Discuss the 5 Phases of Gathering People to Start a Church.
1) Contact
2) Connect
3) Congregate
4) Confirm
5) Copartner
How can we better move contacts from one phase to the next phase through guided relationships?
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There are many ways to contact people we meet them at work,we have met them knocking doors,In the mall, here in Elliot Lake many people are at one of our lakes. Where ever we meet people we connect with them,by a common interest planes, trains, automobiles the weather anything. When we started here we would invite people over the house for coffee tea and start a bible study. We would meet their friends and family.The result people would repent of their sins I would baptize them in Jesus Name we have even some people receive the Holy Ghost in our home.After conversion the new converts that have co partnered with us are reaching out to their friends and family.The result were slowly growing a work unto the glory of God.
ReplyDeleteThe most important part I believe one must settle before one starts a church is to make your calling and election SURE.Why? because hardships will come,disappointments will happen, nothing runs smooth all the time.When the time comes when disarray arrives you can face the storm because you know Jesus called you and equipped you to succeed. Praise JESUS!
ReplyDeleteBro. Harwood, I agree totally! When we felt the Lord laying the burden on our heart to come to Columbia, our hesitation, the waiting process, was not because of "fear" but rather waiting to get the confirmation we were praying for. I've been on both sides of the fence and when you don't have that confirmation, it seems that we are more vulnerable to the questions the devil will plague our mind with.
ReplyDeleteAs mentioned in a blog from a previous lesson, we came to our city as a "parachute" plant. (We didn't arrive with a team in place.) This session was "GREAT" information for someone contemplating and preparing for a new church plant! I wish I would have had gained the insights from this lesson before I made the move myself! Without question, my preparation time could have been utilized more effectively. Understanding our own personal gifting is so important. As we make new contacts, it's a great idea to be observant and try to discover the giftings of these new people. God knows our individual strengths and weaknesses and I feel He can, and will, lead us to people who will compliment our ministry and make the body more effective.
ReplyDeleteWhen we went to Benton I had a great advantage in already knowing many people in this town,being my hometown. We have family, High School connections and others known to us simply by having lived there. My fir st goal was to reconnect with familiar faces and let tham know what we were doing.
ReplyDeleteI really wanted to reestablish some backsliders, we have contacted some of them and I'm trying hard not to be pushy. Mainly letting them know we are here, we are praying, and we believe God is in the business of restoration. We've seen a few come to meetings and begin to find hope once again. We are covering them with prayer and staying in contact. Slowly we are beginning to build a group that God wants us to have. We are a parachute ministry. In some ways I wish I didn't know the success rate was so low. But I know God has called us here and will lead us to victory. Ethics in every situation is my goal. I should and must do to other pastors as I would expect them to do for me. So we have contacted, connected,we are congregating, just beginning to confirm, and workign on the co-partner stage. Hopefully in the next month this will take place. One thing about this seminar that I would like to share. The couple that we first started with, have a daughter that attends the church in Mandeville with Pastor Trentacoste. And the connection it's self is agreat encouragement.
ReplyDeleteBro Gann, I'm sort of glad to see a fellow parachutist. I seemed to fall so short of the goals set out in this seminar. Hopefu;;y we can make up for lost time.
ReplyDeleteI always appreciate the discussion of confirmation of our calling. We definitely need to know that we are called. I can point to the specific time/place that I KNEW God had called us to do this thing. I think that kind of understanding is invaluable for us as we negotiate the curvy road of church planting.
ReplyDeleteJohn R - We have had great success in reaching out to backsliders where we are at. When we were coming here I felt a definite direction toward those who had slipped away from the church. God gave me Habakkuk 3:2, where the prophet says, "...revive thy work in the midst of the years..." We are seeing that happen. God is definitely reviving His work.
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed this session, although the student response was a little difficult to follow initially. I felt like this session had a lot of meat on the bone. So much great takeaway from this, I wish I had the opportunity to sit down and the Maricelli's some questions. Thanks for your practical guidance!
ReplyDeleteBro. Maricelli's guidance through the "C" words from "contact" to "copartner" is such a great track to follow. I feel we can get so much more accomplished when we focus on a "plan" rather than just "shooting from the hip". This lesson reminds me of Rick Warren's teaching on five "C" words as well. COMMUNITY - CROWD - CONGREGATION - COMMITED - CORE. I think what is so powerful is maintaining a focused effort on "movement" from a starting place to the goal of a mature disciple, committed and involoved in ministry. Granted, every person will not move at the same pace (all 12 year olds are not at the same level of development) but as we encourage them to grow at their own pace, I feel we will get more effective growth when we understand where they are now and what is the next step for them.
ReplyDeleteI'm looking forward to making some additons to my library! I have some of the books recommended by Bro. Maricelli but I will definitely be ordering some of these he mentions. Sounds like great resources for us! Anyone have a comment on one of these books that was impacting to you personally?
