Where are the resources to start churches?

Church Planting: Mark Jackson
Monday, September 1, 2008

Last month, I wrote about the importance of church planting as a long term goal for our association and indicated that our effectiveness and possibly survival may depend on this activity. However, we live in a climate where resources are in short supply. Many families and our churches sometimes struggle to just pay the bills. Is there a "right" time to start new churches? I am persuaded that just as a young couple has difficulty in finding a "right" time to start having children, there is seldom an opportune time to start churches. So, how can we overcome these challenges and start churches?

First, we can work together as partners in our association. Isn't this what Southern Baptist life is all about? Churches partnering together to accomplish greater tasks than could be achieved alone? If five to ten of our churches have partnered together to start a church every year, we would have healthy growth and possibly be a larger association today. If all of our churches would band together in this way, we could start five to ten churches every year.

Secondly, we do partner with the North American Mission Board and the Kansas-Nebraska Convention of Southern Baptists. Each year we utilize funds that subsidize church planter salaries and support the work of new churches and we also take advantage of the expertise of these organizations.

Finally, we can (and are) forming partnerships with other Southern Baptist churches and associations from outside our area.

Perhaps your church or group would consider becoming a partner in growing God's Kingdom in our area. I have a lot of opportunities, so give me a call.