Church Planting Is for Everyone

Church planting isn’t for everyone — except that it is. Not everyone is called to be a church planter, but I’m increasingly convinced that all of us should either be involved in church planting, or support church planting.

I didn’t always feel this way. I used to think that church planters were maladjusted, overgrown youth leaders who couldn’t fit into the established church. Two observations and one article changed my mind.

First, I observed a church plant that started in the basement of a home with only a few people. The pastor held down a full-time job. To be honest, I kind of pitied him, and I pitied the church. Over the next ten years, I watched that church outpace every established church I knew in our city, grow to over two hundred, and plant daughter churches. I began to see that church plants could achieve growth that’s rare for an established church.

Second, I attended a meeting with other planters and pastors. We shared our hopes and dreams for our ministries. Every church planter could articulate vision with passion and clarity. Every pastor of an established church struggled to articulate a clear vision. It’s possible and necessary to gain clarity of vision in an established church, but it’s easier in a church plant.

Finally, I read Tim Keller’s article Why Plant Churches? It sealed the deal. Church planting is not only biblical and effective, but it helps established churches too.

Get to know a planter. Hear their vision. Consider the theology and benefits of church planting. Either become a planter yourself, or get behind a planter. Everyone benefits.