Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Chicago, March 12-17, 2014

Church Planter
Training Intensive
March 12-17
2014
Chicago IL

Overview of Week
Schedule & Topics
Wed Night: Dinner, Intros, & Orientation, then a fun & full week ahead!
THU FRI SAT SUN MON
S T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A MS T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A MS T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A MS T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A MS T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A M
Value: “Devotional” Value: “Biblical” Value: “Missional” Value: “Connectional” Value: All of Them!
Why Are We Here?:
What Do You Hope to
Learn this Week & Our
Learning Objectives
“Normal & Natural
Pathways” for 5 vital
church functions
Four-Stage Launch
Overview: your first
twelve months of
church planting
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Pastor David Swanson
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
We’ll hang out with the
church planting pastor
and key leaders for a
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
Check OutWhy Are We Here?:
What Do You Hope to
Learn this Week & Our
Learning Objectives
“Normal & Natural
Pathways” for 5 vital
church functions
Four-Stage Launch
twelve months of
church planting
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
Special Outing:
Chapel Service at
North Park SeminaryPrayer & Spiritual
Warfare
Discipleship: making
disciples that are
maturing in Christ
Four-Stage Launch
twelve months of
church planting
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
Special Outing:
Chapel Service at
North Park Seminary
M I D - M O R N I N G B R E A KM I D - M O R N I N G B R E A KM I D - M O R N I N G B R E A K
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
B R E A K
Discovering Your
Identity, Creating
Culture
Evangelism: leading
people one step closer
to Jesus
Stage 1: Launch Team
Development
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
Church Multiplication
& CommissioningDiscovering Your
Identity, Creating
Culture
Evangelism: leading
people one step closer
to Jesus Stage 2: Monthly
Preview Worship
Church Plant Visit:
New Community
Covenant Church,
Followed By...
Church Lunch + Q&A:
time of fellowship,
sharing, and Q&A
Wrap-Up & Send-Off
L U N C HL U N C HL U N C HL U N C HL U N C H
Structuring &
Communicating Your
Church Culture
Stewardship: instilling
a culture of generosity,
sacrifice, & faithfulness
Stage 3: Weekly
Pre-Launch Worship/
Soft Launch
Journaling, Reflection,
and Lab Time
Rides to Airport
Structuring &
Communicating Your
Church Culture
Stewardship: instilling
a culture of generosity,
sacrifice, & faithfulness
Stage 4: “Grand
Opening”/Hard Launch
Journaling, Reflection,
and Lab Time
Rides to Airport
Structuring &
Communicating Your
Church Culture
Fundraising: Enlisting
patrons & supporters to
advance the mission
Stage 4: “Grand
Opening”/Hard Launch
Time and Task
Management
Travel safe, thanks for
being together this
week :)
We’re praying for you,
your people, and the
vibrant church God has
called you to plant!
Structuring &
Communicating Your
Church Culture
Fundraising: Enlisting
patrons & supporters to
advance the mission
Launching Large,
Launching Healthy
Time and Task
Management
being together this
week :)
A F T E R N O O N B R E A KA F T E R N O O N B R E A KA F T E R N O O N B R E A KA F T E R N O O N B R E A K
being together this
week :)
Understanding Your
Missional Context
Leadership: reproduce
leaders that effectively
lead, serve, & multiply
Panel Discussions
and Q&A Time
Personal Care &
Development
being together this
week :)
Individual & Group
Lab Time Lab Time & Journaling Lab Time
Panel Discussions
and Q&A Time
being together this
week :)
D I N N E RD I N N E RD I N N E RD I N N E R
being together this
week :)
Concert of Prayer &
Worship Service
Surprise Outing! Free Evening Free Evening
being together this
week :)
THU FRI SAT SUN MON
CHURCH PLANTER TRAINING INTENSIVE! ! MARCH 12-17, 2014 • CHICAGO
PAGE 1! ! SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS
• Start and Stop on Time
• Minimize Electronic Distractions
• Fully Participate - Work Hard, Play Hard!

Getting Around
Key Locations [ goo.gl/6CdCk4 ]
PAGE 2! ! SCHEDULE & LOCATIONS
Chicago O’Hare
10000 W. O'Hare Ave
Chicago, IL 60666
www.ﬂychicago.com
Hyatt Regency
O’Hare Hotel
9300 Bryn Mawr Ave
Rosemont, IL 60018
Covenant Ofﬁces
8303 W. Higgins Rd
Chicago, IL 60631
covchurch.org
New Community Cov.
4434 S. Lake Park
Chicago, IL 60653
thenewcom.com/bronzeville

