PRACTICAL APPROACH TO CHURCH PLANTING: Why Denominations Must Plant New Churches

In today’s world, the Body of Christ continues to expand through various Christian denominations. This topic is highly relevant to every church movement and spiritual leader committed to fulfilling the Great Commission. It is important to understand that most independent churches that are faithfully run in obedience to the Great Commission will, with time, grow into full denominations.

WHAT IS A DENOMINATION?

A church becomes a denomination when it grows to the level where it oversees many other churches (often called daughter churches or branches) and has a rich history of spiritual leadership, doctrinal structure, and ministry development.

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, a denomination is “a branch of the Christian Church.”

Examples of Denominations in Nigeria include:

Christ Apostolic Church (C.A.C)
Anglican Church of Nigeria
Roman Catholic Church
Deeper Life Bible Church
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (R.C.C.G)
Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (M.F.M)
Living Faith Church (Winners Chapel)
Assemblies of God Church
The Redeemed Evangelical Mission (TREM)

All these churches began as God-given visions to individuals who obeyed the Lord, and today they have grown to have branches and satellite churches across the globe.

A. WHY DENOMINATIONS MUST PLANT NEW CHURCHES

It Is the Divine Mandate –
According to Matthew 28:19–20 and Acts 1:8, every denomination is called to pursue the Great Commission: preach the gospel, make disciples, and plant churches. Church planting is not optional—it is God’s ordained strategy for kingdom expansion.
It Ensures the Continuity and Survival of the Church –
Just as human reproduction sustains generations, church planting keeps a denomination alive. Some churches will close down due to persecution, relocation, or decline. For instance, many church branches in Northern Nigeria have been destroyed by insurgents. The only way to survive such attacks is by planting more churches.
To Reach Every Culture –
There are thousands of cultures in the world, and cultural barriers can hinder the gospel. By planting churches in diverse communities and allowing people to hear the gospel in their own language and context, denominations can effectively spread the gospel.
To Save Souls Trapped in Sin and Darkness –
The world’s population exceeds 6 billion, and only about half profess Christ. Planting churches across cities, nations, and continents enables denominations to reach multitudes still in bondage to sin and Satan.
Because Denominations Have the Resources –
Denominational churches often have greater spiritual maturity, trained leaders, and financial resources. These should be used not to build personal empires but to fulfill the Great Commission through church planting.
To Destroy the Works of the Devil –
1 John 3:8 says, “The Son of God appeared to destroy the works of the devil.” Matthew 16:18 reminds us that “the gates of hell shall not prevail against the Church.” Denominational churches must plant new churches in every territory to drive out darkness.
To Bring the Church Closer to the People –
When churches are within reach of people, it becomes easier for them to attend and grow spiritually. Church planting brings the sanctuary to the streets, the gospel to the grassroots.
Because the Harvest Is Ripe – John 4:35
There are many unsaved souls and countless people in need of discipleship. Denominations must respond by planting more churches to gather this ripe harvest.

B. WRONG WAYS DENOMINATIONS HAVE PLANTED CHURCHES

Even though planting churches is crucial, many denominations have adopted wrong and unbiblical methods. Let’s examine some of these errors using the light of 1 Corinthians 3:10–15, which emphasizes careful and Christ-centered building.

Church Planting as a Mere Program, Not a Divine Purpose –
Some churches treat church planting like an event or annual agenda. This removes the spiritual significance and makes the work man-centered.
Planting with Wrong Motives –
When denominations plant churches to gain more fame, money, popularity, or political influence, they step out of God’s will. Church planting should be motivated by love for souls and obedience to Christ.
Sending Untrained Leaders –
Many churches plant branches without adequately training or equipping the pastors. This leads to immature leadership and unfruitful ministry.
Competing Instead of Complementing –
Denominations often compete with each other, planting churches close together out of rivalry rather than kingdom strategy. This leads to strife and confusion, not growth.
No Divine Direction –
Planting a church without first hearing from God leads to confusion and failure. The Lord must be the one to lead every church planting move.
Lack of Strategic Planning –
Some churches plant without considering zoning laws, community needs, or sustainability. This results in closures, demolitions, and stagnation.
No Spiritual Warfare –
Matthew 12:29 teaches us to bind the strongman before taking territory. Planting churches without spiritual warfare gives room for demonic influence in those regions.
No Ongoing Support –
Some denominations give financial support for only one year, then abandon new churches. Church plants need long-term encouragement, mentoring, and provision.
No Goal Setting –
Every new church needs spiritual, evangelistic, and financial goals to guide its growth and development.
Accepting Land or Property Without Spiritual Discernment –
Some churches accept land or buildings from donors without praying. This opens doors for demonic strongholds if the property has evil covenants.
Limiting to “One Church Per City” –
This concept restricts growth. Every city and town has many souls to reach, and many communities to serve. Church planting must multiply, not stagnate.

C. RIGHT WAYS DENOMINATIONS SHOULD PLANT CHURCHES

To succeed in fulfilling God’s mandate, denominations must follow biblical and Spirit-led principles for planting churches. Here’s how:

Be Purpose-Driven –
Every church plant must be rooted in God’s eternal purpose—reaching the lost and expanding the Kingdom.
Have Bible-Based Church Planting Policies –
Sound doctrinal guidelines will help keep new churches aligned with the truth and healthy in structure.
Build a Church Planting Prayer Team –
A dedicated team must intercede, seek God’s face, and receive direction about where and how to plant churches.
Conduct Community Research –
Study and understand the target community—its people, spiritual needs, and physical realities—to ensure that the church is relevant and impactful.
Train and Equip the Saints –
Denominations should run schools of ministry or discipleship programs to raise spiritually mature leaders for church planting.
Support, Don’t Supplant Struggling Churches –
Rather than overtaking weak churches, stronger denominations should assist them—financially, spiritually, and logistically.
Seek Kingdom Growth, Not Empire Building –
Plant churches to advance God’s Kingdom, not to make a name for the denomination or its leaders.
Allow Healthy Autonomy –
Don’t control every decision of the new church. Give them room to grow, lead, and respond to local needs while remaining accountable.
Encourage Local Governance –
Every church should be empowered to function with leadership that understands and connects with its community.
Contextualize the Gospel –
The church must preach Christ in a way that is understandable and relevant to the people’s culture, without compromising the truth.

May every denomination rise up with holy urgency and kingdom passion to plant vibrant, Spirit-filled churches that will disciple nations and prepare the Bride of Christ for His glorious return!