Developing a Regional Developing a Regional Church Multiplication Church Multiplication

StrategyStrategyPresenter: Dr. Dan MorganPresenter: Dr. Dan Morgan

Associate Professor of MissionsAssociate Professor of MissionsDirector, Nehemiah Project at SWBTSDirector, Nehemiah Project at SWBTS

Fort Worth, TXFort Worth, TX

Session 1Session 1The Impact of Regional The Impact of Regional

Strategies- Two Case StudiesStrategies- Two Case Studies

The Impact of the Status QuoThe Impact of the Status Quo

The Northwest Baptist ConventionThe Northwest Baptist Convention Stuck at 450 churches for 20 yearsStuck at 450 churches for 20 years

The Willamette ValleyThe Willamette Valley No church plants for a decadeNo church plants for a decade

Bluebonnet AssociationBluebonnet Association Struggling financially, no new work in seven Struggling financially, no new work in seven

yearsyears

Association Ministry CapacityAssociation Ministry Capacity

A function of A function of churchchurch ministry capacity ministry capacity Churches older than ten years tend to be Churches older than ten years tend to be

stable, but not showing net growth. Often stable, but not showing net growth. Often in slow decline.in slow decline.

So, without church planting, associations So, without church planting, associations stagnatestagnate

Yet, your stewardship is for each soul in Yet, your stewardship is for each soul in your region – this should generate urgencyyour region – this should generate urgency

Story 1: Bluebonnet Baptist AssocStory 1: Bluebonnet Baptist Assoc

Arrived 1999Arrived 1999 one 7-yr old anglo plant still on supportone 7-yr old anglo plant still on support Two old hispanic missions – on supportTwo old hispanic missions – on support A few churches willing to sponsorA few churches willing to sponsor

Status Quo growthStatus Quo growth Occasional maverick plants and affiliatesOccasional maverick plants and affiliates Occasional church fight results in a splitOccasional church fight results in a split

What was needed was a strategic planWhat was needed was a strategic plan

Strategic PlantingStrategic Planting

Three kinds: clone, state-forced, partnershipThree kinds: clone, state-forced, partnership Clone – not adaptable to new contexts and Clone – not adaptable to new contexts and

takes members from existing churchestakes members from existing churches State-forced – Sometimes breeds resentment in State-forced – Sometimes breeds resentment in

local churcheslocal churches Partnership – keeps ownership in the hands of Partnership – keeps ownership in the hands of

the local church by making them partners in the the local church by making them partners in the process [J.K.’s preference]process [J.K.’s preference]

Doing it right – Forming Doing it right – Forming PartnershipsPartnerships

Dr Minton identified three critical issues Dr Minton identified three critical issues that would make or break an associational that would make or break an associational approachapproach Outside pressure – form a partnership with at Outside pressure – form a partnership with at

least three local churches, so they have a least three local churches, so they have a majority and can resist outside pressuremajority and can resist outside pressure

Project control – partnership shares controlProject control – partnership shares control Planter accountability – Begins with selection Planter accountability – Begins with selection

of a trustworthy, capable planter, then works of a trustworthy, capable planter, then works through a covenanted relationship w/ teamthrough a covenanted relationship w/ team

The ResultsThe Results

2001 – first Strategic Planning Team – plant 2001 – first Strategic Planning Team – plant failed due to poor planter selectionfailed due to poor planter selection

2002 – Everyday Fellowship – Corey Webb – 2002 – Everyday Fellowship – Corey Webb – good assessment – successful plantgood assessment – successful plant

2003 – 2006 – four churches per year2003 – 2006 – four churches per year Now 18 total, 2 failed, 7 self-supporting, 1 not-Now 18 total, 2 failed, 7 self-supporting, 1 not-

supported, rest in phase-downsupported, rest in phase-down 60% of churches help sponsor, number 60% of churches help sponsor, number

continues to growcontinues to grow All plants become partners in new projectsAll plants become partners in new projects