Wednesday Night
Intros & Orientation
Getting to Know Your Covenant Church Planting Family
DCPs (Newest to Most “Seasoned”)
1. Alex Rahill, Great Lakes PT, CP
2. Dave Olson, At-Large PT
3. David Swanson, Central PT, CP
4. Ed Arroyo, Southeast PT, CP
5. Paul Cunningham, Midsouth PT, CP
6. Glenn Peterson, Canada PT, CP
7. Brian Johnson, Midwest PT, CP
8. Jason Condon, East Coast FT
9. Kurt Carlson, North Pacific FT
10. Mike Brown, Northwest FT
11. Wayne Carlson, Pacific Southwest FT
12. Garth Bolinder, Midsouth PT, SU
Dept. of Church Growth & Evangelism
www.covchurch.org/who-we-are/departments/
church-growth-evangelism
• John Teter, Church Planting Team Leader,
Devotes part of his time to this national
role while remaining on the front-lines as
the Church Planter & Lead Pastor of
Fountain of Life Covenant Church -
www.folcov.org
• “Through starting new congregations,
providing resources to strengthen existing
congregations, and developing resources
for evangelism, the Department of Church
Growth and Evangelism seeks to reach
more people with the hope of Christ right
here in the United States and Canada.”
Additional Presenters & Facilitators:
• Andrew Mook, East Coast CP
Sanctuary Church, Providence RI
sanctuaryri.org
• Jill Riley, North Pacific CP
Navigate Church, Billings MT
www.navigatechurch.com
• Micah Witham, Northwest CP
Awaken Community, St. Paul MN
www.awakencommunity.com
PAGE 3! ! WEDNESDAY (OPENING NIGHT)
11 Conferences Comprise the Larger Missional
Regions of the Evangelical Covenant Church
KEY: PT=Part-time as DCP, FT=Full-time, AS=Assoc. Superintendent,
SU=Superintendent, CO=Choach, CP=Church Planter, PS=Pastor/Staff

Our Values: The “Four ALs”
Two historic questions early Covenanters asked one another:
• Biblical: “Where is it written?”
• Devotional: “How goes your walk?”
As they formed in the US, they chose the name “Mission Friends”:
• Missional: “Are we pursuing Christ’s purposes?”
• Connectional: “Are we together in Christian community?”
Our Beliefs: Covenant Affirmations
www.covchurch.org/who-we-are/beliefs/affirmations
1. We affirm the centrality of the word of God
2. We affirm the necessity of the new birth
3. We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church
4. We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers
5. We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit
6. We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ
Our Mission: What We Do as the Covenant
www.covchurch.org/what-we-do • video: Covenant Mission & Ministry 2013 [vimeo.com/50717463]
Five Strategic Priorities
1. Make and Deepen Disciples
2. Start and Strengthen Churches
3. Develop Leaders
4. Love Mercy, Do Justice
5. Serve Globally
Table Discussion
• Which of these “family characteristics” resonates most with you?
• Why is it important to be connected with a larger family of faith?
• What are the challenges of not just being “independent”?
Staying Connected
• Take advantage of the many opportunities for connection, encouragement, and development!
• Examples: Fall Pastors Retreat, Midwinter, Conference Annual Meeting, Covenant Annual
Meeting, Cohort meetings (in some Conferences), Exponential Conference, and more
• Your conference should have an events calendar you can visit (and, even better, possibly subscribe to)
PAGE 4! ! WEDNESDAY (OPENING NIGHT)

Thursday 9:00 AM
Morning Devotions
Scripture:
Notes:
Review of Previous Night
•
•
•
•
HIGHLIGHTED COVENANT VALUE:
“DEVOTIONAL”
“Then he should remember that this is holy
business. No careless or casual dealings
will sufﬁce. Let him come to God fully
determined to be heard. Let him insist
that God accept his all, that He take
things out of his heart and Himself reign
there in power… If he will become drastic
enough, he can shorten the time of travail
from years to minutes and enter the good
land long before his slower brethren who
coddle their feelings and insist upon
caution in their dealings with God”
~ A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God
“Now, with God's help, I shall become myself.”
~ Søren Kierkegaard
“The glory of God is a human fully alive”
~ Irenaeus of Lyons, c. 200 AD
PAGE 5! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 9:20 AM
Why Are We Here?
What Do You Hope to Learn this Week?
•
•
•
•
•
Our Shared Learning Objectives
By the end of training, planters will understand and be able to implement:
• Four-Stage Launch Process: what it is, why it matters, how to follow and adapt for increasing
momentum in planting a healthy, missional, thriving, reproducing Covenant church
• Planning Calendar: develop a strategic timeline and detailed planning calendar for the first year
that includes the four stages, special events, and key milestones
• Normal & Natural Pathways: in this new church, what the normal & natural pathways are to…
• Make Disciples that are maturing in Christ
• Evangelize People so they come to a transforming faith in Jesus
• Reproduce Leaders that effectively lead, serve, and multiply
• Instill a Stewardship Culture of generosity, sacrifice, and faithfulness
• Multiply Churches that are healthy, missional, and also reproduce
• Self-Care Plan: Develop a perspective and plan for self-care and a healthy family life
• Others:
•
•
•
•
•
PAGE 6! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 9:45 AM
Prayer &
Spiritual Warfare
Small Groups
• Groups of Three: Share a story of how you have
engaged spiritual warfare
Corporate Prayer
• Practice corporate prayer in groups of 6 using ACTS
Intercession
• Coach: testimony about how intercession is important
and works
• write down names of your prayer team and sort into
two lists: “intercessors” and “general”
• How will you recruit and stay in contact with them?
BREAK | 10:30 AM ~ 30 Min
“More things are wrought by
prayer than this world dreams of.”
~ Lord Alfred Tennyson
“I gird myself today
with the power of God:
God’s strength to comfort me,
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to lead me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s angels to save me
From the snares of the devil,
From the temptations to sin,
From all who wish me ill,
Both far and near,
Alone and with others.
May Christ guard me today…
I arise today
Through the power of the Trinity,
Through the faith in the threeness,
Through trust in the oneness,
Of the Maker of earth,
And the Maker of heaven.”
~ from St. Patrick’s Breastplate
PAGE 7! ! THURSDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 8! ! THURSDAY

