Building the Engine: How To Build A Launch Team From Scratch
Are you ready for the abstract dreams of last year to collide with the concrete realities of January 2026? This month marks a pivotal, defining moment for many leaders across our networks who are gearing up for fall launches. While the rest of the world makes casual resolutions, these planters are right now beginning to gather, develop, and train launch teams, moving squarely past the dreaming phase and into the doing phase.
This is the critical season where abstract vision must start transforming into tangible reality. Planters are making the significant shift from saying “I have an idea for a new church” to declaring “We are now building this community together.” This process involves countless coffee conversations, vulnerable vision-casting events, and the courageous act of asking others to join a mission that doesn’t fully exist yet.
It is exhilarating, but it can also feel daunting to build something from nothing. Take courage in knowing you are following a biblical pattern. When the Apostle Paul set out to plant the church in Philippi, as recorded in Acts 16, he didn’t arrive with a pre-packaged crowd. He simply went to a riverside prayer gathering on the Sabbath and shared the good news. God opened the heart of a businesswoman named Lydia, and her household became the foundational core—the first launch team—of that vibrant church.
Like Paul, many of you are currently looking for your “Lydias”—those key individuals whose hearts God is opening to help establish this new work. At Passion for Planting, we deeply understand the unique, high-stakes dynamics of this phase. You are not building alone. Whether you are currently praying for your very first committed families or hosting your initial interest meetings, this newsletter is designed to equip you with the practical tools, strategic insights, and spiritual encouragement needed to build a strong foundation for the journey ahead. Enjoy!
-Patrick Bradley, Director of Operations
January 2026 – Content
- Launch Team Development Strategy
- Launch Team Covenant
- How To Train Your Launch Team
- Developing A Unifying Launch Strategy
Launch Team Development Strategy
Planting a church is not a solo endeavor; it requires a dedicated team sharing your vision. However, gathering that team shouldn’t be haphazard. Stop hoping for the right people to just show up and start strategically building the foundation your new church needs right now.
Our Launch Team Development Strategy Template is designed to take the guesswork out of this critical phase. This tool guides you step-by-step through defining your vision, setting concrete recruitment goals, crafting your recruitment strategy, and structuring an effective onboarding process. It even helps you plan how to build a healthy team culture from day one. Don’t let the task of team building stall your momentum. Download this template today (or use our beta interactive AI version) to turn your vision into an actionable plan and assemble the team God has for your plant.
Launch Team Expectations
Before you ask anyone to commit, you need to have clear expectations of what it means to join. Written Launch Team Expectations are a simple, powerful tool that clarifies the commitment level (time, giving, service), the relational expectations, and the spiritual health standards required of your first team members. It removes ambiguity and ensures everyone is entering the mission with their eyes wide open.
Expectations are your first and best tool for filtering those who are merely interested from those who are truly committed. Download our Sample Launch Team Expectations and start crafting clear expectations for your launch team. This can also double as or evolve into a church membership covenant.
How To Train Your Launch Team
Your launch team isn’t just your initial volunteer corps or setup crew; they are the carriers of your new church’s culture. If you don’t intentionally train them, you risk launching with a crowd rather than a unified force.
The article How To Train Your Launch Team from New Churches is essential reading because it provides a practical, multi-week framework for embedding your church’s specific DNA into your core group before day one. It moves beyond mere logistics, guiding planters through teaching essential spiritual disciplines, fostering deep unity, and helping members discover their gifts for service. Don’t leave your church’s culture to chance. Read this to learn how to transform willing volunteers into a spiritually grounded team ready for mission.
Developing A Unifying Launch Strategy
Once your core team is initiated, you need to invite them into the plan. Your Launch Strategy is the blueprint that clarifies where you are going and how you will get there. It gives your team the confidence that you have a vision worth following and a plan that can sustain it. This document should cover everything from vision and values to your financial and discipleship goals.
If you don’t have one, or if yours needs refinement, there is no time like the present. It can be the unifying document that gets everyone “shooting at the same target.” Download our Launch Strategy Template to prayerfully put together your own unique strategy.