A noted missiologist
said that the best way to church growth is to plant churches. But how do we get
churches to plant churches that will plant churches? And especially in the
urban centres in many of the world’s developing nations! In 2008 half of the world’s
populace lived in urban centres. Many are migrants from the countryside and
ill-fitted to live in the city. In the sea of humanity, they are so many needs
and on many occasions these tapestries of human lack are compounded by
persecution and continued harassment by the authorities.
On reflection, and working in restricted access nation for more than 10 years,
it may not be the authorities that really hampered the work in the city.
Materialism and the lack of passion in church planting are slowing the work of
church planting. As materialism creeps in there is a need to present the
message of the gospel in more relevant ways to these urban dwellers. Church
planters need to understand the current socio-economic situation and present
the gospel according to the present urban context. Passionate workers with the
call of God must be released into the field.
After 3 years, working with 3 different groups, each with 7 church planters, we must say that the urban church planting has mixed success. There are a lot of lessons that we have learned. Some of the lessons are as follows:
1. There must be an exit strategy from the start. That means we must plan to end our direct involvement esp. when finance is part of the support package. This avoids dependency. Build capacity and utilize local resources and wisdom as much as possible.
2. Careful selection of Church Planters that have the call, vision and passion. THEY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVANGELISE AND CHURCH PLANT FIRST AND FOREMOST. IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THEIR VOLUNTARY MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH. This is translated into passion to win souls and the tenacity needed to plant meeting places and later turning it into a local church. Works that fail to take off are mostly because of the lack of these three traits.
3. Church planters must have the ability to adapt and fit into their community and country. They have the ability to go beyond one station of life in reaching out beyond their status or profession.
4. A willingness to be trained, evaluated and taught. We mentor and fellowship over lunch with them as well as praying together.
5. New curriculum and modules to address the latest issues in that country and community. Subjects like, Theology of Urban Church Planting, Socio-Economic factors in Church Planting, Planting House Churches, Church Planting Movement Methodology and others are taught and discussed together.
6. Co-operation from the local network is important:
a) Selection has to be done for those who have the call, character, capacity, charisma and capability. They have to avoid favoritism and rewarding those selected with a paying position out of sentiments totally unrelated to the above,
b) The appointment of a suitable supervisor to help the church planters. This may be a full-time position. He needs to have the proven and successful experience to help and direct in evangelism and church planting.
But for the successful church planters, we are looking into cooperating with the training these 2nd generation workers to perpetuate the church planting efforts. This will provide the impetus for 2nd generation urban church plants. And if possible we will see church planting done into the 3rd, 4th … generations.
After 3 years, working with 3 different groups, each with 7 church planters, we must say that the urban church planting has mixed success. There are a lot of lessons that we have learned. Some of the lessons are as follows:
1. There must be an exit strategy from the start. That means we must plan to end our direct involvement esp. when finance is part of the support package. This avoids dependency. Build capacity and utilize local resources and wisdom as much as possible.
2. Careful selection of Church Planters that have the call, vision and passion. THEY MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO EVANGELISE AND CHURCH PLANT FIRST AND FOREMOST. IT MUST BE PROVEN IN THEIR VOLUNTARY MINISTRY IN THE CHURCH. This is translated into passion to win souls and the tenacity needed to plant meeting places and later turning it into a local church. Works that fail to take off are mostly because of the lack of these three traits.
3. Church planters must have the ability to adapt and fit into their community and country. They have the ability to go beyond one station of life in reaching out beyond their status or profession.
4. A willingness to be trained, evaluated and taught. We mentor and fellowship over lunch with them as well as praying together.
5. New curriculum and modules to address the latest issues in that country and community. Subjects like, Theology of Urban Church Planting, Socio-Economic factors in Church Planting, Planting House Churches, Church Planting Movement Methodology and others are taught and discussed together.
6. Co-operation from the local network is important:
a) Selection has to be done for those who have the call, character, capacity, charisma and capability. They have to avoid favoritism and rewarding those selected with a paying position out of sentiments totally unrelated to the above,
b) The appointment of a suitable supervisor to help the church planters. This may be a full-time position. He needs to have the proven and successful experience to help and direct in evangelism and church planting.
But for the successful church planters, we are looking into cooperating with the training these 2nd generation workers to perpetuate the church planting efforts. This will provide the impetus for 2nd generation urban church plants. And if possible we will see church planting done into the 3rd, 4th … generations.
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