NetworksChurch Planting Networks

From a Leadership Network Research Project

Study

• 45 church-planting networks45 church-planting networks• 24 in-person interviews24 in-person interviews• 15 over the phone15 over the phone• 6 on-line surveys 6 on-line surveys

Observations

Local churches…

• Plant churches like Plant churches like themselvesthemselves

• Direct “mothering” or Direct “mothering” or sponsorshipsponsorship

Denominations

• Reproduce common Reproduce common denominationalist churchesdenominationalist churches

Independent Organizations

•Started by catalytic leaders who think beyond local church planting and differently than denominations.

Born from…• Ideology• Theology• Independence• Entrepreneurial spirit• Kingdom mentality• Frustration• Vision• Calling• Need for something different

Networks vary in …

• TheologyTheology• MethodologyMethodology• Ecclesiology Ecclesiology

Networks share

• Passion for planting churches Passion for planting churches of “similar DNA”of “similar DNA”

NetworkNetwork

““Group of churches that have Group of churches that have publicly acknowledged that publicly acknowledged that they are they are intentionally intentionally working working together for the purpose of together for the purpose of church planting and have a church planting and have a cooperative strategy to cooperative strategy to accomplish that goal.”accomplish that goal.”

Relationships as Catalyst

• Trademark characteristic – Trademark characteristic – emphasis on the ongoing emphasis on the ongoing relationship with the planter relationship with the planter and church-planting entity.and church-planting entity.

Two types of networks

• Inter-denominational Inter-denominational • Intra-denominational Intra-denominational

Local Church Network

• GlocalNet from Northwood GlocalNet from Northwood ChurchChurch

• Global Outreach from Global Outreach from Spanish River ChurchSpanish River Church

Assessment and Training

Defined processes for Defined processes for • assessment, assessment, • training, and training, and • assisting the church planter assisting the church planter

with a new plant.with a new plant.

Applicants

• Networks generally accept 20 Networks generally accept 20 percent of those who apply to percent of those who apply to their church planting their church planting programs.programs.

• Average Average 20 applicants / year 20 applicants / year• Approvals Approvals 5 / year 5 / year

“Everyone looks at people who are called to do it and want to do the same, even if they are not called. If I can talk guys out of it, I can save them a lot of hardship.”

~ Ron Sylvia, Purpose Driven Church Planting

Acts 29

• 50% 50% on-line & phone on-line & phone interviewsinterviews

• 50% of those are declined during 50% of those are declined during the face-to-face interviewthe face-to-face interview

• 25% of original applicants go on 25% of original applicants go on to plant Acts 29 churchesto plant Acts 29 churches

• 150 men in process now150 men in process now

Process

RelationshipRelationshipAssessmentAssessment

Philosophical Philosophical ConnectednessConnectedness

Theological CompatibilityTheological CompatibilityNetwork ChemistryNetwork Chemistry

Boot CampBoot CampPossible FundingPossible FundingCoachingCoachingOn-going ConnectednessOn-going Connectedness

(italics=network emphasis)

Ministry Paradigm

• Missiology: common term Missiology: common term and driving force with and driving force with networksnetworks

Style

• No prescribed formula/style No prescribed formula/style required by most networksrequired by most networks

• Most indicated they were a Most indicated they were a local expression of the local expression of the community planted in.community planted in.

• Many of the plants look more Many of the plants look more like network than their like network than their communitycommunity

Budgets and Funding

• Different than denomination Different than denomination support or church planting support or church planting churchchurch

Annual Budget

• Average for Average for networks: $592,133networks: $592,133

Two “budget groupings”

1.1.Less than $1,000,000Less than $1,000,000– 90% of networks surveyed– Average $182,500

2.2.Over $1,000,000Over $1,000,000– 10% of networks surveyed– Average $1,775,000

Average support for new plant

• $172,2000 $172,2000 • Reported amount typically Reported amount typically

combined resources from combined resources from network and other network and other supporters of the supporters of the planter/plantplanter/plant

High End

• Sovereign Grace - $110,000-Sovereign Grace - $110,000-$120,000 for average church $120,000 for average church plantplant– $60,000 from Sovereign Grace

mission fund– The rest from tithes and offerings

of the founding families

Reproduction

• Average #/year has Average #/year has increased for networks over increased for networks over the past 6 yearsthe past 6 years

• 1.9 to 6 1.9 to 6

Possible reasons

• 50 percent of existing networks are 50 percent of existing networks are gradually increasing the number of gradually increasing the number of churches they plant each year. churches they plant each year.

• A large number of new networks A large number of new networks have started since 2003.have started since 2003.– The new networks are planting more

churches / year and growing more rapidly per year than existing networks

Team Planting

• Many groups won’t allow a lone Many groups won’t allow a lone pastor, however there is still a pastor, however there is still a primary focus on having a lead primary focus on having a lead planter within the team.planter within the team.

• Some networks require the entire Some networks require the entire team to be assessed, while others team to be assessed, while others require only the lead planter, and require only the lead planter, and then they let him develop his own then they let him develop his own team.team.

Successes

• Networks report that 93 Networks report that 93 percent of the churches they percent of the churches they begin become established begin become established churches.churches.

• Average attendance of 143 Average attendance of 143 by the 1-year anniversary.by the 1-year anniversary.