The Rationale for
Church-Planting
______________________________________________________________________
The
Scene
In a District with 15 million people there could be as many as 12 million
people who don’t know Jesus Christ as Savior.
We
must reach every people group that is represented in our District.
We
must become a multiplication movement in order to reach our District.
We
must reach our inner cities with church plants and projects
We
must become a healthy district with a primary emphasis on church planting.
America
is the world’s 5th largest mission field.
America
is the world’s 3rd largest Hispanic speaking mission field.
America
has several lays of generations, ethnic groups, cultural and social groups all
existing at the same time that must be understood and must be indigenously
reached.
Planting
Churches is one of the 10 Leading Indicators of Church-Health.
1.
It’s a Biblical Mandate. Matthew 16:18;
Matthew
28:18-20; Acts 1:8; Matthew 25:14-30
2.
It’s a
natural result of doing the work of Christ.
Acts1:15
120 People
Acts 2:41
3000 People
Acts 4:4
5,000 Men
Acts 5:14
More and more believed
Acts 9:10
Expansion of Christianity to the Gentiles
Acts 16:5
The churches were strengthened
3.
It’s a sign of obedience. John 14:12;
John 20:21
4.
Churches are plateaued or declining:
80% of US Churches are plateaued or declining
5.
We close 3 churches for every 1 that is opened in the U.S.
6.
The number of unchurched people are growing.
There are an estimated 55-65% of the population not
attending church. The unchurched
population in the US is so large that if it were a nation it would be the 5th
largest in the world at about 200 million people.
7.
New churches evangelize better than established
churches.
Churches less than 3 years old win 10 people to Christ for every 100
members. After 15 years of age for a
church they win an average of only 3 people to Christ for every 100 members.
