What kind of church do we want to plant? What kind of church does God call us to be? It is a reproducing church. This is God’s will for our churches, yet, oftentimes we have the problem of steadfastness and continuity. A church is planted. But there is no momentum, and it seems to take a completely separate action to plant another church. But God’s desire and goal is not that we give birth to a church. It is to give birth to a church that matures and gives birth to another church.
“If we plant churches that fail to mature and reproduce, it is like an Olympic relay race in which a runner fails to pass the baton to the next runner; the race is thereby stopped”. It should therefore be the goal of the church planters to inculcate the vision of reproducing another church in the heart of each new church.
1. MATURING CONVERTS (Matt. 28:20; Acts 2:42-47)
It is the responsibility of church planters that the converts in the churches grow into maturity. Church planting work becomes very interesting and exciting as the converts develop steadily towards full maturity. A church filled with only babes even after long years of establishment can cause a lot of discouragement. It hinders the growth and outreach possibilities of the individual and the church (Heb. 5: 11-14; 1 Cor. 3: 1-3).
Bringing the converts to maturity is the primary goal in our church planting business. To accomplish this, the following areas should be carefully looked into and re-emphasized more than ever:
- Need for sound salvation -In. 3:1-7.
- Importance of growth and development.
- Involvement in Christian fellowships – Acts 2:42-47.
- Water baptism classes.
- Bible study and personal prayer time.
- Training for service – 2 Tim. 2:1,2,15.
- Discipleship class.
Equipping the converts in a systematic pattern with the aim of preparing them for service and eventually getting them to do tangible work for the Lord will lead to maturity.
2. MATURING CHURCHES (Lk. 12:32; Acts 2:49; 20:28-31; 1 Pet. 5:1-5)
The plagued, non-growing or slow growing and dead churches is not God’s will. God wants the church to grow spiritually, numerically, financially and physically. God’s expectation is that all churches should grow both in quality and quantity. This is the sure evidence that Christ is in the midst of these churches. As churches are planted, adequate plans should be made that they become viable and self-sufficient in every area of church life. They should not only have spiritual life, but also spiritual ministry to the community. Active evangelism and continuity with the church planting vision is a sure mark of maturity.
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3. THE REPRODUCING CHURCH (Gen. 1:11-12,21-25)
It should be the goal of every church to give birth to another church. Our church could be a reproducing church if these principles are adhered to:
- Mission policy and statement on reproduction.
- Strong preaching on evangelism,
- Effectively communicating the goal and vision of church planting to members.
- Development of a spirit and passion for the lost.
- Effective leadership training on missions.
- Budgeting for outreach and church planting.
- Resolving to be reproduction rather than maintenance oriented.
- Strong emphasis on stewardship and fruitfulness.
- Insight into the challenges of our time.
When all these are iterated and reiterated, multitudes will be brought to God’s kingdom and prepared to meet the Lord as the churches spring up in all communities. The time is short and all forms of distractions should be avoided. All the problem and factors that have led to inconsistencies in the past should not be tolerated. We should labour on in reproduction until He comes.