Category Archives: Church Planting
Low Hanging Fruit in Church Planting
Low hanging fruit on our backyard Satsuma tree this year.
When I get stuck as a parent, leader, or pastor I’ve learned to ask, “Where’s the low hanging fruit?” In other words, what’s one or two simple things I can do to make a difference right now, without a lot of effort? There are usually 2-3 things that can be done, no matter how tough the project or issue.
In trying to move a church plant to break that next growth barrier, or get unstuck from where you are, learn to look for the low hanging fruit. Here’s three great questions in that regard, inspired by the Malphurs Group recent post on Maximizing Fall Church Attendance:
1) Are there any fringe attenders that we have been praying would become regular attenders?
Make some extra effort and call them and make a lunch appointment. Send them a personal hand written note letting them know you’re praying for them. And make sure they are invited to every special event or fellowship opportunity.
2) Are there any regular attenders that we have been praying would become leaders?
I’ve heard you have six weeks from a time a person ready to lead comes to your church, to the time they check out, if you don’t get them plugged in. Make the ask. Make some extra effort and find out what their spiritual gift and passions are and invite them to be on a ministry team. Or design a project or ministry to get them involved.
3) Are there any new faces checking out our church for the very first time?
Hopefully, you’ve got a process in place to follow up with first time guests. Make some extra effort with a personal phone call.
The challenge is to not put the work on them to get plugged in. Low hanging fruit can be easier because its low, but you still have to pick it. I’ll be making these three list today.
Squirrel-Like Church Planting
It’s that time of year again! The squirrels are out in force tearing up our landscaping, burying every acorn or other nut they can find to get prepped for the winter. I’ve heard that 25% of the nuts squirrels bury are harvested by other animals. Another 25% are never found and have a chance at becoming trees one day that provide homes and nuts for another generation of squirrels. So squirrels work hard in order to provide for their future and unknowingly provide for other animals and for future generations.
Love this as a metaphor for the work of church planting.
- Church planting is about planting and burying seeds.
- Our hard work, our passion, our rushing around should be to plant as many seeds as we possibly can in the hearts of people on our way to a healthy, evangelistic, self-sustaining church planted.
- Our own harvest will relate to the number of seeds we plant.
- As we go, we should know, some seeds planted will result in a harvest for other churches. Praise God!
- And some will not be harvested for years to come and may never connect the dots back to us. Praise God!
Don’t see church planting as primarily about you and your survival. It’s about the kingdom and the work of church planting may grow your church, but if not, it will provide for others and for the future. Now let’s go bury some seeds!
2016 Louisiana Church Planting Update
75% of 2016 is in the can. Here’s a report of this years Church Planting efforts among Louisiana Baptist Churches:
- We’re at 29 Church Plants for the year. Just 1 away from our annual goal of 30. We should finish the year with 34-36. Making 2016 another record year for church planting in Louisiana.
- 2 in North Louisiana, 27 in South Louisiana.
- 13 in New Orleans, 7 on the I-12, 3 in Baton Rouge, 2 in Lake Charles, 2 in Central LA, 1 in Lafayette, 1 in Houma/Thibodaux.
- 12 Anglo, 11 African-American, 3 Multi-Ethnic, 2 Hispanic, 1 Asian.
- 7 Multi-Site Developments, 6 Re-Plants
- $1,023,117 in Cooperative Funding invested in Church Planting supplements so far in 2016.
- $220,000 in Georgia Barnette State Missions Offering Grants invested in Church Plants so far in 2016.
- 1,004 New Commitments to Christ & 292 Baptisms reported by our Church Planters so far this year.
Grateful for the work God is doing through our church plants & our together giving through Cooperative Program & State & National Missions Offerings.
Check out some other things happening with Church Planting in Louisiana in our October E-Newsletter.
150 New Churches
Today we celebrate a significant milestone for Louisiana Baptists: 150 churches planted since 2010. Our goal is 300 by 2020, so this puts us at the half way mark. Proud of our planters & their families who have risked much for the Gospel in some hard to reach Louisiana communities. Grateful for sponsor / sending churches that have given of themselves to help new works start. Also grateful for Southern Baptist churches who have given generously to the Cooperative Program & state & national mission offerings to help provide resources & training for these 150 church plants. We look forward with great anticipation to the next 150. Join me in praying today for laborers, partners, & planters for the next 150 new churches & beyond!
