Pitfalls in Church Planting

No, I'm not an expert on church planting, but I'm learning as much as I can so that I will be well prepared one day to be a church planter and hopefully spark a church planting movement. However, some say Ed Stetzer is an expert on church planting. Ed is a great friend to our pastor and our church, he is the president of Lifeway Research, he has been involved with church planting for years and years. At the Summit, we have a church planting training program called SendRDU. Our pastor, J.D., has a God-sized vision to plant 1,000 churches through the Summit before he retires (which he has already scheduled in 2038...or something like that). Stetzer spoke for SendRDU last Tuesday at our monthly Missional Church Forum about Pitfalls in Church Planting. Here are his main points and the take-aways.

1. Lack of Preparation
Guys who typically have the drive of a normal church planter aren't the most prepared. Preparation needs to happen most in the area of spiritual preparation. Church planting is not the greatest environment for the leader to be fed spiritually.

2. Stressful Family Relationships
Planting a church magnifies and creates family issues. You are not the only church planter. Because of the work, your family is also planting the church. Both spouses must be enthusiastic about the work. Disaster happens when one is enthusiastic and one is willing. Willing won't keep you in church planting.

3. Inadequate Training
Read at least 10 books on church planting before you start. Don't fall in love with a strategy or method. Fall in love with your city, and then develop the best strategy and method to reach that city.

4. Lack of Accountability
Planters normally have more skill than maturity. It is crucial to have several mature mentors to be your guides.

5. Unrealistic Expectations
The average North American successful church plant is averaging 100 people after 4 years. This is a realistic expectation. This doesn't mean you shouldn't dream big, but keep your dreams from turning into number goals. Sometime numbers goals may be helpful, but often they are detrimental.

6. Broken Partnerships
Unfortunately, "mother churches" pull back from the plant because of unmet expectations. Don't plant a church because you think there are no good churches. Plant through a healthy church who can partner with you. Don't do it alone.