Sample Prayer Covenant
Mike Brown, Northwest Conference DCP
The [Church Name] Covenant Church Prayer Covenant
We will pray for the [Church Name] Covenant church planting team regularly,
remembering their need for:
• God’s protection from the evil one. John 17:15 - “I do not pray that you should take them out
of the world, but that you should guard them from the evil one.”
• God’s direction through His Word. John 17:17-18 - “Make them pure and holy by teaching
them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
• God’s provision for all their needs. Philippians 4:19 - “And my God shall supply all your need
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• Open doors to share Christ. Revelation 3:7 - “He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he
shuts doors, and no one can open them.”
• Unity and love for each other. Ephesians 4:1-3 - “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called,2 with all lowliness and gentleness, with
longsuffering, bearing with one another in love,3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the
bond of peace.”
We will pray for the people in the {City, Town, Neighborhood] area so that they:
• Would be released from Satan to follow Jesus as Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, the god of
this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the
glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them.”
• Would give favor to and receive the ______________ Team members. Acts 2:47 “Praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were
being saved.”
Prayerfully signed,
_________________________________________________
[Church Name] Covenant Church Prayer Partner
*************
Thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer. People follow Jesus Christ as a direct result
of faithful believers talking to God on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Praying the truth of the Bible is
our most effective weapon against evil in this world (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Please remember us
continually because we know that we will face spiritual warfare. Our prayer partners are the Most
Valuable Players on our team.
PAGE 9! ! THURSDAY

Developing a Prayer Warrior Network
Article by John M. Bailey
Church Planting Group
North American Mission Board
Intro
Recently, while reading the first chapters of the book of Acts, I noticed something rather strange. First, I
noted that the disciples, while waiting in the upper room, prayed. And prayed. And prayed. In fact, it
seems they prayed for days. I noted that Peter preached a very short sermon to the residents of
Jerusalem... maybe 15 minutes at best. The result? Three thousand were saved. As I reflected on my own
ministry, I noted that I tend to preach a long time, pray little, and see just a few saved. Sound familiar?
Through prayer, God greatly multiplies our efforts. As a church planter, there is no greater need than the
establishment and communication with a prayer support team.
Who?
This may not be as easy as you think. Your prayer warriors will need to know specific prayer requests.
Some of those requests may be about specific people in your ministry or on your leadership team. I
suggest strongly that you enlist individuals to serve on your team who know you personally but who do
not live in your area of service. This gives you the freedom to speak openly and honestly without fear of
your requests becoming local gossip.
I would suggest that you recruit as many people as possible to serve on your team. Start with a minimum
of 50 and grow from there. I would also include your sponsoring and partnering churches.
As you have opportunities to share your vision for your plant, it is crucial that you carry with you a way
to enlist prayer warriors. Even a legal tablet will work as long as you use it. Never stop enlisting prayer
warriors!
It might not hurt; however, to establish a local prayer network which includes your church members and
local pastors. Naturally, you would not include sensitive subjects, but I believe that the creation of this
second team will benefit both your plant and those praying for you. It reinforces the importance of
prayer and allows them to participate in your ministry.
PAGE 10! ! THURSDAY

What?
I am a big believer in being very specific with your prayer requests. Asking the Lord to bless the
missionaries is wonderful, but blessings come in a variety of forms! Be specific with your requests. I
would also make sure that I stay balanced in my requests. Your prayer requests might include the
following:
1. Specific requests for you and your family. Be honest about your struggles and needs
2. Prayer for your vision and values. Include updates and be honest about your struggles
3. Prayer for your leadership and financial needs. Be specific
4. Prayer for upcoming events and speaking opportunities
5. Prayer for your strategy. Keep them updated
6. Prayer for the lost by name
7. Prayer for your sponsoring churches
8. Prayer for your mentor or coach
9. Prayer for your vision, that you would see the community as God sees it.
10. Prayer for resources. Be specific about your needs
Not only would I send out my prayer requests, I would also send out praises as well. Those praying for
you want to know what God is doing in your midst. Testify of His greatness! Don’t forget to send pictures
or direct them to a web site where you post pictures.
I would also ask them to send to you prayer requests. Pray for them even if they do not send you
requests.
It would be advantageous to include with each prayer letter a short section on how to improve your prayer
life. Coach them in their praying, teaching them how to pray using Scripture. Suggest books on prayer. Not
only will this help them in their praying on your behalf, I believe that it will add value to your letter.
When?
I would send out a newsletter each month unless something urgent comes up.
How?
There are many ways to send your requests. My personal preference is via email, but would send a
minimum of two communications a year via regular mail. I believe that this shows you value their
partnership, and could be included with a Christmas or thank you card. There are a number of ways to
create your database, just keep it accurate and up-to-date.
Resources
• Maxwell, John (1996), Partners In Prayer, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
• Sanchez, Daniel R. (2002), Church Planting Prayer Strategy, North American Mission Board (visit
www.churchplantingvillage.net, click Church Planting Resource Library, scroll down to prayer section)
PAGE 11! ! THURSDAY

