Reaching Up, Reaching Out

Friends,

Why plant new churches?

“New churches reach the non-churched far more effectively than longer-existing churches. Dozens of studies confirm that the average new church gains most of its new members from the ranks of people who are not attending any worshipping body, while churches over 10-15 years of age gain 80-90% of new members by transfer from other congregations. This means that the average new congregation will bring new people into the life of the Body of Christ at 6-8 times the rate of an older congregation of the same size. ”- Tim Keller

Why plant new churches? As the quote from Tim Keller states, study after study shows that the most effective way for God’s people to reach the unreached is through the planting of new churches.

Thus, numerous new churches are the only way to really expand the number of Christians in a city.

When I discuss this truth with people, I usually get two responses: First, I hear excitement. People are fired up by the opportunity to be a part of a church where new people are being brought into the life of the Body of Christ through either new or renewed faith commitments. Second, I’m asked a question: “What kind of worship service are you going to have?” Translation: “Are you going to have one of those watered-down, flashy, entertaining, cheesy, seeker-friendly worship services?” My answer: “Well, yeah, why wouldn’t we.”

If worship is the source and purpose of our mission, designing a “watered-down, flashy, entertaining, cheesy, seeker-friendly worship service” would be kind of like training for a marathon on a diet of Twinkies and Ho-Ho’s. Worship is what we were created for and as God’s people gather to worship before the nations we are given God’s promise that the nations will flock to the Lord Jesus Christ.

Psalm 67:1 TO THE CHOIRMASTER: WITH STRINGED INSTRUMENTS. A PSALM. A SONG. May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us, (Selah) 2 that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. (Selah) 5 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! 6 The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. 7 God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Thus, Christ-formation in an individual happens best not through programs, but through a local worshipping church.

Evangelistic worship is shaped by the deep conviction that the gospel is what both the believer and the non-believer need. Only a person who is hearing the gospel in the context of an on-going worshipping and shepherding community can be sure of finally coming home into vital, saving faith. This is why a leading missiologist like C. Peter Wagner can say, “Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.”

-Tobey

Posted on September 18, 2007.