New
Church Starts
CBF of Missouri works in partnership with the Fellowship's Resource Center and
the CBF New Church Starts ministry initiative. Bo
Prosser, coordinator
for Congregational Life, provides leadership
on behalf of the CBF Resource Center. Kevin Ritter, pastor of FBC- Hamilton,
chairs the CBFMO Church Starts Task Group. CBF of Missouri coordinators
Harold Phillips and Jeff Langford take active interest in church start
topics.
New Church Starts are a vital force for the
continued growth and maturity of the Fellowship.
The thoughts below will outline some of the strategic questions to
help form missional thinking as you contemplate a new start in your area.
WHAT WILL YOU NEED?
- Passions that mesh with the
core values of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Do you know the
CBF culture and are you committed to this culture?
- A core group of 8-15 persons. Jesus had
12 but that's not a magic number. Members of this core group form the
leadership team for your new start.
They need an attitude of understanding that nothing, no work,
is beneath them
- A designated leader.
This may not necessarily be the one who is the planter/proclaimer/teacher
for the new start. This
may be the leader of the core group who will work with the planter/proclaimer/teacher.
- A "call" to start a church.
That sense of call will sustain you through the rough times and
encourage you in easier times. A
New Church Start is not easy and will require spiritual strength.
- Material Support for the Planter/Proclaimer/Teacher.
Typically, the planter/proclaimer/teacher
has multiple sources of income. They
are usually employed beyond the church start.
The members of the core group, the spouse of the planter and
the sponsoring church may be other sources of support.
Leading a new church start will usually require a bi-vocational
approach for two to three years. CBF
does not provide funding for salary support of the planter/proclaimer/teacher.
CBF National will want to make sure of the
following:
- Do you have a core group of 8-15?
- Will a local church support you and will
the local congregation mentor the new start?
- Does CBF of Missouri support your start?
- What ways can CBF help you in your work?
CBF of Missouri will ask:
- Can we help you identify a core group?
- Can we help you find a local church
partner?
- What else do you need from us?
CBF National will also help with:
- A Demographic study to help you get a
deeper understanding of the area around the new start.
- A focus group experience to translate
needs of the community to the new church leadership
- Help with legal infrastructure (by-laws,
etc)
- Resources to assist in the spiritual
formation of the new congregation
CBF of Missouri will seek to provide:
- A customized website for your church
start
- Help with legal infrastructure (by-laws,
etc)
- Scholarship to CBF national assembly for
up to three years
- Scholarship to CBFMO assembly for up to
three years.
- A Peer Learning Group for church
planters and inquirers
Perhaps
you have God-given gifts and talents that equip you for the privilege
of starting a new church. For conversation starters, please contact Bo
Prosser or Kevin
Ritter, CBFMO New Church Starts Task Group leader.
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