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Relational Model Of Church Planting

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If writing about churches starting churches were a chemistry experiment, “relational models” of church planting would be the catalyst that causes the experiment to boil over.

Relational models focus on sending Christians into their communities to gather and disciple people who are not involved in churches. If enough people are gathered, new congregations may form. While the general idea may sound intriguing, the specific models inspire frustration and fear for numerous leaders of established churches.

Pastors who are frustrated their churches, where the Gospel is preached and fellowship shared each week, are somehow not considered “missional communities.”

Church leaders who see “house churches” as gatherings of disenchanted church members …show more content…

Month after month, a trickle of guests or visitors sputters through the doors. So church leaders ask themselves: If an established church with a staff and facility and members can’t attract new members, how could a new church possibly survive?

So churches are reversing the time worn process for starting churches. Instead of opening a storefront and waiting for people to show up, congregational members are sent out to become guests and visitors in their own communities. Where relationships are started, missional communities or house churches are formed. And possibly the foundation for a new congregation.

“I’m not a Republican, I’m a conservative.”
The above line from a radio advertisement is the political equivalent to “I love Jesus, but not the church.” Such statements are aimed at Generation Xers and Millennials, generations that have largely abandoned all institutional loyalty. Gen Xers and Millennials are much more interested in creating community than constructing …show more content…

While Baby Boomers trusted institutions less than the previous generation, Boomers still were raised in a culture of institutions. Get Hers were not.

Get X senior pastors are not very interested in church planting strategy. They are very interested in organic groups and networks of relationships. So relational models are often as close as they will get to intentionally starting new churches.

$100,000 Question
For years I’ve asked church planters variations of the same question: If you were starting a new church today, would you rather have a $100,000 donation or 10 committed leaders? The answer is overwhelmingly the leaders.

So the challenge for churches is how to pull together seven to 10 leaders with a shared passion for connecting people to Jesus in the same community. Once again the relational models for starting new churches meet the need.

Do the Math
Research shows new churches are much more likely to survive if they are self-supporting within three years of forming. One key to self-sustainability is regularly gathering 150 in

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