Opportunities On The Horizon
Our culture is changing rapidly, and with it the landscape of church planting in the United States. All of us are trying to understand and adjust so we can continue to effectively reach the lost in our communities.
I’ve always been intrigued by this passing comment in 1 Chronicles 12:32, “…from Issachar, men who understood the times and knew what Israel should do…” Oh to have that kind of clarity in this cultural moment!
One thing we’re certain of here is that we need to continue learning and innovating in order to expand the Kingdom and reduce lostness. Not only that, we need to figure out how to accelerate disciple making and church planting.
One thing that needs some change is our church planting funding model. It may be that our current methods and assumptions are hampering new methods from emerging, methods that will reach younger generations with the hope of the Good News, methods that will unleash different kinds of planters that reach different corners of our culture.
That’s why we’re partnering with several networks and organization to develop a new church operating system that will equip and empower future generations to start reproducing churches with less money.
One solution to planting churches with less money is training, equipping, and empowering bi-vocational/co-vocational church planters. Not everyone is cut out to be a Bi-Vo planter, and not everyone is called to be Bi-Vo, but we believe many should consider it. We need more planters to lead the way in this, and model for future generations how to be a tentmaker. Could that be you?
Whether you’re sensing a call to plant and you’re wondering what role your career will play in it, or whether you’re leading a church that’s enduring financial hardship, let this month’s newsletter encourage you as you explore how we can develop more cost-effective strategies to plant churches and fund ministry now and into the future. Enjoy!
-Patrick Bradley, Director of Operations
May 2023 – Content
- Pastors In The Marketplace
- Bi-Vo Friendly PlanterPlan Template
- Bi-Vo Ministry Course
- Can Nearly Anyone Start A Church?
Pastors In The Marketplace
Have you considered being bi-vocational while planting a church? It’s not for everyone, but many church planters work a second job while planting as a way to meet people in their community and provide for their families. If you already have an established career, being bi-vocational may seem like a no brainer to you. However, if you don’t have a career, bivocational ministry may seem unrealistic. If that’s you, think again.
Church leaders like Ed Choy and Joshua Brown got second jobs while planting and pastoring and learned a lot in the process. They learned that not all bi-vocational job opportunities allow you to both manage your own schedule and constantly put you in contact with new people in your community. That’s why Ed started his own wedding officiating business and Joshua a power washing business and network. Now they want to help you start your own business venture.
Whether you’re looking for full-time employment or just some extra cash to help you make ends meet, Ed and Joshua have you covered. Reach out to them today and see if what they’re doing makes sense for your situation. Connect with Ed. Connect with Joshua.
Hear Joshua’s story: EntrePastors Podcast.
Bi-Vo Friendly Project Management Tool
If you’re planning on planting a church while working a second job, you may be worried about having enough time and energy to plant a healthy church. There are countless details that you have to think through and plan out in order to plant a healthy, reproducing church. Since you won’t have time to waste, you’ll need make sure you allocate your time to what matters most.
That’s why we’ve developed a Multiplication Checkpoints template in PlanterPlan. Instead of working towards a specific launch date, this template guides you towards your church planting vision through the multiplication of disciple-making groups.
Don’t waste your time or energy on details that won’t help you plant a healthy, reproducing church. Utilize this new task list template to ensure you’re investing the precious time you have into what matters most. Get started for free today.
Bi-Vo Ministry Course
If you’re wondering if bivocational ministry is for you, keep in mind that it is not about performing two jobs poorly. It’s not an excuse to be a second-rate pastor or church planter. It’s about fully embracing the call God has placed upon your life in order to reach the people God is calling you to reach. It’s about stewarding all the resources God has entrusted to you for the sake of His kingdom. It’s not for everyone, but it may be the way for you to pursue your church planting vision.
To help you determine if bivocational ministry is for you, take the free course NewChurches.com created called Bivocational Ministry. It’ll guide you through the ins and outs of bivocational ministry and will help you determine if it’s a good fit. It will also offer tips on how to find jobs and manage your schedule as a bivocational church planter. Check it out here.
Can Nearly Anyone Start A Church?
Can just about anyone plant a church? Ralph Moore believes so. Learn why he thinks this is true and how you can empower people in your church to start microchurches that reproduce disciples of Jesus.
The book offers insights from scripture to show how just about anyone can help their friends encounter God through starting and leading disciple-making groups. Through the book Ralph explains why people don’t need to quit their jobs in order to plant new churches. The book is free and the content is priceless. Read it yourself or share it with a friend who’s passionate about helping their friends come to faith in Jesus and grow in their faith.
Download your free copy of How Nearly Anyone Can Start A Microchurch: Plant a Church Without Leaving Your Job today!