Common Myths of Church Planting

Don't Believe These

  • MYTH #1: The People in the New Church Will Pay for It

    • In time, the people that will join this new plant will give generously toward the ongoing ministry and future building of the new church. However, they are not there yet. Just like a missionary would, the church planter is planting from scratch! When we begin, no one but God has even heard of the dream of the new church.

  • MYTH #2: A Mega-church Will Plant It

    • A church being started by a mega church is like winning the lottery for a church planter - extremely rare and highly resourced. Such a planter has almost always been on staff at the mega church for many years. A mega church with a very strong church planting ministry will plant 3 churches per decade. Few do that. We need a more significant impact.

  • MYTH #3: A Denomination Will Pay For It

    • Many denominations ask their planters to raise all the funds needed to start the church. Some will match funds up to a certain point (like Paradox Network does). Very few fund the plant in its entirety. Often, these plants are mired in organizational politics and red tape. This is among the reasons why an extraordinary number of non-denominational churches are being started.

  • MYTH #4: The Church Planter Can Work Full-Time Outside the Church

    • It is true that some church planters do work full-time outside the church. However, they are significantly more likely to close their church plant, burn-out in ministry, or take more time and funds to become self-sustaining. Just like their established church colleagues, church planters prepare sermons, administrate their organization, and counsel people - usually with fewer volunteers and staff. Add to that a monumental outreach effort and setting up all the equipment of church each week in rented facilities; and it just makes sense for them to be full-time in their calling.