During our training I remember hearing
from a couple church planters who were a year or more
ahead of where we were that "you will be broken." I
always thought that meant we would reach a place of
burn-out and that we would realize that we could not do
this "church thing" in our own power, but through the
power of God. And that is definitely true and we have
experienced that variety of physical and/or mental
brokenness both individually and corporately at Artisan.
What I did not expect however is a brokenness of heart.

Over the past month and a half our Staff,
Leadership Team, and church family have been praying
and fasting for God's heart and vision for the future.
Specifically, we were asking if we should go to multiple
services and multiple venues for our gathered worship.
We expected direction, a firm "yes" or "no" to the
question, "Should we go to multiple services." What we
experienced, however, was more akin to the experience
of Nehemiah as he heard the report of the state of
Jerusalem. The people in Jerusalem were living in
disgrace and shame (Neh 1:3), and up to this point, did
not see a way out of their predicament. Nehemiah,
much like our Leadership Team "sat down and wept,
and mourned for days, fasting and praying before the
God of heaven (Neh 1:4)." God broke Nehemiah's heart
for the people of Jerusalem and he broke ours for our
own people.

God revealed our failings as a Leadership Team and
a church. We wept and mourned because of our own
"functional atheism." We were acknowledging God
exists with our minds, but our actions showed we had
little need of Him. We wept for the hundreds of lives
that are in disgrace and shame, many of whom may not
even recognize it, and need godly leadership to restore
them to a place of honor and glory in God's kingdom.
We wept because of our fear of the unknown and our
lack of faith to move us forward. We wept because we
realized that God wants to do incredible things through
frail people like us. And we prayed.

Through our prayer we realized that this brokenness
and humility is exactly where God wants leadership
born from. Nehemiah started there, Jesus started there
as the Creator humbled himself to be baptized by John
the Baptist (one of the creation!). We recognized our
need to be continually in prayer. When Nehemiah faced
Sanballat and Tobiah he prayed. When there was
murmuring within the ranks that they were rebuilding
the wall, he prayed. When he cast vision, he prayed.
When the wall was completed, he prayed. After Jesus
was baptized and before he began his public ministry, he
spent 40 days and 40 nights in the wilderness fasting and
praying. It is in this continued prayer that God moved
us to the place of vision.

God has inspired the Leadership at Artisan to move
forward with the plan to begin multiple service times and
venues. The reasons for doing so are a bit different now
than they were before we started this journey. Now we
are propelled forward by the brokenness for the things
and people that break God's heart. We realize that our
neighbors and the students on the college campuses all
around us are in disgrace and shame. We are moved by
the idea that we could pour the grace and love of God
through the Holy Spirit into these lives, no matter how
short a time they are here (we estimate the average time
a person stays at Artisan is two years because many are
college students). We have a vision for raising up the
next generation of godly leaders and sending them out
to new neighborhoods where they will share the
restoration that can only be found in God through His
son, Jesus.

A friend recently shared a prayer with us. This
prayer is attributed to Sir Francis Drake who wrote one
of the most motivational prayers ever written in that it
both breaks and inspires the reader at the same time.
The prayer is titled "Disturb Us." While uncomfortable
and, at times, painful, we thank God for our brokenness.
This experience has reaffirmed that it is the foolish
(weak/broken) things of this world that God uses to
confound the wise (1 Cor 1:27-28). We are nothing but
cracked pots, but we carry an immeasurable treasure "to
show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not
from us (2 Cor 4:7)". Disturb us, Lord, I pray!
Discussion questions for you & your team:
1. Insights and applications from the article?
2. How God is breaking your heart for those
who are far from God in your mission field?
3. Discuss ways have you and your can seek
God for this church plant
PAGE 12! ! THURSDAY
Prayer & Brokenness: Plant After the Plow
The Testimony of a Covenant Church Planter
Brian E. Haak, Artisan Church Founding Pastoral Team