Here’s a breakdown of the 150 that shows a bit of the impact of church planting in our state:
- The 150 churches were planted in 75 Different Towns or Cities,
- 21 of the 32 Baptist Associations in Louisiana were involved in church planting since 2010.
- Church Plants engaged 13 different people groups in Louisiana since 2010.
- The 150 churches included 31 in North Louisiana (21%) & 119 (79%) in South Louisiana where the majority of population is.
- The 150 church plants include 58 Anglo (39%), 49 African-American (33%), 25 Hispanic (17%), 8 Asian (5%), 10 Multi-Ethnic by design.
- 17 of the 150 (11%) churches planted were Multi-Site Campus Multiplication of other healthy congregations.
- 20 of the 150 (13%) churches planted were RePlants located on Baptist properties that had been or were very near closure.
- 12 of the 150 (8%) closed after 1 year.
- 129 of the 150 (86%) received cooperative funding through the Louisiana Baptist Convention.
- The 150 church plants have baptized at least 2,535 new believers. .
Grateful for the work God is doing through our church plants & our together giving through Cooperative Program & State & National Missions Offerings.
Too Many Churches?
Every now & then, someone comments to me that we are planting too many churches in Louisiana. My answer:
- Church to Population Ratio. South Louisiana is well above national levels of church to population ratio with some communities, like the Lafayette area, near 1 church to every 10,000 residents. Our state goal is to get every association to our state average of 1 church to every 2,850 residents. Many north Louisiana communities are well below that. Church planting helps us close this gap.
- Percentage of the population actually attending churches are sinking across our state. This reflects the fact that many churches are in decline &/or churches are not growing as fast as their populations. Church Planting is needed to help close this gap, create more capacity for evangelism, & reach every people group & population segment in our community.
- 3%. Bill Easum has said that denominations & networks must plant 3% of their total population annually just to keep from being in decline. For us as Louisiana Baptists, with 1,600 churches, that would mean having a goal of 48 new churches each year. At that point our goal of 30 is quite conservative & reflects a priority to reach other areas of our nation with much lower levels of evangelical population.
- Saturating Our Communities with the Gospel. Our Southern Baptist strategy & that of other Evangelical partners, has always been a SATURATION strategy. We’re committed to doing ALL we can to get the gospel to EVERY person in our communities. Church plants are evangelistic by nature & by necessity. Existing churches tend to grow less evangelistic over time. We need church plants in every community to stay on the evangelistic edge & saturate every corner of our state with the Gospel.
Check out these resources to help you get started on your church planting journey:
- Does My Community Need a New Church? The Right Questions & Key Indicators
- 10 Biblical & Practical Ways to Get Involved in Church Planting
- Every Church Can Encourage Church Planting and Multiplication
- Every Church Can Be a Church Planting Partner
- Your Church Can Be a Parent to a New Church or Campus
- 5 Things You MUST Do Before Your Plant a Church
Church Planting and Pastor Appreciation Month
For Church Planters, Pastor Appreciation Month can be awkward. Here’s why:
1. New believers don’t know that they’re supposed to appreciate the pastor. They don’t know there are religious trinkets like eagles wings paper weights or books by Paul Tripp or coffee cups with Max Lucado quotes that they should buy the pastor. The vast majority of the church has probably never been inside of Lifeway or Family Christian Stores. They probably don’t even listen to Christian radio yet. So they miss all the hints to appreciate the guy that makes the coffee, sets up the chairs, shakes all the hands, and teaches from the Bible on Sunday’s.
2. In the early years of a church plant, the Planter is often setting the calendar, agenda, and order of worship for everything. So it’s a little hard to say – “In October, IT’S ALL ABOUT ME.” Or “at this point in the service, you all are going to surprise me with coffee cups and gift cards.” He hopes someone might have gotten the hint, but planters may see October come and go without appreciation.
3. New believers in the church plant are probably still trying to figure out whether they appreciate the pastor/church planter or not. “He’s challenged me to change my lifestyle and to give a portion of my income to God. It sounds right and I’m listening, but buy this guy a gift? Yea right!”
Pastors, we shouldn’t take this too seriously. Receive the encouragement of any Pastor Appreciation love, but remember our reward is in heaven. To receive it here may even be a loss for us in eternity (Matthew 6:2-4). And our reward here should be the privilege to serve and see the people grow in faith & knowledge of the Lord (Philippians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20). Pastors should be ENCOURAGED, not ENTITLED.
