Planting Process

Committed to Helping you

Church Planting is at the core of God’s redemptive mission in His world. History is full of church planting stories of grace. We praise God that he uses his people in His mission. We recognize also that our cultural context has shifted dramatically over the past few decades. For much of our history in America, new churches naturally attracted specific ethnicities or distinctive theological groups. The local congregation met a very real human and spiritual need. This was a very natural process. We thank the Lord for his work in countless ways in these great years of growth in our country. However, the Church in America is no longer operating in a society where new churches start this way. Planting new congregations in our post-Christian society now requires great training and planning. For this reason, we are committed to working diligently with church planters and congregations to help them discern their call, be trained, and find their place within God’s kingdom work.

Church Plant Categories

Mission Gathering

1. Lay leadership team without approved and called pastor (Lay/Ordained)

2. Developing church plant ministry plan (Prospectus)

3. Bible study, prayer, and fellowship ministry

4. Goal: Develop into a Mission Congregation

Explanation

This phase is the discernment phase. It’s very organic. This group might be meeting to pray and study the Bible together. They are seeking the Lord’s direction as well as discerning if they have the strength, time, and giftings to put the work in. They are also studying and considering what kind of congregation they would like to be (DNA, Philosophy of Ministry). At this point, this kind of group usually doesn’t have a biblically qualified Shepherd yet. Very little financial support is needed. It is a low pressure “fleece” to see if God might open doors.

This stage of discernment is wonderful and exciting. It is also highly volatile, with a higher percentage not turning into a congregation. To mature into a Mission Congregation, this group needs intentional learning, growth, a biblically qualified shepherd, and a clear plan for ministry and support. They need the Lord to clearly open doors.

Mission Congregation

1. Dedicated Leadership Team (approved/called pastor and lay leadership)

2. Developing AFLC Congregational Governance Plan

3. Implementaion of Church Plant Plan (Prospectus)

4. Public Word and sacrament ministry

5. Financial partnerships with congregations, individuals, and AFLC Home Missions

Explanation

This is the stage of maturing into a congregation. Strategy and intentionality are really key in these years of development. The group now has a clear ministry plan that they are implementing, a trained shepherd (lay or ordained), and a strong support team. As the Lord adds committed believers, they progress into public Word and sacrament ministry. Effort is also given to working with the AFLC leadership to craft clear congregational governance. Within the Mission Congregation phase, there is an extremely high investment of people and resources that are needed.

Established Congregation

1. Financial self-sufficiency

2. AFLC approved governance

Explanation

This is the goal of every Mission Gathering and Mission Congregation. This stage represents the Lord’s great mercy and provision of committed people built around the cause of Christ. This is now a congregation that needs no or very little outside financial support and is fully governed with integrity and congregational principles. It is still very important to understand that while these types of congregations have the markers of establishment, they are still very young and still have volatility, given they have no deep history and a growing commitment level.