Particulars of J.K.’s PlanParticulars of J.K.’s Plan

Uses a 2-yr phase down, helps them Uses a 2-yr phase down, helps them prepare to go bi-vo if they aren’t going to prepare to go bi-vo if they aren’t going to reach self-support in the two yearsreach self-support in the two years

Right now there are 7 churches Right now there are 7 churches somewhere in the process with four more somewhere in the process with four more scheduled for 2007scheduled for 2007

This is a funded process, so growth is This is a funded process, so growth is limited by state and assoc. funding ability limited by state and assoc. funding ability – this is a limiting factor– this is a limiting factor

ReproducingReproducing

I sponsored a seminar in 2004 for ADOMsI sponsored a seminar in 2004 for ADOMs Jim Gaitliff attended and picked up on Jim Gaitliff attended and picked up on

J.K.’s processJ.K.’s process He customized it for his setting, then He customized it for his setting, then

systematized it as a program called systematized it as a program called PRIMEPRIME

Now he is training other associations in his Now he is training other associations in his systemsystem

Story 2: Kauf-Vann & Hunt AssocStory 2: Kauf-Vann & Hunt Assoc

Jim is a long-time Texas pastor who Jim is a long-time Texas pastor who became the associate ADOM for two became the associate ADOM for two associations in 2004.associations in 2004.

No strategy, he was hired to establish oneNo strategy, he was hired to establish one Attended J.K.’s trainingAttended J.K.’s training Formalized an approach around four Formalized an approach around four

milestonesmilestones

Jim’s milestonesJim’s milestones

Right Place – develop list of sites for plantsRight Place – develop list of sites for plants Windshield surveys, demographic studies, etcWindshield surveys, demographic studies, etc

Right Planter – Screened and matched to a Right Planter – Screened and matched to a sitesite Recruited from churches, college, seminaryRecruited from churches, college, seminary

Right Partners – local churches, assoc, Right Partners – local churches, assoc, state, NAMB, non-local partner churchstate, NAMB, non-local partner church

Right Plan – Planter develops detailed Right Plan – Planter develops detailed plan, and is trained to implement itplan, and is trained to implement it

ResultsResults

Hunt AssociationHunt Association 10 partner churches at start10 partner churches at start 17 missions funded17 missions funded Gone from 68 to 86 churches in 30 monthsGone from 68 to 86 churches in 30 months

Kauf-Vann AssociationKauf-Vann Association 7 partner churches to start, now 30 partners, 40% of 7 partner churches to start, now 30 partners, 40% of

total churches partner in plantingtotal churches partner in planting 20 missions funded20 missions funded Gone from 62 to 81 churches, 3 Hispanic cells, 4 Gone from 62 to 81 churches, 3 Hispanic cells, 4

multi-housing cellsmulti-housing cells

ReproductionReproduction

Jim is training several Texas associations Jim is training several Texas associations in his systemin his system

Oklahoma and Missouri state staffs have Oklahoma and Missouri state staffs have requested versions of PRIME for their requested versions of PRIME for their statesstates

Jim is training the Hudson Baptist Jim is training the Hudson Baptist Association in New York State in this Association in New York State in this process as I speakprocess as I speak

Session WrapupSession Wrapup

It is possible to move a stagnant It is possible to move a stagnant association toward remarkable growthassociation toward remarkable growth

There are a limited number of problems There are a limited number of problems that must be solved for successthat must be solved for success

These two leaders have hit on a These two leaders have hit on a systematic approach that points the way systematic approach that points the way forward for all of us.forward for all of us.

The next session will look in depth at that The next session will look in depth at that systematic approachsystematic approach

Session 2Session 2A Systematic Approach to Church A Systematic Approach to Church

MultiplicationMultiplication

Pre-requisitesPre-requisites

A leader willing to engage the problemA leader willing to engage the problem A compelling message to raise awareness A compelling message to raise awareness

and recruit a few pastors to the taskand recruit a few pastors to the task An association willing to let the staff try An association willing to let the staff try

and make a differenceand make a difference

Issues to addressIssues to address

The strategy can’t depend on pulling members The strategy can’t depend on pulling members out of existing churches, nor on a significant out of existing churches, nor on a significant increase in the average church’s givingincrease in the average church’s giving