There is also great value in Pastor’s Appreciation day for our churches, as they learn to obey verse like Hebrews 13:17:
“Obey your leaders and submit to them, for they keep watch over your souls as those who will give an account, so that they can do this with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.”
And 1 Timothy 5:17:
“The elders who are good leaders should be considered worthy of an ample honorarium, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.”
And 1 Thessalonians 5:12:
“Now we ask you, brothers, to give recognition to those who labor among you and lead you in the Lord and admonish you”
So, here’s some ideas for helping the church plant learn to appreciate their Planter/Pastor:
- If you’re a sponsor church, encourage your church to remember your planter(s) on Pastor’s Appreciation Month. Maybe lead them to all sign a card for Planters in the area. Send it with a date night gift card to a planter family (I promise they need it desperately).
- If you’re a sponsor church, send a staff member to one of the gatherings of your church plant in October, and take a moment to share about Pastor’s Appreciation Month and lead the plant to give a round of applause for their hard working planter then pass a card to the planter and his spouse. This simple act will probably plant seeds in the congregation for the rest of the month or for next year.
- If you’re a Pastor, take the initiative to show appreciation to a Church Planter by taking them to lunch or coffee during the month of October. Or inviting them to join your staff for lunch. Tell them thanks for the big risk they’ve taken and offer your insights on the community.
- If your church has a large staff, adopt a planter for prayer and encouragement during the month of October to extend the Appreciation that your church extends to you.
- Invite a Planter to share at your Wednesday night or Sunday night gathering during October & let your congregation appreciate them for the hard work they are doing.
This is a starter list. Imagine taking a big risk to start something from scratch, working long hours, having a lot of difficult conversations, maybe working a second or third job, and seeing slow developing fruit for a few years. These guys need and deserve our thanks and appreciation.
Next Steps:
- Find and connect with Planters working all over Louisiana HERE.
- Find and show love to planters working in the North American Mission Board’s 32 Send Cities HERE. Pick a city and click the link for Planter Profiles.
- Check out a few Planter Appreciation ideas from our New Orleans Send City Missionary George Ross.
Your Church As a Greenhouse
I enjoy gardening. Even though I’m not very good at it. Why? I don’t always have the time to do what’s necessary to grow and multiply plants to their fullest extent. The best gardeners know how and put in the time to create the right conditions for growth and multiplication. The very best gardeners will start with a greenhouse to nurse the plants in early stages before they are ever put in the ground. A greenhouse is a tool where you can create the perfect conditions for multiplication & growth of plants at all different stages and with various needs.
I enjoy gardening in part because of the many parallels it has to church planting and ministry. I’ve began to see church as a greenhouse – a tool to create the right conditions for multiplication & growth OF DISCIPLES. Here are five truths I’m learning on church as a GREENHOUSE:
1. Disciples must be nurtured.
Like plants, like a garden, like a greenhouse, disciples need time and attention. One of the greatest books on discipleship has in its title a reminder we constantly need – Disciples Are Made, Not Born. While we are not completely responsible for the growth of a disciple, part of our commission from Jesus requires time and attention and energy and prayer, etc., etc., etc. One of the greatest disciple makers, the apostle Paul, said it like this in Colossians 1:28-29,
“We proclaim Him, warning and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone mature in Christ. I labor for this, striving with His strength that works powerfully in me.”
If we’re going to make disciples, we must expect to give much time and attention to people from sharing the gospel, teaching basic truths, responding to questions, correcting, forgiving, etc., etc.
2. A Disciple’s needs change over time.
A greenhouse or a garden is organized based on maturity and needs of the plants. Expectation are based upon time and stage of growth. Just like this, as churches, we need to provide a variety of opportunities for growth for people at different stages of maturity. And we need to teach our leaders what you can expect from people as they grow. The best tool I’ve seen that helps with this is Jim Putman’s great book Real Life Discipleship and the Real Life Discipleship Training Manual. Putman guides readers to understand where people are spiritually based upon what they say, and then how to respond and what to provide for them at that stage. (See my post Things Spiritual Infants Say for a run down).
3. Disciples will eventually need to be sent out from the greenhouse to multiply themselves.
The Greenhouse is not the final destination for a plant, nor is the Sunday worship service the climax of maturity for the disciple. Just like plants are meant to be outside, producing fruit and multiplying, disciples should be trained, equipped, and released into this world for maximum fruitfulness and to multiply the gospel in their sphere of influence.
