4 Reasons We MUST Start New Churches Now

On the way to church recently Carolyn and I passed a street corner with a sandwich sign inviting people to come to a new church and pointing them in the right direction. It reminded me of one of the reasons we need to start new churches.

This is from 1981 in our first church plant meeting in a home. Gabriel was born just weeks later, so we did a child dedication.

I turned to Carolyn and said, “You know, any church could do signs like that. But it seems to never be long established churches that have signs on street corners inviting the community to come. It is always NEW churches. Why do you think that is?”

Carolyn responded, “I think it is because new churches are so hungry to reach lost people and grow.” I agreed.

It was just one example of the fact that as churches grow older and more established, they typically lose their evangelistic passion and outreach orientation.

New churches are not necessarily godlier. There is a practical motivation: they must grow or die. Typically they start with a handful of people. If they don’t reach more people for Christ, they don’t survive infancy.

As a former church planter I can attest that as my church plant became more established, the care for the existing church began to take more and more of my time. Outreach was forced onto the back burner—at least that is the way it seemed.

So, here are four reasons we must start new churches:

1) Focus on Outreach

As illustrated about above, new churches tend to focus on reaching unchurched people, while long established churches focus mostly on their constituents. Certainly there are exceptions to this, but it is common.

2) Birth is Easier than Resuscitation

Some might argue that what we really need to do is to convince existing churches to focus on outreach. After all, they have the resources: the buildings, the money, the programs and so on.

While this might seem ideal, there are often inherent problems. One major issue is that the practices of the church often limit outreach: outdated buildings, sermons that are incomprehensible to non-Christians, church cliques, and so on.

Furthermore, some churches are dying. Anyone can see that their best days are behind them: the facility is run down, the congregation is dwindling, and they have an atmosphere of decline. Most people don’t want to affiliate with a dying organization.

This has led many to conclude that, “It is easier to birth baby churches than it is to raise dead ones!”

Jesus affirmed this concept when he stated: “No one pours new wine into old wineskins. The wine would swell and burst the old skins. Then the wine would be lost, and the skins would be ruined. New wine must be put into new wineskins.” (Mark 2:22 CEV)

3) To Replace Dying Churches

Each year thousands of congregations cease to exist. They die.

This is because the church is fundamentally a living organism and death is part of the life cycle. It is not necessarily because of undedicated people, poor leadership or bad mistakes, although these may hasten the demise.

Often it is simply the result of shifting demographics, or of an aging congregation, or of a lack of innovation. In short: aging.

New churches must be planted to replace those which have died.

Any denominational superintendent will testify to this fact. Working on a regional level, they see the many churches that pass away. They preside over many church funerals. They see the numbers of churches in their district decline UNLESS they start new churches  to replace them.

4) To Reach a Growing Population and New Areas

There is an even more compelling reason to plant new churches: to reach new areas, a growing population, and in some parts of the world, people who have never even heard the name of Jesus Christ.

Recently I spent a few days in Temecula, California. It is a booming growth area. When I first visited there about 35 years ago, there was virtually nothing there. Carolyn’s dad used to tell her that someday it would be huge. Today we look and say, “Wow, he was right.” Back then however, it just seemed like a Podunk town that would never amount to much.

In another 10, 20, 30, 40 years there will be many more areas like Temecula. We must start new churches to reach those areas.

Your part in church planting:

Jesus said, “I will build my church.” (Matthew 16:18) But He uses people as to build with Him.

If you are convinced they are needed, what can you do to help start new churches? Here are three suggestions:

• Become part of the start-up team for a new church. Carolyn and I are currently on the Launch Team for a new church starting here in Oceanside, California.

• Pray for church planting. For example, you can pray for my ministry with Dynamic Church Planting International: Click HERE to receive my “Cybersaints” prayer update emails.

• Financially support church planting. For example, you can support my ministry with DCPI HERE 

Fellowship With A Network Of 5 Million Persecuted Christians

Recently I spent a week with the leaders of a network of five million believers in China. It is an astounding movement of God, one of several to arise in China despite suppression by the government.

Chinese food is wonderful. Everyone eats communally out of the same bowls of delightful dishes, mostly fresh vegetables

The top leader, who was at our gathering, has spent 16 years in prison for his faith.

Other members of the network have spent various amounts of time in jail. One lady who picked us up at the airport was just released after three months incarceration.

For security reasons I cannot show pictures or give names.

What a privilege to be with such incredible men and women of God.

While I have been privileged to train members of this network for church planting, I felt like they should be training me!

What is their crime? It is the crime of sharing their faith—the same problem we read of repeatedly in the Acts of the Apostles which landed early believers in jail.

One saintly older woman shared how they beat them on the back with bamboo rods. She would try to wear a thick shirt to minimize the pain. Sleep deprivation, interrogation, and forced “confessions” are common.

In spite of all this, there are some five million who have come to faith and joined the underground house churches in just this one network.

What does the Bible say about persecution and what can we learn from these dear believers?

Here are five principles of persecution from Scripture:

1. Persecution is a normal part of being a Christian.

Did these Chinese believers do something wrong? If they were living agreeably, wouldn’t they have favor with people?

