Twentyfive Prelaunch Questions for the Church Planter

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• By
• Tom Cheyney

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• The following questions are provided as a
  self-assessment questionnaire of key issues for
  the church planter.

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• Why am I planting this church?
• Do I have a definite call?
• Is my call to this specific community?
• Do I have the spiritual gift of evangelism?
• What actual, verifiable spiritual gifts and
  abilities do I possess which will enable me to
  reach this community?
• Do I have a support system for starting this
  church?
• Can I build a church starting team, and, if so,
  how?

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• Do wise and knowledgeable persons verify that I
  am gifted to plant a church?
• Does my spouse share the sense of call to plant
  this church, and have we discussed the financial
  pressures and spiritual strength necessary to
  endure difficulties in this task?
• Will I ask others to support me financially, or
  will I sacrifice to the point of raising my own
  support?
• If others are to support me, why should they
  support me?

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• Will this new church relate strongly to the
  Southern Baptist Convention?
• Is my theology and belief system connected to
  Southern Baptists?
• Do I strongly support the Cooperative Program as
  a means of spreading the gospel to the world, and
  will I share this view confidently with my core
  group?
• If not, why would I expect Southern Baptists to
  invest money in this new church?

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• If I am targeting Generation X or Boomers, is it
  my belief?based on verifiable knowledge of this
  community ? that the name Baptist will be a
  hindrance to reaching them? What evidence
  supports this view?
• Do I understand the needs of the community?
• Do I know what worship music is most acceptable
  to the target group?
• Do I have a strategy for property, first
  building(s), and staff?

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• How much will property cost in this area?
• What will the first building cost?
• Have I estimated salaries, benefits, rent,
  utilities, materials, special events, printing,
  advertising, and mission contributions for the
  first three years?
• Do I have a backup strategy should my first
  strategy not succeed?
• How will I handle depression and burn-out, should
  they occur?

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Twenty-five Pre-launch Questions for the Church
Planter

• Tom Cheyney serves as the Strategic Resourcing
  Manager within the Church Planting Group and is
  responsible for developing world-class resources
  for Partnering Churches, church planters and
  those who work with them worldwide.
• For further assistance on Church Planting contact
  the Church Planting Group at the North American
  Mission Board or go to www.ChurchPlantingVillage.n
  et and click on the Seven Steps for Planting
  Churches icon.