4. Not all disciples will respond to the conditions you create.
A hard reality to face for the gardener, and much harder for the disciple maker is the truth that some plants and some people just won’t respond to the conditions you create. It hurts when a disciple doesn’t respond to God’s word. It hurts when a disciple leaves your church, but maybe they needed conditions you couldn’t provide at the time. Jesus even said that perhaps only 25% of disciples would become fruitful (Matthew 13). It’s important to remember that we’re responsible for our faithfulness, not everyones response.
5. The church is the perfect tool to create the conditions for multiplication & growth of Disciples.
The church, with all its imperfections, does provide a perfect environment for growth of disciples. A church offers opportunities to learn from those walking with God for years, opportunities to get involved and serve in various capacities, opportunities to have relationship wins and losses. These and other conditions help us grow. A lack of desire to learn, serve, love, and forgive REVEALS a lot about where we are spiritually and our potential for fruitfulness, maturity, and multiplication.
Does your church function as a Greenhouse? How are plants maturing? Are you providing opportunities for people at different stages of growth? Are you training your leaders to know what to expect as people grow? Are you moving people out to multiply in their world? Are you spending time with people that just refuse to grow & may need different conditions or to be let go?
Greenhouse: Basic Training for Church Multiplication
I’m humbled & excited to be involved with training church planters in Louisiana & our latest training is now called Greenhouse: Basic for Multiplying Disciples, Leaders, Groups, & Churches. Next one is right around the corner, September 15-16 at Acadian Baptist Center in Eunice, LA. It’s free. You can join us & work on your GREENHOUSE. Register HERE.
Church Planting 101
by the Apostle Paul
In 1 Corinthians 2:1-5, the Apostle Paul gives five keys to church planting filed under Church Planting 101:
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Church Planting = “announcing the testimony of God” to others (vs. 1)
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Church Planting DOES NOT include impressing people with human wisdom or persuasiveness (vs. 1)
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To plant a church forget everything EXCEPT “Jesus Christ & Him crucified” (vs. 2). Love the Message Paraphrase – “first Jesus & who he is; then Jesus & what he did”
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If you’re planting a church expect to feel inadequate, afraid, very afraid (vs. 3)
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To plant a church, don’t rely on your ability but on God’s Spirit & power. (vs. 4-5)
Keep these five close by for greater fruitfulness & lesser frustration in church planting.
A Few Nerd Facts from our Latest Louisiana Church Planting Reports
A few nerd facts from our latest Louisiana Church Planting Report:
> Nine of our current church plants are RE-plants, in closed church properties. Now more than 20 of these around the state.
> 22 Hispanic Church Plants in Louisiana have reported almost 300 new commitments to Christ this year!
> 25 African-American Church Plants in LA have reported 200+ new commitments to Christ in ’16. 2/3 of all plants since ’13 have been non-anglo.
> Sharing facilities is a great way for a church to support church planting. 192 new commitments to Christ in 20 LA plants currently meeting in shared space.
> 19% of @LaBaptists churchplants are in rural areas. Great group of planters! Bivocational, relational, deeply involved in their communities. Unsung heroes for sure!
> 172 new commitments to Christ reported this yr by New Orleans Church Plants. NOLA = 25% of plants & near 50% of @LaBaptists planting budget.
Very proud of all our planters & partners laboring for the Gospel across the Bayou State!
The Circle Church Alexandria, Planter Vincent Smith
The Field Church, Mandeville Core Group coming together. Planters Sam Cirinioni & Chad Wiles
Replant St. Rose Community Church, Planter Brandon Langley
Westbank Baptist Church Marerro, Planter Ryan Melson
Multiply I-12
The I-12 Corridor includes Livingston, Tangipahoa, St. Tammany Parish, St. Helena, & Washington Parishes. Three Baptist Associations cover this area- Northshore Baptist Association (Hammond/Ponchatoula, Covington/Mandeville, Slidell) & Eastern Louisiana Baptist Association (Denham Spring, Walker area), Baptist Associations of SE LA (Franklinton, Bogalusa, Amite). It’s been one of the fastest growing in Louisiana over the last few years. Estimated population of these five parishes combined is now 584,048. Population has grown an estimated 7% over the last 7 years. Some great work happening on Louisiana’s I-12 Corridor through Church Planting. Still more is needed. Here’s some of the latest data:
- Population of Northshore Baptist Association area: 367,799 (7% increase since 2010).