ReplyDeleteConfirmation for us came as a result of conversation with two of our trusted friends. Although we did not immediately decide that a church plant was in God's plan for us, we considered every option. After much time of seeking, God confirmed to us His plan. We are now almost 2 years into that call and sometimes I have to go back to the time when God confirmed His call for us. I appreciate the words of Bro. Maricelli.
ReplyDeleteWe have been given a tremendous opportunity to connect with both backslidden church people and unchurched people here in our location. The connecting part has been one of the most enjoyable for us. To my surprise, I receive invitations frequently to come to a cook out or some other function outside of church. What I find happening is not only connecting with those people, but coming into contact with new people.
ReplyDeleteI found this lesson some commonsense teaching on moving people in a natural flow of becoming more than just a friend, to a disciple of Jesus. We have found that the more people we meet, the more people hear about our church. Meeting new people and trying new experiences in our city has helped us make new connections. New friendships have helped us when we launched our church as people formed a nucleus when we started. Now we are trying to help people see their giftings and become partners in ministry with us.
ReplyDeleteI also found this session to be a regurgitation of book knowledge. I was a little disappointed in the format of this session since almost everything mentioned, except some personal references to discipleship classes, was information from most of the popular networking and church planting books on the market. I appreciate the time put into the lessons, but just found it to be nothing new.
ReplyDeleteIN response to "Bro Gann" i would recommend the books mentioned. Also, if you have not read "Launch" by Nelson Searcy - get it. He also has some excellent materials for post-launch phases. Another author is Jim Griffith or Bill Cornelius, both have god material on church growth. I have found the easiest way to keep fresh ideas and strategies is to be a reader.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) This is perhaps one of the greatest tasks in starting a church. Moving someone from the contact phase to the co-partner phase is essential for the church planter to accomplish. Being intentional and strategic in the relationship, prayerfully seeking wisdom during the process, will assist making this a reality. I feel this session inspired me to continue to find new contacts, and work to talk about the idea of partnering with us to plant this church.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) I have found that the connect phase of the relationship can be extremely meaningful. Discovering who the person really is, their likes and dislikes, their career, family, background, etc. can allow for true connection to occur with the new contact. It takes the planter to use his/her active listening and relationship building skills to really connect with a person. I believe that God can give us the discernment needed to move the person from this stage to the next.
ReplyDelete(aka The Sanctuary) John R.: Thanks for sharing your experience about starting the church in your city. It is encouraging to see how you have been able to really reach out to backsliders in your community, while balancing the need for ministerial ethics in contacting the churches in the community. This can be difficult in some setting, but it is possible as you have seen the fruit of your labor manifest in new people being “connected” to your new church plant.
ReplyDeleteThe calling to pastor has always been a dream of mine. I recall when I was but a child out of the blue I declared I would be a Pastor. I believe from childhood God called me to this important office of Pastor. As I was directing a youth conference a prophetic word was spoken over concerning the office the Pastor ship. As I grew in ministry God began to place in me urgency to do something for Him. I heeded to the call to Pastor 2 years ago God has truly blessed us! Regarding contacting people it has been rather unique for us. Due to the fact that we have to work in order to financially make it. Doors have open through that avenue. My wife and I both work in the city where we are pastoring. Therefore, allowing us to use our workplace as a contact with people in our city of harvest. I have also found staying involved with the community allows me to stay in close proximity of the people we are reaching. I really enjoyed this lesson it helps you to effectively plant a church. It gives you the guidelines to get the job done in a systematic and productive way. I’m happy to announce last Sunday we had 113 people in attendance! Thank you for all the support and advice given through these lessons it works.
ReplyDeleteI am in the affirmative with Bro Reg Harwood that without a calling church planting is hard to survive. In the 2 years we have been in existence we have encountered some very trying times. Finances, people come and go, facilities, and family adjustments are all challenges that can really affect a person and family. I have experienced that the call will cause you to keep on walking. The call does not allow you quit rather you become more determined to do this for God.
ReplyDelete(aka melreddy) I agree the connect phase is extremely important. That is where the rubber meets the road. Planting a church is about people when you get to connect and know them that is where you can really help them. There was one family we have that came to one of our revival services and received the Holy Ghost. But they still seemed very quiet and isolated. It wasn’t until we had them come over to our house to fellowship that we really had the opportunity to get to know them. It took a visit of that nature for God to open doors for Bible Studies. Now they are baptized and productive members of the church.
ReplyDeleteThe only way to move them from one phase to the next is to have people that will mentor them, help them through, or in other words really take an interest in helping these new converts.
ReplyDelete1) Contact
Accomplished through meet neighbords, walk the community, outreach, phone calls, block parties, friends day, encouraging our people to invite friends, family, attending community events, advertising.
2) Connect
It's not enough to get them to our church but we have to connect them with our people and with our ministries. "
through Bible studies, different fellowship events, ect.
3) Congregate
They need to make this "THEIR church. Coming to church is a habit for them, they call this "their church"
4) Confirm 5) Co-partner
Encourage and Create an environment where your coverts are helping network the church and assisting in it's continual growth