What is
CH U RCH PL ANTI NG
and why do it?
The LCA/NZ’s New and Renewing Churches department exists to serve the kingdom of God by facilitating church planting and renewal. International research indicates that denominations need to plant new congregations at a rate of three per cent per year, just to remain constant. The LCA/NZ’s goal is to grow, not just to maintain its current size. New and Renewing Churches’ desire for a five per cent growth in congregations equates to 23 new churches per year. The LCA/ NZ’s Executive Officer – Local Mission Dr Tania Nelson puts that target in perspective. ‘Is that ambitious?’, she asks. ‘Absolutely. But let’s not underestimate the power of the Holy Spirit!’
W H AT D O ES N E W A N D R EN E W I N G CH U RCH ES D O? •
Assists churches to begin, evaluate or progress their journey in church planting.
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Works with local church leaders and pastors to build church planting capacity.
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Provides resources, training opportunities, conferences and a supportive network for church planters and missional communities. The aim is to mobilise the whole church in the work of seeing new believers come to Christ – and to see mature churches that plant churches as the norm.
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Works with local congregations and agencies of the church to help them assess opportunities for church planting and provides mentorship for church leaders and pastors on this journey.
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Walks with missional communities and church planters as they establish new groups of believers.
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Aims to help local congregations and agencies discern what the Spirit is saying as they seek to follow him.
W H AT D O ES CH U RCH PL A NTI N G LO O K LI K E I N T H E LC A / NZ? •
Our approach incorporates three key elements: a sending church, a church planning team and mentoring in the field.
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Experience and international research both show that these elements are essential.
W H AT I S A S EN D I N G CH U RCH ? •
A sending church is a ‘mother’ church.
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It both nurtures the missional communities from which the church planting team is formed, and supports the ‘toddler’ church until it is formally launched as its own entity.