No one entity can have unbridled control over a No one entity can have unbridled control over a church plant projectchurch plant project

The system must be able to resist outside The system must be able to resist outside pressure that would subvert the processpressure that would subvert the process

The planter must be able to implement his The planter must be able to implement his vision, but with accountability for results, vision, but with accountability for results, character, and theologycharacter, and theology

A Model SystemA Model System

A Process to develop a prioritized list of strategic A Process to develop a prioritized list of strategic church planting sites/people groupschurch planting sites/people groups

A process to develop a pool of qualified planters A process to develop a pool of qualified planters and match them to strategic sitesand match them to strategic sites

A process to form a Strategic Planning Team for A process to form a Strategic Planning Team for each project and initiate that projecteach project and initiate that project

A process to preserve and expand the resource A process to preserve and expand the resource base: partners, money, plantersbase: partners, money, planters

A process to reproduce the process in churches, A process to reproduce the process in churches, associations, and state conventionsassociations, and state conventions

Finding Sites and People GroupsFinding Sites and People Groups

Who? – make it a major part of someone’s job Who? – make it a major part of someone’s job description; Key: it must be constantly updated description; Key: it must be constantly updated and re-prioritized with input from the ADOMand re-prioritized with input from the ADOM

Sites and Groups are the warp and woof of Sites and Groups are the warp and woof of targeting plants, so you need both geo and targeting plants, so you need both geo and demo infodemo info

Matching projects with planters is a dynamic Matching projects with planters is a dynamic process that needs active advocacy by the process that needs active advocacy by the ADOM or strategistADOM or strategist

Finding PlantersFinding Planters

Seminary, College, Career sources all Seminary, College, Career sources all contributecontribute

Assess for general aptitude and characterAssess for general aptitude and character Match planter passion with particular Match planter passion with particular

projectsprojects This requires trained assessors and This requires trained assessors and

coachescoaches As the pool of assessors grows, assess As the pool of assessors grows, assess

toward specific contexts and modelstoward specific contexts and models

Forming the SPT – Who?Forming the SPT – Who?

State, association always inState, association always in Particular churches are askedParticular churches are asked

A church plantA church plant A never-sponsored-before churchA never-sponsored-before church A major funding churchA major funding church

The planter will lead the teamThe planter will lead the team

Forming the SPT – How?Forming the SPT – How?

The ADOM/strategist matches a project with a The ADOM/strategist matches a project with a planter and invites potential partners to meetplanter and invites potential partners to meet

The first meeting is to assess the planter and The first meeting is to assess the planter and agree to call.agree to call.

The second meeting, the planter presents his The second meeting, the planter presents his plan and it is reviewed, then a covenant is plan and it is reviewed, then a covenant is formed.formed. Partners commit funding, and forms the first quarter Partners commit funding, and forms the first quarter

budgetbudget Planter commits strategy and to be accountablePlanter commits strategy and to be accountable

Expanding the Resource BaseExpanding the Resource Base

The staff is always on the lookout for potential The staff is always on the lookout for potential planters, and partners with church planter planters, and partners with church planter training centerstraining centers

The staff invites new partners with each project. The staff invites new partners with each project. Minor partners often become major partners in a Minor partners often become major partners in a subsequent projectsubsequent project

Plants are required to escrow a percentage of Plants are required to escrow a percentage of receipts for sponsoring church planting – partner receipts for sponsoring church planting – partner the second yearthe second year

Partner outside assoc. for funding, while funding Partner outside assoc. for funding, while funding is growing internallyis growing internally

Session 3Session 3The Strategic Planning Team – The Strategic Planning Team –

Key to successKey to success

Principles for SuccessPrinciples for Success

1.1. Covenanted partnershipCovenanted partnership

2.2. Expanding the pool of sponsorsExpanding the pool of sponsors

3.3. Planter free to implement his strategyPlanter free to implement his strategy

4.4. Partners fund a quarterly budget based Partners fund a quarterly budget based on demonstrated needon demonstrated need

