If we are going to spend the money and manpower it takes to begin a new church, let’s make sure we plant it in fertile soil. With limited resources, we must be sensitive to God’s leadership as to where we plant a church.
Planting a church is not like starting a business. You don’t just pick a good location, design the space, and put up an open sign expecting the crowds to come. There is a supernatural element to the beginning of a new church much like there is in the sprouting of a seed. God must provide the spark of life. We should never forget that a local church is not the brick and mortar, instead it is the believers assembled to worship God. Church planting is a by-product of soul winning. A church can be started wherever there is a group of believers.
Starting a new church is a divine task that requires God’s power. Also, it requires Christian sacrifice. If we are going to spend the money and manpower it takes to begin a new church, let’s make sure we plant it in fertile soil. With limited resources, we can’t be too sensitive to God’s leadership as to where we plant a church.
“We must trust God’s leadership when it doesn’t make sense.”
Here are six methods God may use to direct you to the right community for a new church.
1. Leadership of the Holy Ghost
Acts 16:6–7 “Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia, After they were come to Mysia, they assayed to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit suffered them not.”
The Apostle Paul started toward Asia, and the Spirit hindered him. No doubt the need in Asia was great. However, Paul could only be in one place at a time. God’s priority was Macedonia.
At Save New England, we have a reliable survey method that unearths many valuable details about an area as we pray about starting a work there. However, God knows details that are unknowable to us. We must allow Him to prioritize our outreach. He knows where is the greatest need. He sees where hearts are tender.
We must trust God’s leadership when it doesn’t make sense. Philip was in a successful revival when the Spirit directed him to the barren desert. Why? God had set up a divine appointment with the Ethiopian eunuch. That saved eunuch took the Gospel back to Africa. Only God knows how many souls are in Heaven because of Philip’s obedience to the Holy Spirit in that case.
Ask God where He wants you to plant a church. He can reveal it to you through His Holy Spirit.
2. Believer’s Request
Acts 16:9–10 “And a vision appeared to Paul in the night; There stood a man of Macedonia, and prayed him, saying, Come over into Macedonia, and help us. And after he had seen the vision, immediately we endeavoured to go into Macedonia, assuredly gathering that the Lord had called us for to preach the gospel unto them.”
God used a vision to lead the Apostle Paul to Macedonia. The vision was someone asking for help. When God shows us a need, we should ask ourselves if we are the one to fill that need. Don’t always assume that it is someone else’s problem. God may have revealed it to you so that you could help.
Occasionally, we will hear of a group of believers that have no church to attend. This is a ready-made church waiting for a pastor. All they need is a man of God to come and lead them to a bright future. Remember that a church is not a building. A church is a called-out assembly of believers.
Many church planters would love to have a group of faithful Christians ready to help when they start a church. Be sensitive to the needs of those asking for a church.
A genuine burden for souls doesn’t stop at your city limits sign.
3. Absence of the Gospel
Romans 15:20–21 “Yea, so have I strived to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build upon another man’s foundation: But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.”
The Apostle Paul wanted to take the Gospel where Christ had not been named. We should have a burden to get the saving knowledge of Christ to regions where there is no soul-winning church.
I pray for a resurgence of a pioneer spirit among Christians. We have a heritage of forefathers who went to difficult areas withstanding tremendous trials to spread the Gospel. In today’s spiritual climate we must have the same pioneer spirit to preach Bible principles in a culture that is content to live without them.
Don’t look for an easy place to serve. Don’t expect a corner office and an executive compensation package. Find a needy area. Preach Christ and let Him take care of the details. Thomas Michael started the New England Baptist Church in 1974 and has served there faithfully. He was part of a group of pioneers who came to New England in the 1970’s because of the absence of the Gospel. At the 2017 Fall Save New England Conference, he said, “Why should I go anywhere else when the greatest need is here.” May God raise up a new generation of men who agree!
4. Local Church Burden
Acts 1:8 “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.”
“Pray for a burden and God will lead you.”
Every church should have an Acts 1:8 “both” mentality. This verse teaches us to reach our community while at the same time reaching the world. We discussed this concept in detail in the Spring 2018 issue of this magazine.
A burden for souls doesn’t stop at your city limits sign. What communities lie just beyond your area of effectiveness that need a church? Do you have contacts in a town with no good church that is just too far for people to travel consistently to your services? Has God burdened you for a specific area? These are all excellent reasons to consider starting a church there.
It may be a good idea to start a church in a needy area that is close enough to provide soul winning and physical support efficiently. Some churches in metropolitan areas could start a church a 40 – 60-minute drive to the North, South, East, and West. Pray for a burden and God will lead you. He loves those lost souls more than we ever could.
5. Available Church Building
Every congregation needs a place to meet. I realize that a church can meet anywhere. However, there are many benefits of an appropriate building.
Dying congregations maintain others. We should pray that God will miraculously provide some of these buildings for church planters. Since property in our region is worth considerable amounts of money, many old churches are being turned into commercial properties. However, for some congregations finding a permanent home for a new church is difficult in New England. This is one of the significant hurdles of a new work. Renting a suitable property is expensive. Constructing a new church building is even more so. High labor costs with scores of governmental restrictions and requirements take an act of God in some towns to erect a church.
There are many existing church buildings in New England. Some are vacant. I would rather their building be used for the Lord than sold for financial gain. We have a God big enough to work out the details.
Survey the areas that need a church. Do they have a church building you should be praying about?
6. Request of a Church
If you haven’t figured it out by now, I’m for church planting. I believe in it. I want to help as many churches and church planters as I can. However, I recognize that in our cause to start churches we must work to keep existing churches in business.
There are scores of Independent Baptist Churches in New England with buildings and a handful of people. Many of them even have parsonages. When the time comes for them to find a new pastor, we should have qualified men ready to take over. With God’s help, we can recommend soulwinning, separated, and Spirit- filled pastors who will lead these churches on to a new generation of effectiveness.
Chris DiGiacomo was raising support to start a church in Revere, MA in 2008. He had a burden for the Boston area and looked forward to beginning a work there. While on deputation, he visited the Lifeline Baptist Church in Haverhill, MA. The church was without a pastor. After he preached, the church approached him about the possibility of leading the small congregation. With much prayer, he accepted the call to be their pastor even though the city was 20 miles North of his original target area.
The Lifeline Baptist Church is thriving today because Pastor DiGiacomo was sensitive to the Lord’s direction. We can’t afford to lose good churches in our effort to start new ones.
This list is not exhaustive, but it will provide some good options to pray about. God will lead you specifically once you start taking steps to birth a church. Where will your next church plant be?