STEP 1 [10 MONTHS OUT]
REQUIRED
PERSONAL
· Prayer is crucial to the building of any church, especially a new one!
· Spend time fasting & praying as to God’s will for you in church planting.
o Pray through your giftings as a church planter (lead planter or support staff)
o Pray and begin to think through a possible location.
· Be certain God has called you to this before you move forward.
· If you do not have credentials with the Assemblies of God you will need to acquire them before we move forward.
MCM
· Begin attending
· Go through an MCM Interview
· If you haven’t already, take part in a Spiritual Breakthrough Retreat.
· Following this, begin serving in a ministry of the church.
EVALUATION
· After 2 months, we will evaluate your potential & calling to start a church.
o This will include evaluating the following criteria:
1. Your spiritual health.
2. Attitude as a follower and ministry leader.
3. Ability to effectively lead others.
4. Willingness to serve & sacrifice.
5. Preaching style and proficiency.
6. Purpose in desiring to plant.
7. Your spouses role in church planting.
8. Heart/Burden for a specific area/group of people.
STEP 2 [8 MONTHS OUT]
REQUIRED
PERSONAL
· Continue praying, and when you’re done – keep praying!
TRAINING
· Take part in a Church Planting Boot Camp
JOIN A NEIGHBORHOOD GROUP
· You will be asked to join/start a Neighborhood Group, which are outreach-driven small groups we start in various communities in the
o Our policy is if you can’t lead/grow a small group, you can’t possibly lead/grow an entire church.
EVALUATION
· After 2 months, we will evaluate your progress with the Neighborhood Group.
STEP 3 [6 MONTHS OUT]
REQUIRED
PERSONAL
· Pray. Pray. Pray.
· Begin Bible Reading through the Book of Acts.
ESTABLISH VISION & DIRECTION
· Set a launch date.
· Create core values, mission statement & purpose statement.
· Create a church structure flow chart.
· Type up Statement of Faith.
TARGET YOUR TERRITORY
· Begin prayer walks in the community you will be planting in.
· Fill out the Target Your Territory Form
GAME PLAN
· Come up with possible names for the church.
· Establish your 2 year timeline and ministry flow-chart.
o This will include monthly services leading up to your Launch no more than 5 months from your first monthly service (preferably 3 months).
ASSESSMENT
· You will go through the District Assessment.
o This is a grueling process but is proven to be a benefit not only to the lead church planters but to the longevity of a church plant.
LOGISTICS
· Locate a building/facility for monthly preview services.
· Acquire District & MCM funding.
· Set up a General Budget.
FOUNDATION
· Transition small group into a launch team.
· Begin recruiting additional ministry team members.
o Worship (#1 Priority)
o Children’s
o Network of Hope
STEP 4 [4 MONTHS OUT]
REQUIRED
PERSONAL
· Did I mention pray? Well, keep doing it!
· Establish one day a week to pray and fast for your target community and church plant.
START SERVICES
· Come on staff full-time at
· During this step, you will serve on staff at the mothering church and begin monthly preview services in the community.
o Normal weekly schedule for this time:
§ 3 days at
§ 1-2 days in Target Community
§ This will shift as the launch draws nearer
PROMOTION
· Secure a Web Address and Website
· Design Logo
· Create Flyers, Invite Cards, Letterhead and Banners as necessary
· Create Visitor Cards & Visitor’s Packet
· Get Outside Signs Made
o Sandwich Board
o Yard Signs
o Possibly a Banner
ADMINISTRATION
· Get a PO Box
· Secure Liability Insurance for Service Location
· Establish System for Follow-Up & Record Keeping
· Write a Ministry Development Plan – strategize for all area of ministry
o Write up task lists for each area of ministry.
o List items to purchase for that ministry.
MINISTRY
· Establish Preaching Calendar
o Launch Service Preaching Series
o Launch Month Series
o Series following the Launch Series
· Children’s Ministry
o Children’s Ministry forms (application, accident report, activity consent, medical authorization, etc.)
o Establish registration system
o Purchase/Locate children’s curriculum
· Establish calendar for ‘Comeback Events’ following each Monthly Service
· Brainstorm and put together a Simple Discipleship Process for the church.
STEP 5 [2 MONTHS OUT]
REQUIRED
PROMOTION
· Prepare postcard mailers & doorhangers for Launch
· Explore other advertising possibilities
o Newspaper
o Radio
o Bus
o Billboard
o Etc.
· Visitor brochures
· Connection cards
· Bulletins
· Facility Map (If necessary)
· Offering Envelopes
· Business Cards
· Small Group Information
MAKE LARGE PURCHASES
· If finances are available purchase large items such as:
1. Sound System
2. Projector, screen and computer
3. Instruments
4. Chairs
5. Audio duplicating machine
6. Nursery furniture
7. Platform & platform decorations
8. Tables
STEP 6 [LAUNCH CHURCH +6 MONTHS]
REQUIRED
PERSONAL
· Keep praying.
· Be a life-long learner - Just because you successfully launched the church doesn’t mean it’s going to run on its own!
ADMINISTRATION
· Begin process for Incorporation
· Set-up a Bank Checking Account
· Get CCLI License
FINANCES
· Begin to create system for financial recording & safety to ensure good stewardship.
· Establish a yearly Missions Campaign
o Tithe your Church Income to Missions
§ 2% of that should go to MCM-Pitt & Network of Hope (1% to each)
· Begin a Building Program if necessary