Church Planting

[Pastor Dennis Bachman]

Pastor Tim,

I absolutely agree with you that church planting must be of highest
priority. My question to you is this; Our district has asked each of
our 7 zones to be responsible for planting 2 churches over the next
several years. As the zone facilitator for the Charles City Zone, I
have been beating the bushes trying to locate potential church
planters to come to our zone to plant. The challenge is that there are
not many people lining up to move to our part of Iowa because there is
a lack of large population pockets in our area.

I have been challenged to shift my thinking towards raising up and
identifying potential church planters from our own congregation but to
be honest, those leaders do not exist presently in our church.

Your thoughts, please!

[PT]

I have had to wrestle with the issue of population base in recruiting
staff to come to eastern South Dakota, so I am well-acquainted with
that issue. However, vision attracts people, regardless of contextual
situations like population base. So we have to find ways to sharpen
our vision and get it out to high-potential church planters. By the
way, I have already been recruiting and have visited with three sharp
young leaders who have expressed interest in coming to the IA-MN
District to plant a church.

But on to the issue of raising up leaders from our existing
churches... Absolutely! Over half of my current church staff are
leaders mentored and recruited from our church. Many of you are
familiar with the phenomenal growth experienced by the Celebrate
Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Not only have they staffed their church
primarily from within, but they are planting churches with leaders
from within their congregation.

It's a great strategy, but you have to be really intentional and
purposeful about it.

PT