- 1 church for every 4,485 residents on the Northshore.
- Only 3.1 % of the population of NSBA attends worship in a SBC Church.
- Only 1.8% of the population of NSBA attends Bible Study or small group in a SBC Church.
- Churches have grown by 2.3% over the last five years, but not as fast as the population growth of 7%.
- Evangelical Population of the I-12 Corridor: 25%
- 270,000+ unaffiliated with any denomination or church (via the arda.com).
- 1 church for every 2,995 residents in Livingston Parish.
- Only 4.8% of the population of Eastern LA Association attend worship in a SBC church.
- Only 2.8% of the population of Eastern LA Association area attend Bible Study in a SBC church.
Planters, Partners needed.
Pray for our current planters in this area:
- Miguel Rodriguez, Nueva Vida en Cristo, Bogalusa
- Miguel Flores-Olivera, Iglesia Bautista El Camino, Denham Springs
- Joshua Spinks, The Way Church of Livingston, Denham Springs
- Jeff Smith, Genesis Church, Walker
- Louis Husser, Boots N Saddles Cowboy Church, Folsom
- Richard Hanson, Celebration Church, Mandeville
- Matthew C. Smith, Connect Church, Covington
- Randy Ray, River Rd. Fellowship, Hammond
- Sam Cirrincione, The Field Church, Mandeville
- Derek Kitterlin, New Life Community Church, Covington
- Elltore Austin, Still Water, Hammond
- Ramon Rodriguez, Fuente de Agua Viva, Albany
- Marvin Mercado, Iglesia Agua Viva, Pearl River
- Ramon Rodriguez, Vida Nueva, Ponchatoula
- Larry Lucas Jr., Faith Church, Franklinton
Multiply Acadiana
The Greater Lafayette area has been called Acadiana due to the influence of French Cajun culture. In 1965, a flag was even issued to give identity to the area & people. Beautiful area, beautiful people. And a great opportunity for evangelism for would be church planters & partners. Here’s some quick missiological data:
>> Population of ACADIANA (Acadia, Evangeline, Gulf Coast, Bayou Associations): 675,207 
>> Only 1.8% attend a SBC church
>> Evangelical population only 9%
>> 229,049 unaffiliated with any church (they’re not all Catholic)
>> Population of EVANGELINE ASSOCIATION (Lafayette area) – 404,977
>> Only .9% of the population or 3,806 attend Bible Study in a SBC church.
>> Only 1.6% or 6,649 attend Worship in a SBC church.
>> 46 SBC churches – 1 church to every 8,803 persons. Our goal is 1 to 2,850. NAMB suggests 1 to 2,000.
>> Lafayette Parish population: 221,578. 20 SBC Churches. Church to Population Ratio: 1/11,079.
Planters, Partners needed.
Pray for our current planters in Acadiana:
- Stuart Amidon, Christ Church Opelousas;
- Louis Charrier, New Life Oppelousas;
- Ernest Davis, Olivet Christian Fellowship, Lafayette;
- Kent Duhon, Freedom Biker Church Lafayette;
- Scott Guillory, Christ Church Abbeville;
- Darrell Guy, Unity 1 Baptist Church, Franklin;
- Melvin Mendoza, El Revuevo Lafayette & Iglesia Nueva Vida New Iberia;
- Luis Romero, Iglesia Nueva Vida Abbeville & Mowata;
- Aaron Shamp, Redeemer City Church, Lafayette;
- Dennis Smith, Berean Baptist, Crowley.
Also, had the opportunity to meet new Evangeline Baptist Association Director of Missions, David Carlton. Dr. Carlton spent 18 years serving in Africa with the International Mission Board. Looking forward to working with him & his staff to reach Acadiana. Check them out online HERE.
Other Acadiana Director of Missions:
- Alan Knuckles, Acadia-Louisiana-Mt. Olive Association. Alan’ associations bleed over into Acadiana & Central Louisiana. Several communities in his area with no evangelical churches. Prayers, planters, partners needed.
- Steven Kelly, Gulf Coast Baptist Association (Morgan City area). Gulf-Coast is a brand new solo association. Strategy for this area coming soon.
Lane Corley 