Thursday 11:00 AM
Discovering Your Identity,
Creating Culture
Branding from the Inside Out
Goal: Understand and be able to communicate how the
important pieces of the model fit together to bring to life
the big God-given vision
Groups at Tables: Define the word “Connection”
•
•
What is a Brand? (and what is it not?)
• A Brand is not a logo, slick packaging, or a marketing campaign
• Branding starts on the inside. It is determined first by a clearly articulated statement of mission,
vision and values.
Process:
• The process starts by clearly articulating Vision, Mission and Values.
Answers the Question: “What makes our church unique?”
• Vision, Mission and Values are the elemental pieces of Culture in a healthy church.
Answers the Question: “Who are we?”
“Mission, Vision and
Strategy typically focus on
products, services or
outcomes, but culture is
always about people.”
~ Samuel Chand, Cracking
Your Church’s Culture Code
Vision&
Mission&
Values&
Culture&
Marke0ng&
Program&
Development&
Experience&
PAGE 13! ! THURSDAY

Your Zera Verse and
Vision, Mission, Values
Zera Verse: ( = “seed verse”)
Vision: ( = “destination”)
Mission: ( = “road map”)
Values: ( = “guardrails along highway”)
Poster Activity
• Write out your vision for the church plant (even if it’s still really rough)
• Give and Receive Feedback from other church planters
Mission
• What are the markers to help you know you’re moving toward vision?
•
•
Values
• Interactive Exercise
• Critique 3-5 other planters vision, mission, values
•
EXAMPLE:
CITADEL OF FAITH, DETROIT MI
www.citadeloffaith.org
Zera Verse:
“You are the salt of the earth. You are
the light of the world. A city set on a
hill cannot be hidden.”
– Jesus (Matthew 5:13-16)
Vision:
A church where hurting people from all
races can ﬁnd answers from God's
Word. Where we can be God's light as
we serve the community, connect with
individuals, and see God's power
transform communities and the world.
Mission:
Mission statement:
“Change Starts Here”
Annual actions based on these elements
Values:
Reverence God, Reach People,
Raise Disciples, Release Leaders
PAGE 14! ! THURSDAY

Culture
What creates culture?
• Culture is the “personality” of the church
Dreaming Exercise: Letter from the Future
• On the next page, write a letter back to Your Church,
assuming you are now living in the year 2018
• Describe what the church and its ministries are like five
years from today. Describe your dream of what the
church has become. Be specific. Take 10 minutes
Define the culture you wish to create.
Ask questions like:
• Who will be the heroes?
• What stories will be told?
• What will be the meaningful rituals?
• Who will get rewarded and why?
• Who will the real power brokers be?
• Where will the control rest?
(Excerpted from: Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code by Samuel Chand)
In Pairs
• Share one story of the culture you hope to create, or are seeing birthed in this new church.
LUNCH | 12:30 PM
Lunchtime Presentation and Q&A: Covenant World Mission
www.covchurch.org/mission
“The fact is, culture eats
strategy for lunch.”
~ Dick Clark, CEO of Merck
Pharmaceuticals
“Culture–not vision or strategy–
is the most powerful factor in
any organization.”
~ Samuel Chand,
Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code
Vision&
Mission&
Values&
Culture&
Marke0ng&
Program&
Development&
Experience&
PAGE 15! ! THURSDAY

Dear Church,
Older & Wiser,
Future Me (2019)
PAGE 16! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 1:30 PM
Structuring & Communicating
Your Church Culture
Process continued:
• The culture of the church should determine Program Development (programs,
staffing, resourcing, etc.) and Marketing (how you communicate the church)
• Application Questions
• How will you incarnate your culture?
• What will you need in terms of staffing, resources, and budgeting to live out your key ministries?
Experience
• Your Brand is the sum of all Experiences anyone and everyone has with your church
• What can you do to create a positive experience for those who will attend your church?
• The programs, resourcing, staffing and marketing should inform the Experience
people have at your church
Answers the Question: “What is the reality in our church?”
• The culture should inform the experience and experience should reinforce the culture
Vision&
Mission&
Values&
Culture&
Marke0ng&
Program&
Development&
Experience&
PAGE 17! ! THURSDAY

