Key # 7: The Mission Key

The most important thing to do to reach the world’s unevangelized and neglected peoples is to plant small, simple, easily reproducible churches. It is estimated that over ninety percent of the churches being planted in the world today are small, house-type churches that are led by non-professional leaders. They are easily reproducible because they are not dependent on buildings or programs to spread the gospel. Seminary trained leaders are not required to proclaim the gospel in the villages and slums of the world. In fact, Western models of church do not work in most of Africa, India, China, and the Muslim worlds.

Intentionally plant churches that plant churches. The goal is not to plant churches but to plant churches that plant churches. Immediately after a handful of believers are gathered in a new church plant, it is vital to mobilize them to reach a near-by barrio or village. To do that we need church planters more than we need pastors. We need evangelists and apostles who are more interested in seeing movements of churches than one church at a time. Large churches are attractive in some cultures, but are not essential for launching church planting movements. In many instances, they hinder church growth, numerically and spiritually.

Build movements, don’t just plant churches. They plant church planting churches. They teach people to share the gospel as soon as they come to Jesus. Church planting movements allow for flexibility, freedom and fast growth.

"A movement focuses on moving forward, not growing in one place."

To see a movement birthed, certain traditional church practices may have to be abandoned. Movements don’t require pastors, salaries, buildings or bible schools. But they do require discipleship, boldness, sacrifice and humility. Church planting churches spring up in prisons, hospitals, factories, and campuses.

Local, lay leaders that are unpaid, move from one place to another, and see themselves as leading from behind the scenes make the best leaders of church planting movements. Leaders of church planting movements have to decide early on if they are willing to give up money from the West for trusting God, tent meetings for small meetings, being seen for being unseen, and preaching for personal discipleship. Movements are led like Jesus led, by focusing on a few people at a time.

Leaders of church planting movements lose control very quickly. They don’t take positions that obligate them to one place or one group, but they focus on discipling new leaders on a continual basis. Church planting movements emphasize mobile, non-paid, servant leaders. Leaders of church planting movements don’t have to worry about losing their job - they never have one in the first place! Their role is to release others through personal, one-on-one times of training and equipping just like Jesus did with His disciples.

Church planting movements follow the POUCH approach to doing church:

• Participative priesthood of every believer: everyone involved in the church not just a few leading from the front.
• Obedience oriented: to the seven commands of Jesus
• Unpaid workers: leaders must learn to trust the Lord not worry about salaries or pensions
• Culturally appropriate worship and practice: church should be in the language and culture of the people, not Western styles that are popular with a few people in the cities but don’t work for the masses of people
• House churches: small churches meeting everywhere, not big meetings meeting in buildings

Church planting churches are started by doing five things: pray a lot, meet people and their needs, make disciples not just decisions, gather people in simple house churches, multiply as soon as possible, start more small churches.

By Floyd McClung (used by permission)
All Nations

For more resources relating to church planting visit Floyd's homepage: www.floydandsally.org/