Common Mistakes Church Planters Make

Research has varied when it comes to the number of churches planted that don’t survive.  I have seen reports that suggest failure rates as high as eighty percent and as low as ten percent in some networks. Regardless of what the actually number might be, one failure is too many especially when it’s your church plant.  In a recent conversation with one of our church planting residents here are several of the common mistakes we discussed.

Rushing Ahead!

One of the defining moments in my life took place about twelve years ago.  I was spending the day with Lyle Schaller.  Coming off a recent church plant I couldn’t wait to hear his critic of our church planting methods and processes.  I will never forget his comment, “David the problem as I see it is most of you quick start church planter types are driven by calendar when you ought to be driven by milestones.”  That one statement turned my little church planting world upside down. What I’ve learned through my own experiences is when you don’t achieve certain critical milestones prior to launch you can end up with a  premature church plant with tons of unhealthy systems.  When this happens your plant can often stagnate and take years to overcome (more on milestones in upcoming blogs).

Underestimating the Cost!

When it comes to church planting it most often is going to take longer then you think, require more resources then you imagine, and you are going to pay a higher cost then you anticipate.  Often as church planters we are guilty of what we often call at churchplanters.com as being intoxicated by vision.  When you are intoxicated you fail to listen to others, think clearly, and make good decision.

Not Taking Time Off!

First of all let’s dispel the myth that you can plant a church without paying the price.  I can think of nothing that comes with a higher price.  Church planting comes with a high price tag.  Because of this you have to make taking care of yourself a high priority.  Taking regular time off to refuel your emotional, relational, physical, and relational gauges is essential to longevity and impact.  For the last nine years I have been part of a church plant that has grown from an idea, to a vision, to a church of 2000.  Unfortunately I am just learning to pay attention to my own vitality.  Fortunately I have a wife that has been incredibly patience and honest with me.  I am yet to find a church planter worth their salt that doesn’t have to work hard at this.

Hanging on too long!

When you give birth to a new church it is your baby.  The church you planted begins with a vision God put in your heart.  When you first plant everything begins with you.  However, there comes a time when you must let go of control and empower others.  Church planters that don’t develop the skill of enabling and empowering others seldom grow beyond the core group.  You may launch your church.  You may reach 50 or 60 people, but you usually end up stuck.  If you fall into that category you are likely hanging on to tight and to long.  The most effective church planters understand the importance of raising up leaders and building teams.

Not having a coach!

Church planters are the R&D Department of our current missional movement.  They understand that we learn our way into the future.  As we move forward we assess our failures and successes and we build off of them.  Like Churchill we understand the importance of “moving from failure to failure without losing momentum.  Church planters surround themselves with other leaders and learners.  I was reminded of this when Will Henderson our Australian church planter returned from an ACTS 29 learning experience where they advocated that every church planter needs a minimum of five coaches in their lives.  Years ago when Ed Stetzer and I worked together on a major church planting initiative called the Nehemiah Project he conducted some research that indicated that our best church planters were involved in a mentoring relationship with others on a weekly basis.  The interesting thing was at the time all of our mentoring programs were set up on a monthly system.  Yet those who were leading at a higher level and having greater impact surround themselves with multiple coaches.

Southern Baptist Nelson Searcy teaches about stewardship

June 01, 2009

By David Jackson and Shannon Baker

BALTIMORE—Nationally known church planters Nelson Searcy and Kerrick Thomas learned about stewardship the hard way.

“This seminar came about out of desperation,” shared Searcy at a recent seminar he and Thomas taught at White Marsh Church in Baltimore. “We were about to lose our partners. We had to learn fast and apply it right away.”

About 100 attendees from locations as diverse as California, Michigan and Tennessee, attended the two-day conference that focused also on church planting and evangelism.

Nelson, the lead and teaching pastor, and Kerrick Thomas, executive and teaching pastor at The Journey Church in the New York City-metro area, lead a successful Southern Baptist Convention (SBC) church plant that presently meets in five locations with over 1,200 currently in attendance.