5.5. Partners help assess planterPartners help assess planter

6.6. Planter needs a veteran planter coachPlanter needs a veteran planter coach

The CovenantThe Covenant

Partners commit for the duration of the projectPartners commit for the duration of the project Meeting quarterly to review resultsMeeting quarterly to review results Monthly giving to church plantMonthly giving to church plant

The planter is guaranteed the right to implement The planter is guaranteed the right to implement his strategyhis strategy

The planter commits to be accountable to team The planter commits to be accountable to team for results, finances, characterfor results, finances, character

State and Assoc. partners adjust their money State and Assoc. partners adjust their money quarterly as planter’s budget requiresquarterly as planter’s budget requires

Signed, everyone gets a copySigned, everyone gets a copy

Initiating the SPTInitiating the SPT

ADOM or staff asks churches to consider ADOM or staff asks churches to consider being a partner. Commitment adjusted to being a partner. Commitment adjusted to fit the church.fit the church.

Minton has SPT assess planter, Gaitliff Minton has SPT assess planter, Gaitliff has team of assessors do it.has team of assessors do it.

SPT gathers to review strategic plan of SPT gathers to review strategic plan of planter, commit funds, and to sign a planter, commit funds, and to sign a covenant.covenant.

Quarterly MeetingsQuarterly Meetings

Budget is funded quarter by quarterBudget is funded quarter by quarter Planter is in charge of the meetingPlanter is in charge of the meeting

Reviews results of ministry initiativesReviews results of ministry initiatives Reviews financesReviews finances Reviews plan for next quarter and the money Reviews plan for next quarter and the money

it will take to do itit will take to do it Project growth in people & finances to stay on Project growth in people & finances to stay on

tract for self-supporttract for self-support State and Assoc. leaders commit fundingState and Assoc. leaders commit funding

Between MeetingsBetween Meetings

ADOM or strategist is contact personADOM or strategist is contact person Planter cultivates relationship with Planter cultivates relationship with

partners – increases buy-in of partner partners – increases buy-in of partner congregations to this project and planting congregations to this project and planting in generalin general

Planter spends to limits of his budget to Planter spends to limits of his budget to accomplish stated objectivesaccomplish stated objectives

Session 4Session 4From addition to multiplicationFrom addition to multiplication

Model and honor multiplicationModel and honor multiplication

Planters who will sponsor other plantsPlanters who will sponsor other plants Honor sponsors at annual meeting, etc, Honor sponsors at annual meeting, etc,

especially “grandparents”especially “grandparents” Honor dying churches who sponsor a Honor dying churches who sponsor a

church and then give it their resources church and then give it their resources once it is establishedonce it is established

Break Dependence on Money, Break Dependence on Money, Buildings, and Seminary trainingBuildings, and Seminary training

All of these are good in themselves, but All of these are good in themselves, but can’t be turned into a CPM.can’t be turned into a CPM.

Broaden planting to “new work” and Broaden planting to “new work” and include new units that are dependent on a include new units that are dependent on a mother church as well as independentmother church as well as independent

Establish a system to get leaders from the Establish a system to get leaders from the harvestharvest Recruiting – “calling out the called”Recruiting – “calling out the called” Training – OJT & lay Bible classesTraining – OJT & lay Bible classes

Use World Missions to Fuel Local Use World Missions to Fuel Local MissionsMissions

IMB short-term missions & journeymanIMB short-term missions & journeyman NAMB short-term & USC-2NAMB short-term & USC-2 Correspond with and host missionariesCorrespond with and host missionaries Take advantage of cross-cultural skills Take advantage of cross-cultural skills

brought back by journeymen and brought back by journeymen and missionariesmissionaries

Push the System into the Push the System into the Local ChurchLocal Church

See ArticleSee Article

You have been given stewardshipYou have been given stewardship

Of a region of this earthOf a region of this earth Over all the people groups who dwell in itOver all the people groups who dwell in it To establish the Kindgom To establish the Kindgom Working through local churchesWorking through local churches Until He returnsUntil He returns