Poster Activity (in groups)
• Structure: Make list of structure necessary to live into culture:
• What?
• Who?
• Where?
• Experience: What things inﬂuence how people will experience your church?
On Your Own
• Communicate: How will you communicate your church? (Story as the glue)
Discussion (in groups)
• What words do people use to describe your church or
what words would you use to describe the church you hope to plant?
• How will you communicate the stories inside and outside your church
Action Steps (stats and measuring progress)
• create task list and timeline for next couple of months,
include who will be accountable and by what time frame
BREAK | 3:00 PM ~ 30 Min
PAGE 18! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 3:30 PM
Understanding Your
Missional Context
MissionInSite
www.missioninsite.com
• Share with someone who is planting
in a similar missional context
• what do you see?
• what one need will you meet in Jesus’ Name?
• what will your church do?
• Add to your Ministry Calendar
(monthly or quarterly)
Rapid Community Assessment
www.davidwmills.com/resources
a tool to help you survey your community to ﬁnd a Strategic Match:
• ﬁt between the gifts and calling of God
• unique to our congregation or team
• relevant to the critical needs in our community
“An essential part of the
ordination exam ought to be a
passage from some recognized
theological work set for translation
into vulgar English—just like
doing Latin prose. Failure on this
part should mean failure on the
whole exam. It is absolutely
disgraceful that we expect
missionaries to the Bantus to learn
Bantu, but never ask whether our
missionaries to the Americans or
English can speak American or
English. Any fool can write
learned language: the vernacular
is the real test. If you can’t turn
your faith into it, then either
you don’t understand it or
don’t believe it.”
~ C.S. Lewis
PAGE 19! ! THURSDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 20! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 4:00 PM
Afternoon Lab Time
Individual work on Zera Verse,
and Vision, Mission, Values
•
Group Presentations & Critique
Color Dot "Votes"
Red = Nope. (weak, missed the mark)
Yellow = Maybe? (vague, needs clarity)
Green = Yes! (I get it and it speaks to me)
Post-It Notes:
• write brief helpful
suggestions
• slap on giant sheets
near the related item
EXAMPLE:
ARTISAN CHURCH,
ROCHESTER NY
www.artisanchurch.com
Zera Verse:
“For we are God’s masterpiece,
created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in
advance to be our way of life.”
– The Apostle Paul (Ephesians 2:10)
Vision:
“encounter God,
embrace people, engage culture,
in the Way of Jesus.”
Values:
Awe, Beauty, Roots,
Community, Justice
Mission:
3 Circles: Worship, Guilds, Groups.
Ministry Calendar: strategic
rhythms of outreach, evangelism,
discipleship, and deployment;
Quarterly Members “Gallery”; etc.
(www.artisanchurch.com/about)
PAGE 21! ! THURSDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 22! ! THURSDAY

Thursday 5:45 PM
Teach-Back & Debrief of Day
•
•
•
•
DINNER | 6:00 PM
After Dinner
Concert of Prayer
& Worship Service
(then free evening afterwards)
PAGE 23! ! THURSDAY

Friday 9:00 AM
Morning Devotions
Scripture:
Notes:
Review of Previous Day
•
•
•
•
“BIBLICAL”
“Where is it written?” (faithful question
early Covenanters asked one another)
“We affirm the centrality of the word
of God. We believe the Bible is the only
perfect rule for faith, doctrine, and
conduct. The dynamic, transforming
power of the word of God directs the
church and the life of each Christian. This
reliance on the Bible leads us to affirm both
men and women as ordained ministers and
at every level of leadership. It is the reason
we pursue ethnic diversity in our church
and is the inspiration for every act of
compassion, mercy, and justice.”
~ from the Covenant Affirmations
PAGE 24! ! FRIDAY

Friday 9:20 AM
Normal & Natural Pathways
5 vital functions of a healthy missional church
• “Normal” - ordinary; the consistent, regular way something happens (though God can surprise!)
• “Natural” - indigenous; fitting the particular church plant’s vision, values, and missional setting
(though the supernatural trumps everything!)
Five Vital Functions
1. Make Disciples that are maturing in Christ
2. Evangelize People so they come to a transforming faith in Jesus
3. Reproduce Leaders that effectively lead, serve, and multiply
4. Instill a Stewardship Culture of generosity, sacrifice, & faithfulness
5. Multiply Churches that are healthy, missional, and reproduce
(full document on next page or at: www.bit.ly/normalnaturalpathways)
Example: “Our Stewardship ‘Normal & Natural Pathway’ includes… ”
• Financial Peace University 2x/year, completion is a Membership/Leadership/Staff requirement
• Messages: one quarterly message and one yearly series on financial discipleship and stewardship
• Worship Service: Receive Tithes & Offering near end of service
• each week: brief testimony of life-change locally, regionally, or globally
• each time: clear explanation connecting with church’s mission and vision, include instructions on
Info Card, which will also be collected in offering
• pass basket with enclosed top with fabric slit, also provide locked dropbox at back of sanctuary for
those who need more time with offering and info cards
• Online Giving & Giving Kiosk: attractive, easy to use, integrated into website & enews
• Transparent Communication: bulletin/enews lists monthly budget need, weekly-to-date giving,
remaining need, worship attendance, # of people giving that week (adjusted for families)
Table Read & Discussion:
• Instructions
• using full list on next page, go around your table, each person reading one of the 5 Vital Functions
• always start with “In this new church, what are the ‘Normal & Natural Pathways’ to…”, read the
vital function, then continue reading the bullet points listed immediately below
• take turns until all 5 Vital Functions are read
• Questions: Each person share…
• Which one of these will be easiest for you?
• Which one will be the most challenging?
PAGE 25! ! FRIDAY

