Church Planting Basic Training, Part 4

What is the First Step in Planting a Church?

There are many facets to being part of a church plant. There are variables such as the core group, the founding pastor, finances, meeting space, philosophy of ministry, and theology, just to name a few. But if you find yourself in a situation in which you may be observing the need for a new church in your area, there is only one starting point: prayer.

Many successful and faithful church plants have begun with the diligent fervent prayers of just one man or woman. After the death of Charles Spurgeon, his widow, Susannah Spurgeon, was burdened to plant a church in a rural coastal area in England. She worked tirelessly to this end until that glorious day when the church was planted with a pastor, a small congregation, and even a building. But she began that process with prayer. Let me suggest three ways to pray for a new church plant.

Pray for Your Own Passion and Commitment

Pray that the Lord would use you and that you would have the courage to be personally invested in a new work should the Lord choose to expand His church in your area.

Pray for Divine Appointments

Pray for the Lord to bring into your path other believers with common convictions and a common desire to see God do a new work. If possible, set up regular times to simply gather and pray together for God’s move in your location.

Pray for a Future Shepherd

While a faithful core group is absolutely vital to the success of a church plant, until there is a qualified pastor on the scene, it is still much like a family waiting for dad to get home. Pray for a man who is a hard-worker and will commit all his strength and faith in Christ to this work.

And as you pray, keep in mind of course that God may not answer your prayers in the way you envision Him doing so. But also keep in mind that Jesus Christ promised to build His church and that your prayers are pleasing and right before the Lord of the Church.

“Church-Planting Basic Training” is a series of 15 short bullet-point style articles aimed at encouraging Christians in the appropriate situation to consider engaging in a long-term church-planting project.