Building Effective Church Planting Partnerships

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Building Effective Church Planting Partnerships

• With
• Tom Cheyney, Team Leader
• Resource Development Delivery Team

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Partner a definition

• 1 archaic one that shares partaker
• 2 a one associated with another especially in an
  action associate, colleague
• b either of two persons who dance together
• c one of two or more persons who play
  together in a game against an opposing side
• d either of two people living together
  especially spouse
• 3 a member of a partnership also such
  membership
• 4 one of the heavy timbers that strengthen a
  ships deck to support a mast usually used in
  plural

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partnerships

• Why do we partner with others?
• Who benefits from a partnership?

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Biblical foundtions

• Eccles 49 - 12
• 9 Two are better than one,
• because they have a good return for their work
• 10 If one falls down, his friend can help him up.
  
• But pity the man who falls and has no one to help
  him up!
• 11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep
  warm.
• But how can one keep warm alone?
• 12 Though one may be overpowered, two can defend
  themselves. A cord of three strands is not
  quickly broken.

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Biblical foundtions

• 2 Cor. 822-24 -- In addition, we are sending
  with them our brother who has often proved to us
  in many ways that he is zealous, and now even
  more so because of his great confidence in you.
  23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow
  worker among you as for our brothers, they are
  representatives of the churches and an honor to
  Christ. 24 Therefore show these men the proof of
  your love and the reason for our pride in you, so
  that the churches can see it.
• Phil 13-5 -- I thank my God every time I
  remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you,
  I always pray with joy 5 because of your
  partnership in the gospel from the first day
  until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who
  began a good work in you will carry it on to
  completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
• Pauls closing remarks to Philemon as he sends
  them Onesimus -- So if you consider me a partner,
  welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has
  done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge
  it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own
  hand. I will pay it backnot to mention that you
  owe me your very self.

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Why is partnership important?

• Partnership church planting has helped churches
  experience a positive transformation.
• God often re-energizes churches as a result of
  the process of church planting.
• Their burden for the lost grows as they pray and
  see the need for outreach. Their love for church
  planters and planting teams grows as they
  interact with the church planting leaders.
• Their faith in God is strengthened as they see
  their church taking an active role in
  transforming a new place or an unreached
  population group.
• God may even call some members of your church to
  deeper levels of commitment in order to
  accomplish His work.

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Why Become a Partner Church?

1. The lostness of North America
2. We are a continent of immigrants
3. Urban areas need new churches
4. Many regions are under-churched
5. Need churches for new generations
6. New churches are more evangelistic
7. Many religious groups have changed their
   theological focus

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Why Become a Partner Church?

• The lostness of North America
• 220 million lost people
• It is a continent of immigrants
• 325 languages
• Urban areas need new churches
• 50 of NA lives in urban areas
• Many regions are under-churched
• Need new churches for new generations
• New churches are more evangelistic
• 14.4 person/year/baptism for existing churches
• 7.3 persons/year/baptism for churches less than 5
  years of age
• Many religious groups have changed their
  theological focus

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Types of Partnering Churches

• Primary Partner.
• Accepts a primary role of encouraging,
  supervising, resourcing, and facilitating a new
  church plant.
• Clustering Partner.
• Prefer to work with other churches to plant the
  new church.
• Multiple partners can assist in securing robust
  support and leadership where one church alone may
  not be able to support the needs for a new church
  plant.
• Supporting Partner.
• When a long-term commitment of support to a
  planting project is not feasible.
• Engage in project-by-project church planting
  support.

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Potholes on the journey

• Cross-cultural Issues
• Lack of Planning
• Limited Human and Financial Resources
• Lack of Guidance

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What Is Church Planting?

• Church planting is
• a relational activity
• process driven

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Church Plantings Desired Result

• Church Planting exists to bring people into a
  right relationship with
• God
• One another

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The Purpose of Partnerships in Church Planting

• The nurturing and equipping of Partner Churches
  to become churches planting, healthy,
  cooperating, reproducing churches with
  evangelistic passion.

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Planting Churches vs. Church PlantersWhy do
churches need to plant churches when we have
church planters?