Normal & Natural Pathways
Critical Questions for New Church Development
The following five questions will help you think strategically about what you hope to accomplish
in the lives of people as a result of your ministry. Take time to pray as you work through these questions.
In this new church, what are the “Normal & Natural Pathways” to…
1. Make Disciples that are maturing in Christ
• What will the disciple making process look like in this new church?
• What are the characteristics of a Christ-follower that you want to see produced in people who are a
part of your new church?
2. Evangelize People so they come to a transforming faith in Jesus
• What kinds of experiences do people need in order to become fully-devoted followers of Christ?
• How will you use training events, small groups, mentoring, worship, etc. as part of an overall strategy?
• For a call to decision, will you use “altar calls”, have people raise their hands, mark an info card,
visit a special area in the worship space for prayer, resources, and follow-up, write their name on a
“decision wall”, or some other tangible response?
3. Reproduce Leaders that effectively lead, serve, and multiply
• What leadership gifts and skills do you possess and how do they relate to your vision for training for
training up new leaders? How will you augment your skills and gifting?
• What specific kinds of experiences (training, mentoring, coaching) do you need to have to become
the pastor/leader you desire to be? What do your leaders and potential leaders need?
• How will leaders be encouraged & trained in your church? What kind gifts or skill sets are needed?
4. Instill a Stewardship Culture of generosity, sacrifice, and faithfulness
• How will you cast vision from the beginning for being generous, sacrificial, and joyful stewards?
• How will you present and practically handle tithes & offerings during worship?
• How will you address issues of stewardship in preaching, including targeted message series?
• What practical methods will you use to help people in their giving? (passing a basket, drop-box,
online giving, giving kiosk, etc.) What systems will you put in place for handling money well?
5. Multiply Churches that are healthy, missional, and also reproduce
• How will you cast vision from the beginning for being a church-planting church?
• What cultural values and strategic components need to be in place to Parent a new church or
Partner with other churches in planting your first church by the end of your first 3 years?
After you’ve reflected on these questions and outlined your initial thoughts, talk about them with your
Coach. Work on specific plans to implement your ideas and incorporate them into the life of the church
Original doc also available at: www.bit.ly/normalnaturalpathways
PAGE 26! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 27! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 28! ! FRIDAY

Friday 9:50 AM

Discipleship
Making disciples that mature in Christ
Activity #1: “Would you rather…”
questionnaire on next page
Instructions:
• Form two equal lines of people.
Lines should face each other.
• Each person asks the person directly opposite them one “would you rather” question, then switches
• Allow only 30 seconds for each set of questions.
• Then one row moves one person to their right, having the end person move to the head of the row
• This should be quick, rapid fire and fun. Keep asking questions until you want to be done and have
everybody focus on the next question, with the person directly opposite them.
• Assign each line opposite sides of the of the following quote,
and then have them debate their “position”:
“Knowing God is more important than knowing about God.” ~ Karl Rahner
(Participants should use personal experience, scripture and tradition to support their opinion.
Which is the most important side of the issue to focus on when talking about discipleship?)
Introduction:
What is the “form” or mental image that is most natural to you for discipleship in the life of the church?
“O, Begin! Fix some part of
every day for private exercises…
Whether you like it or no, read
and pray daily. It is for your
life; there is no other way:
else you will be a trifler all
your days… Do justice to your
own soul; give it time and
means to grow. Do not starve
yourself any longer.”
~ John Wesley
Definition
• Goal/Content of discipleship: Philippians 1:9-11
• What is our role? What is God’s role?: John 4:39-31
• Different viewpoints of discipleship:
REVIEW: What was your “AHA” moment here?
PAGE 29! ! FRIDAY

“Would you rather . . .”
1. Be 4'1or7'9"?
2. Live without music or live without T.V.?
3. Be called a racist or a traitor to your
country?
4. Lose your legs or lose your arms?
5. Have a beautiful house and ugly car or an
ugly house and beautiful car?
6. Be blind or deaf?
7. Live in Antarctica or Death Valley?
8. Eat sushi or liver?
9. Meet the president of the U.S. or Billy
Graham?
10. Find true love or 1 million dollars?
11. Always have to say everything on your
mind or never speak again?
12. Be gossiped about or never talked about at
all?
13. Have stars in your eyes or eyes in the back
of your head?
14. Have x-ray vision or bionic hearing?
15. Be able to hear any conversation or take
back anything you say?
16. End hunger or hatred?
17. Publish your diary or make a movie on
your most embarrassing moment?
18. Be stranded on an island alone or with
someone you hate?
19. Get even or get over it?
20. Always lose or never play?
21. Know it all or have it all?
22. Always get ﬁrst dibs or the last laugh?
23. Have sand in your shorts or water in your
ear?
24. Own a ski lodge or a surf camp?
25. Forget who you were or who everyone else
was?
26. Have one wish granted today or three
wishes granted in 10 years?
27. Overthrow a dictatorship or lead one?
28. Write the worst book in history or record
the worst song in history?
29. Be a deep sea diver or an astronaut?
30. Have a big group of friends or one very
close friend?
31. Not be able to talk or hear for one day?
32. Spend the day surﬁng the internet or the
ocean?
33. Be an actress/actor in a big movie or the
director?
34. Have an ugly, loyal dog or a prize-
winning, snobby cat?
35. Be a professional baseball player or a
champion horse breeder?
36. Go to an amusement park or to a family
reunion?
37. Be rich with an unhappy job or make less
money with a job you like?
38. Not be able to use your phone or your e-
mail?
39. Snowboard in the winter or swim in the
summer?
40. Be forgotten or hatefully remembered?
PAGE 30! ! FRIDAY