Searcy said, “Here’s the deal: it’s impossible to be a fully-developed disciple without being a fully-developed steward. Your heart follows your treasure!”

Searcy and Thomas contend that the goal is to move people into becoming more fully developed stewards, from non-givers to regular-givers to tithers to extravagant givers.

“If people would give just at poverty-level tithing you’d probably double your income for ministry!” said the pastors, outlining three steps to increase giving in the local church.

Educate.

“Teach people to give; this is the first step in moving non-givers into first-time givers,” they said, suggesting that the topic of stewardship should be taught at least four times a year.

“Tie them to felt-needs in life around the calendar and seasons of life,” Thomas suggested. Searcy agreed, noting that adding a system of accountability helps increase giving.

“We report to those who support, so use an envelope and we will let you know about our expenses,” he shared, reminding, “Remember: people give to vision, not to need.”

Thomas explained, “Constantly remind people that the church’s ministry is supported by its members.” Searcy added, “Unchurched people have no idea how your church is funded. We let them know that our ministry opportunities are a result of their giving.”

Offer options.

Searcy suggests churches should give the people different options for giving.

“If you only allow people to give at your services you may be losing as much as 40 percent of your receipts!” he cautioned, sharing more opportunistic ways. For example, create a self-mailing envelope and put it in the bulletin with a business reply permit that doesn’t even need stamps.

“You don’t have to pay for those that aren’t mailed. If you just put the envelope in the bulletin not the pew rack, you will get more, I promise…and besides, [speaking of the traditional offering envelope] they’re too small! No one can put big money in a small envelope.”

The pastors said that another way to encourage giving is to set up a ‘bill pay’ with their own bank or as an ACH as an automated debit option. “This is a great option since you will KNOW what will be coming in every week unless they make a change,” Searcy said.

Otherwise, church members may give online at their website through PayPal or other online payment services.

“Sixty percent of our giving comes in ways OTHER than weekend services!” Searcy and Thomas said. “The point is: if you want to get more first time givers, you must provide more options.”

Follow up with givers.

The Journey Church pastors suggested that churches send thank you notes to first time givers and quarterly giving statements to all givers. They also acknowledge unusual gifts with a special response including a gift and a hand-written note.

Each method communicates to the givers that their gifts are important, as do the following ways:

To gain regular givers: Searcy related what pastor and national speaker, Bob Roberts, once said, “People will rise to the level of commitment you ask. For every 100 people who participate in a giving small group, the church will receive $100,000 a year.”

Searcy said that stewardship should be introduced in the church’s membership class covenant and that the language of the class should answer newcomers’ questions.

“Ask them ‘which way’ they plan to give, not ‘if’ they will give,” he urged.

Likewise, “if people have not given at all in a year, we look at the list together as a staff and ask people to follow up with them; it’s an accountability issue for you as a leader.

To secure tithers: “Tithing shows that God has first place in your life; it’s the first ten percent of your gross income,” shared Thomas.

Searcy added, “This is the first place principle in all areas of life: if you want God to bless you in anything, give Him first place in that area of your life.” Thomas agreed, “It’s not a tithe if it comes last or if it’s leftovers…He comes first.”

They suggest that churches challenge members to consider a four-month “Tithe Challenge” to accept God’s test regarding the tithe (based on Mal. 3:10). They acknowledged, “…unbelievers have no problem with this, but people that come to you from other churches do!”

To develop extravagant givers: Searcy said, “God calls on us to give sacrificially from time to time; this can be the beginning of an extravagant giving lifestyle. People need to be educated that the tithe is the minimum of what God expects. Offerings are above this amount.”

On their website, the Journey Church offers financial tools to help their church members manage their money wisely. Included are a personal financial profile and plan as well as a monthly budget ledger form. Also included are former financial messages preached at The Journey, books about financial management, as well as several articles about how to make financial decisions.

Acknowledging that many churches are beginning to feel the crunch of the current financial recession, Searcy also offers a practical podcast on how to turn this tough time into the church’s finest hour online at www.churchleaderinsights.com.