Not according to the Bible which says, “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Timothy 3:12 ESV)

It is Christ-like to suffer persecution: “For what credit is it if, when you sin and are beaten for it, you endure? But if when you do good and suffer for it you endure, this is a gracious thing in the sight of God. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.” (1 Peter 2:20-21 ESV)

2. It is an honor and a blessing to be persecuted for Christ.

Jesus said “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matthew 5:11-12 ESV)

“Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” (1 Peter 4:12-14 ESV)

3. Persecution sometimes comes from the inside.

Note in the following passage that persecution came from “imposters:” “Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 3:12-15 ESV)

Likewise, in the end times, we can expect persecution from “insiders:” “Then they will deliver you up to tribulation and put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations for my name’s sake. And then many will fall away and betray one another and hate one another. And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. And because lawlessness will be increased, the love of many will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be proclaimed throughout the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.” (Matthew 24:9-14 ESV)

It was religious leaders who engineered the crucifixion of Christ.

Betrayal by religious people, by imposters and even by fellow believers adds another layer of pain in persecution.

4. God uses persecution for our refinement.

“But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That’s why he appointed Christ Jesus to choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.” (1 Peter 5:10 CEV)

“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5 ESV)

The pain of persecution can be lessened when we know we can be matured by it.

5. We must pray for, encourage and assist believers who are suffering.

“But you must defend those who are helpless and have no hope.” (Proverbs 31:8 CEV)

“Remember the Lord’s people who are in jail and be concerned for them. Don’t forget those who are suffering, but imagine that you are there with them.” (Hebrews 13:3 CEV)

A Final Word: To help support the persecuted church around the world, Carolyn and I financially support the ministry of International Christian Concern. We have no connection to this organization, but believe they are doing wonderful work.

In accordance with the biblical teaching above, I pray regularly for their daily update and recommend you do the same.

3 Steps To Slay Your Giant-Sized Problems

When I was leading a church plant in the early 1980’s (wow that was a long time ago!), we were meeting in a city recreation center. The city was hospitable and it was a good facility. However, two Sundays a year we were coopted by two previous tenants: a flower show, and a dog show.

This was the building and that’s the pastor (me) family (Carolyn & Gabriel).

I guess you could say our church location went to the dogs!

These two Sundays created a problem for our fledgling congregation—where do we go and how do we adapt? It was a giant-sized problem (or maybe a dog-sized problem, ha ha).

So we improvised. We met outside in an amphitheater one time (which definitely was not ideal), in the Boys & Girls Club building, and in another city-owned building once or twice.

Have you ever faced a giant-sized problem? I am sure you have. Problems are inevitable, but like David we can choose to stand up to them with courage.

Goliath said, “‘I defy the ranks of Israel this day. Give me a man that we may fight together.’When Saul and all Israel heard these words of the Philistine, they were dismayed and greatly afraid.” (1 Samuel 17:10-11)

Goliath was certainly a giant-sized problem. He towered over David at 9’9”. How would you like to face a guy like that who wanted to remove your head from its God-intended location?

Goliath was menacing, threatening and yelling curses at the army of Israel, blaspheming the name of God. David had a tender heart for the Lord and determined to defeat him.

David responded, “‘Your servant has struck down both lions and bears, and this uncircumcised Philistine shall be like one of them, for he has defied the armies of the living God.’ And David said, ‘The Lord who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine.’ And Saul said to David, ‘Go, and the Lord be with you!’” (1 Samuel 17:36-37)

We can learn from David how to slay our giant-sized problems in 3 steps:

1) Identify

Richard Sloma wisely said, “Never try to solve all your problems at once–make them line up for you one-by-one.”

Identify just one current problem that you are facing and write it down. It might be:

• Financial stressIllness

• Grief

• Marital conflict

• Other relational conflict

• Business setbacks

Attack that one of your giant-sized problems first.

2) Divide

David encouraged himself by remembering his past accomplishments. He set aside his setbacks. As he remembered his successes in defeating lions and bears, he grew in confidence that he could overcome this giant also.

Likewise, we can divide our past victories from our failures and gain courage as we focus on victories.

We can remember failures and things we’ve heard like:

• “You’ll never be a leader.”

• “You are not very fast.”

• “You don’t know how to work with people, numbers or books.”

• “You will always be a loser.”

Or

We can remember successes and recite confidence builders such as:

“All things are possible for the one who believes.” Mark 9:23“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13“If God is for us, who can be against us?” Romans 8:31

Think and write down five confidence builders or accomplishments you have experienced in overcoming major giant-sized problems.

3) Conquer

Read 1 Samuel 17 and you will see that people questioned David’s ability to defeat Goliath due to his lack of:

• Age

• Experience

• Size

• Weapons

• Armor

What did David do? He challenged their assumptions that he was incapable and generated solutions.

“Then he took his staff in his hand and chose five smooth stones from the brook and put them in his shepherd’s pouch. His sling was in his hand, and he approached the Philistine.” (1 Samuel 17:40)

Goliath was a goner.

We must remind ourselves that God is not limited by our lack or by our weakness.

Think of and write down 3 to 5 solutions you may have never tried. Circle the one with the greatest potential and the lowest risk. Then begin to act on it.

You will begin to defeat your giant-sized (or dog-sized) problems!