to develop a solid and consistent gathering?

Determining the facility for your activities:

Have you located an acceptable facility to use as a gathering point?
Is the facility accessible to the target audience?
Will it be necessary to set up a ride program in order to increase attendance?
Is public transit in operation during your programming hours?
Are the roads accessible year round?
Is there sufficient parking for those who own vehicles?
Have you asked if it will be consistently available during your planting season?
Are the financial resources available to commit to a lease or pay rent?
Are there suitable washrooms, kitchen facility, meeting room and rooms for other activities (such as a nursery, Sunday school)
Is the proposed facility handicap and senior citizen accessible?
Where will the headquarters (office) initially be set up? If this is in a home is the designated room conducive to this?

Communication With Your Congregation:

How will you track names, phone numbers and e-mail addresses so it is organized?
Determine who will have access to what pieces of privileged information, such as the contact information gathered.
Design a system so that all members in attendance could be reached by phone or e-mail within two hours for when an important message needs to be broadcast.

Running A Successful Ministry

"The key points in running a successful ministry are listed here."

The following are keys in running a successful ministry:

Involve other people in the work load, not allowing your ministry to be a "one man show"
Incorporate social activities as part of the programming. Doing so builds unity and strengthens the work of God through the ministry as people have had time to connect and build up trust with one another.
Have a clearly defined vision, which has been communicated to the fellowship.
Having a pastoral care staff who are approachable. When concerns need to be addressed the health of the fellowship is maintained, instead of fostering a spirit that brings division.