• Not enough church planters to reach the unsaved
  population
• Planters and Planting Teams come out of churches
• Christs commands are given to the church
• Biblical examples of church planting were church
  driven
• NOT either/or BUT both/and

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Four Objections to planting new churches

• There are plenty of churches already
• It costs too much
• It offends existing churches
• We cannot afford to give members to a new church

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Church planting in the New Testament

• Acts 18 Command to plant
• Acts 2 First church
• Acts 81 Lay planting
• Acts 131-3 Antioch becomes a planting church
• Acts 14 Barnabas and Paul become the first sent
  ones
• Acts 19 First Church Planting Process - urban
  seedbed churches that multiply themselves

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The How-tos

• Practical Ways of Partnering
• Intercessory Prayer
• Providing Strategic Leadership
• Financial Resources
• Materials and Equipment
• Facilities
• Mission Trips
• Start an Outreach Bible Study
• Send People
• Mentoring Church Planting Leaders

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THE CHURCH PLANTING MISSION
Planting the Gospel resulting in new churches
among unreached groups.
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Planting Churches Cooperatively

• Voluntary cooperation is the key to understanding
  Southern Baptist polity
• Churches working together can accomplish more
  than churches working individually
• Its Synergistic
• Its Biblical!
• Its Symbiotic for churches planters

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Prayer
CHURCH PLANTING TEAMS
Recruit/Assess
Training
Focus Communities
Partnership
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PRINCIPLES OF EFFECTIVE PARTNERSHIPS

• Be
• Prayerful
• Proactive Pray to the Lord of the harvest
• Participating (Cooperating)
• Territorialism get over it!

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WHEN TO FIND GOOD PARTNERS

• Secure partnerships prior to coming to the field
• Determine focus community
• Develop initial plan and proposals prior to
  moving to the field
• Do as much planning, recruiting, partnering,
  resourcing, and design as possible while you have
  a steady income out of sight out of mind

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WHEN TO FIND GOOD PARTNERS (cont.)

• We also find partners that select an area and
  then we seek the planter
• Continue finding/nurturing partnerships while on
  the field multiple tours

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WHERE TO FIND GOOD PARTNERS

• RELATIONSHIPS!!!
• PLANTERS RELATIONSHIPS
• Strategists relationships
• Associational, Convention, NAMB relationships
• Churches/Associations

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WHERE TO FIND GOOD PARTNERS (cont.)

• Church Plants
• todays plantstomorrows partners
• Individuals
• Foundations/Grants
• Seminaries

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WHAT KIND OF CHURCH PARTNERS

• Partners not mother churches
• Multiple partnerslocal and national
• 6 or more
• Lead partnerslocal and national
• Covenants Good fences make good neighbors

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WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PLANTERS

• Prayer
• Communication
• monthly prayer/update newsletter
• Cooperation
• Diligence/Faithfulness/Effectiveness

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WHAT IS EXPECTED OF PARTNERS

• THE 3 PS PRAY, PLAY, PAY!!!

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PRAY (Prayer Support)

• Prayer Team Members
• Saturation Prayer
• praying for every household
• Prayer Walks (as a mission group)
• Prayer newsletters/emails
• Prayer ministries

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PLAY (Mission Involvement)

• Short-Term Mission Groups
• Prayer Walks
• Canvassing (direct reverse door hangers)
• Door hanger/flyer distribution
• Sports Camps
• Music Camps
• Day Camps (BYBC)
• Block Parties
• Servant Evangelism

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PLAY (Mission Involvement)(cont.)

• Internships
• Team Members/Pioneer Families and Individuals
  (lifelong)

Direct Mission Involvement is what connects
Christians with Gods church plantthe resources
will follow.
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PAY (Financial Support)

• Show me the money
• For many partners this is a requirement
• NAMB is awesome but not enough

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COMMITMENT

• We seek partners for 3-5 years (or as long as it
  takes)
• Partner regardless of style
• End partnership only for biblical, ethical, or
  misalignment reasons
• See sample covenants on CD

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TYPICAL PARTNER RECRUITING TRIP AGENDA

• Planters Home Church or other connected
  congregation
• Prior to, during, and following the trip have
  individuals praying

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Saturday Sample

• Afternoon Meet with planter to discuss
  agenda/strategy
• Evening Host a pastors and wives dinner or
  dessert

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Sunday Sample

• Morning Brief commercial during service for
  evening service
• Noon Lunch presentation for key leaders and
  friends (with love offering and response form)
• Afternoon - Presentations to Personnel, Finance,
  Missions Committees
• Evening Full-presentation and love
  offering/response form in evening service

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Monday Sample

• Meet with additional pastors/church leaders from
  other congregations
• Seminary/College (recruiting future planters and
  team members)

