Being Part of a Church Planting Network

ACTS Church Planting Support System: Empowering new church planters with resources and guidance to overcome challenges and achieve sustainable community growth.

Planting churches is a complex and deeply rewarding endeavor. It involves more than establishing a building; it is about forming a thriving, mission-driven Kingdom community. Unfortunately, some church plants fail to achieve this vision. While some thrive and multiply, others grow slowly, plateau, or fail altogether (Ball, 2018).

New church planters often face challenges such as leadership development, emotional struggles, and difficulty reaching and growing their target communities. These challenges highlight the importance of engaging in a church planting network, such as the ACTS movement, which provides support, guidance, and resources for sustainable church growth (Ogne & Roehl, 2008; Ferguson, 2018).

1. Common Challenges in Church Planting

1.1 Leadership Issues

Leadership scarcity is a recurring problem in church planting. Many potential leaders lack the expansion mindset needed to pioneer new initiatives, and those who can mentor others often hesitate to invest the time due to short-term assignments or other priorities (Steffen, 1993). This often leads to prematurely assigning leadership roles to unprepared individuals, resulting in organizational stress and ineffective ministry (Ball, 2018).

1.2 Emotional Struggles

The emotional well-being of a church planter often fluctuates with perceptions of success or failure. Attendance numbers and financial contributions can weigh heavily on a planter’s sense of achievement. To navigate these challenges:

1. Focus on Faithfulness: “It is required in stewards that a man be found faithful” (1 Corinthians 4:2, KJV). The goal is not human accolades but divine approval.

2. Value the Present: Minister passionately to the people entrusted to you, regardless of their number (Frost, 2013).

3. Anchor in God’s Love: The joy of ministry should stem from God’s overwhelming love, not from fluctuating circumstances (Romans 5:5; Scazzero, 2006).

   
   

1.3 Challenges in Community Engagement

Church planters are outward-focused by nature, but tension arises when attempts to attract people conflict with the integrity of Adventist identity. It is critical to maintain biblical principles while employing innovative methods for community engagement (Hirsch, 2006; Keller, 2012). Faithfulness to Scripture must not be compromised for marginal success that could later generate deeper crises.

2. Why Join a Church Planting Network?

Engaging in a network like ACTS provides critical advantages, including:

• Strategic Vision: Offers a biblically grounded, Adventist-centered approach to planning, mobilization, and training (Steffen, 1993).

• Contextualized Strategies: Facilitates culturally and demographically appropriate church planting methods (Ferguson, 2018).

• Best Practices: Implements proven strategies for sustainable, reproducible churches (Senesi, 2016).

• Inspirational Partnerships: Encourages collaboration among planters with shared goals and values (Ogne & Roehl, 2008).

• Relational Support: Reduces isolation by connecting planters with mentors and peers for emotional and spiritual encouragement (Webb, 2012).

3. The ACTS Framework

The ACTS network employs a structured framework for church planting, summarized as:

• A - Assessment: Evaluates the planter’s character, calling, and behavioral style to ensure alignment with the mission (Ball, 2018).

• C - Coaching: Assigns an experienced mentor to support the planter through challenges, providing guidance, accountability, and spiritual encouragement (Senesi, 2016).

• T - Training: Equips leaders with tools for discipleship, mission, and leadership development, emphasizing Adventist DNA (Steffen, 1993).

• S - Sending Support: Creates a sending culture where churches prioritize reproduction and multiplication in their ministry (Ferguson, 2018).

4. Overcoming Common Pitfalls

Participation in a church planting network can help avoid common pitfalls, including:

1. Skipping Assessment: Lack of proper evaluation often results in unprepared planters being overwhelmed (Ogne & Roehl, 2008).

2. Inadequate Training: Effective training addresses the hundreds of tasks involved in pre-launch planning (Webb, 2012).

3. Launching Too Soon: Networks emphasize a gestation period of 7–12 months to ensure readiness (Steffen, 1993).

4. Lack of a Core Team: A strong core team shares responsibilities and fosters stability, reducing dependence on a single leader (Frost, 2013).

5. Over-Reliance on External Funding: Networks encourage financial independence to ensure long-term sustainability (Ball, 2018).

6. Neglecting Strategic Planning: Effective planning transitions the church from formation to organization, avoiding stagnation or decline (Keller, 2012).

5. The Role of Coaching

Coaching is a cornerstone of the ACTS network. A coach serves as a mentor, providing guidance, asking probing questions, and offering emotional support. Research highlights that church planters with coaching are significantly more likely to succeed (Ogne & Roehl, 2008; Webb, 2012).

Coaching in the ACTS framework includes:

• Training planters to align with God’s purpose.

• Helping planters balance ministry demands with personal well-being.

• Identifying blind spots and fostering growth through accountability (Scazzero, 2006).

6. Creating a Culture of Multiplication

ACTS promotes a multiplication culture where churches are planted with a vision for reproducing disciples, leaders, and new churches. This aligns with Adventism’s prophetic identity, emphasizing movement over maintenance (Hirsch, 2006; Steffen, 1993).

Conclusion

Church planting is a rewarding but challenging endeavor. Engaging in a church planting network like ACTS equips planters with the resources, mentorship, and collaborative support needed to establish thriving, mission-focused churches. By connecting with like-minded leaders, planters can avoid common pitfalls, sustain their vision, and expand the Kingdom of God.

Rather than planting alone, planters are encouraged to join networks that foster collaboration and shared wisdom. As the adage goes: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together” (Ferguson, 2018, p. 255).

References

1. Ball, Ed. Ten Deadly Church Planting Mistakes. Houston: New Church Movement Press, 2018.

2. Ferguson, Dave. Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2018.

3. Frost, Michael. The Shaping of Things to Come: Innovation and Mission for the 21st-Century Church. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2013.

4. Hirsch, Alan. The Forgotten Ways: Reactivating Apostolic Movements. Grand Rapids: Brazos Press, 2006.

5. Keller, Timothy. Center Church: Doing Balanced, Gospel-Centered Ministry in Your City. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2012.

6. Ogne, Steve; Roehl, Tim. TransforMissional Coaching: Empowering Leaders in a Changing Ministry World. Nashville, TN: B&H Books, 2008.

7. Scazzero, Peter. Emotionally Healthy Spirituality: Unleash a Revolution in Your Life in Christ. Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006.

8. Senesi, Dino. Principles & Practices of Church Planter Coaching. Alpharetta: North American Mission Board, 2016.

9. Steffen, Tom. Passing the Baton: Church Planting That Empowers. La Habra: Center for Organizational & Ministry Development, 1993.

10. Webb, Keith E. The COACH Model for Christian Leaders. Bellevue: Active Results, 2012.