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HOW TO APPROACH PARTNERS

• Go with a solid plan (see materials on CD under
  prospectus)
• responsibility of the planter
• Give the presentation (multi-media)
• Offer them the opportunity to be a part of what
  God is doing
• Do the ask (be specific)

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HOW TO APPROACH PARTNERS

• Ask big - Resources begat resources
• Set the bar high
• Dont poor mouth
• Set a response time and follow-up
• CPM - Be an advocate

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PRINTED MATERIALS

• BROCHURE
• PROSPECTUS
• PLAN
• CATALOG
• TIPS
• Be sure to include full contact information in
  all written materials
• Be prepared to receive contributions from day one

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Brochure full-color w/ photos, 1 page,
mass-produced

• Given to anyone and everyone
• Need
• Planter Information
• Our Story (Calling)
• Vision, Mission
• Partnership
• Specific Financial Needs
• Contact Information

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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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Prospectus warm fuzzy, full-color w/ photos

• Given to key leaders/contributors
• Opening Page/Cover Letter
• About Us (Info about planter, spouse, and family)
• Our Story (Calling)
• Need (community description and church plant
  justification)

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Prospectus warm fuzzy, full-color w/ photos
(cont.)

• Mission, Vision, Values
• You Can Make A Difference
• Wish List
• Response Form
• Contact Information
• Business Cards

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(No Transcript)
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(No Transcript)
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Plantext

• Used by planter and shared with INTERESTED
  leaders
• Area description
• Demographics
• Prayer Plan
• Detailed start-up plan (aka mileposts)

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Plantext (cont.)

• Opportunities for mission involvement
• Full description of what the church is to become
  (systems design)
• Expanded budget
• Remaining financial needs

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(No Transcript)
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Catalog full-color wishlist

• Shared with those who might make a one-time
  gift
• Specific needs, including projected costs
• Easy response
• Separate response form (and envelope)
• Consider epay or other online or automatic payment

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(No Transcript)
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PowerPoint Presentation/Video

• Bring a copy on CD with you to leave with
  partners so they can share with others
• Present the need
• Describe what has been happening (previous church
  plants or other history)
• Show what is coming (new church plant)
• Do the ask

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4 Million People
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70 of People Claim No Religious Affiliation
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Less than 5 are Evangelical Christians
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Less than 5 are Evangelical Christians
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½ of 1 are Southern Baptists
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½ of 1 are Southern Baptists
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Why New Churches Are Needed

• 90 of the people are unchurched.
• Only 4 affiliated with an evangelical church.
• Only one Southern Baptist Church for every
  36,000 persons.
• Nearly 181,000 people live within a ten-mile
  radius at the intersection of I-5 and
  Pierce/Thurston Counties.
• Growing Responsiveness to the Gospel.

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Increasing Responsiveness
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Emerald Ridge Entrance
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Gathering Area
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Excellent Signs
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JAM Meets Here
Nursery Area
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(No Transcript)
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High Pointes Stats

• Average over 800 in weekly attendance
• Over 70 previously unchurched
• 75 Baptisms first year- led the Baptist
  Association
• 45 of people participate in small groups

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• Met at UPS (Bible Belt)
• Common Experience
• Both Ministers
• Both Military
• Both Experienced Christ Serving in Washington
  in 1988.

The Fullers

• Common Vision
• The Unchurched
• Transformed Lives
• Complimentary Gifts

The Whitakers
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Partnership
Whoever calls on the name of the LORD shall be
saved." How then shall they call on Him in whom
they have not believed? And how shall they
believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And
how shall they hear without a preacher? And how
shall they preach unless they are sent?
(Romans 1013-15a)
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Questions?
I have come that they might have life and that
they may have it more abundantly (John
1010).
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Recruiting Materials List

• Partnership (brochures/etc, showing what support
  is available)
• Video/PowerPoint explaining the need
• Information about the area
• Display of pictures of other church plant(s) and
  planter(s)
• Slide show of pictures (windows/display table)

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Recruiting Materials List

• Prayer Reminder object (mug/clock/shirt/cap)
• Prospectus materials (brochure, prospectus, plan)
• Response forms for individuals
• Sample covenant (partners and plant)

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Recruiting Materials List

• Catalogs
• Partner website(s)
• Individual church plants partner website
  (sanctuary)

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FINAL THOUGHTS

• Be diligent
• Be effective (repeat partners)
• Above all, pray for Gods provision

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God is at work
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Join Him
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Building Effective Church Planting Partnerships

• With
• Tom Cheyney, Team Leader
• Resource Development Delivery Team