Content/Form | Activity #2: Triads
Part 1
Break into groups of 3.
• Chose either a culture group or an age level group from the grid and prepare a discipleship culture
that would ﬁt that group
• Use the grid as your template and be prepared to give detailed explanation for each of your choices.
• Make sure every member of the group can adequately explain each of the choices on the grid
YOUR
CULTURE
GROUP
TYPE
MEETING
LOCATION
CYCLE MATERIALS
TEACHING
STYLE
GROUP
FORMATION
PEOPLE
GROUP
Urban
High population
density
1-1 Church
Group
Defined
Video Self taught Self Select Children
Rural
Located outside of
cities and towns
Small (3-8) Home(s) 1 month Bible Only Directive Assigned Students
Suburban
Residential area,
commuting
distance to city
Large (9-35) Nomadic 3 months Purchased Inspired Young Adult
Tribal
Society organized
on basis of kinship
Congrega-
tional
“Coffee Shop” 1 Year Church Produced Adult
Part 2
Label each member of your group A, B or C
• 1st Step: All member A’s move one group clockwise. The two members of the original group will
explain their discipleship culture to the new member A. Member A should look at the presented
discipleship culture through the eyes of a new believer and ask questions accordingly
• 2nd Step: All member B’s move one group counterclockwise and repeat the 1st step. Member B’s
should look at the presented discipleship culture through the eyes of a Pastor
• 3rd Step: All member C’s report to whole group on their original group’s plan
• What worked? What didn’t work? What challenges did you face?
• What new insight did the new A’s and B’s bring to their original plan
Covenant Resources: www.covchurch.org/resources/category/discipleship
PAGE 31! ! FRIDAY

What are the challenges or most apparent questions in this project?
Evaluate
• How do we know that discipleship works?
• How do we measure effectiveness?
• What does the rearview mirror say?
PAGE 32! ! FRIDAY

Friday 11:15 AM
Evangelism
Leading people one step closer to Jesus
www.covchurch.org/evangelism
The “72” vision is based on these ideas:
1. God is already at work in evangelism therefore we must
engage the mission
2. Communication training to move relationships from secular to sacred
3. Every ECC member becomes really good at telling the story of Jesus
4. Training resources developed in the field that are simple to use
5. Pastoral leadership anchors evangelism into the annual calendar
6. We use the evangelism gift effectively at harvest events
7. Follow-up to give new disciples strong foundations in the local church
ASK the Lord of the Harvest…
Every Pastor Guides the Mission
Every Christian Tells the Story
Related Downloads:
Videos
• Welcome & Intro to 72: covchurch.tv/72-welcome-video
• Evangelism in the Church Calendar:
covchurch.tv/church-calendar
Docs
• Planning Calendar: covchurch.org/resources/files/
2012/01/72-church-calendar.pdf
• Evangelism and the Fruitful Pulpit:
covchurch.org/resources/files/2012/01/
72-leadership-fruitful-pulpit.pdf
In Pairs: How did God get your attention and draw you to Christ?
“There is no greater agony
than bearing an untold story
inside you.”
~ Maya Angelou
“Bring to Me all humankind,
especially all sinners…
All devout and faithful
souls… those who do not
believe in God, and those
who do not yet know Me
… and immerse them in the
ocean of My mercy.”
~ from the Novena
to the Divine Mercy
PAGE 33! ! FRIDAY

Prayer And Evangelism in Word
• Individually: Write down 5-15 people you are praying to come to Christ in your new church
• In Pairs:
• Share about one of the people you’re praying for and how you may share God's love with them
• Talk about how you could have at least 2 evangelistic conversations with people each week
• Close by praying for each other
Evangelism in Deed
• Group of 2-4: Find others who are planting in a similar context (e.g. urban, suburban, ethnic…)
• Each person share about 1 community need that your church can meet and brainstorm ideas of how
your new church can meet this need with the Gospel
Evangelism and the Church Calendar
• Take out the “Evangelism and the Church Calendar” doc from Appendix (or download from link)
• Plan speciﬁc things you'll do in your ﬁrst 12 months and list these on a rough planning calendar.
• With Coach or Partner: Share and talk about how it can be strengthened even more.
Fruitful & Faithful Metrics
Why it’s vital to track conversions, recommitments, deployments, and more
Tools
• www.ChurchMetrics.com
• Monthly Church Planter Report
• Church Management Systems (ChMS), examples:
• Church Community Builder (churchcommunitybuilder.com/church-plants)
• The City (www.onthecity.org)
• FellowshipOne (www.fellowshipone.com)
LUNCH | 12:30 PM
Lunchtime Presentation and Q&A: Covenant Communications
www.covchurch.org/who-we-are/departments/communication
PAGE 34! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 35! ! FRIDAY

Friday 1:30 PM
Stewardship
Instilling a culture of generosity,
sacrifice, & faithfulness
Table Discussion: What are some clichés we hear
about the Church and Pastoring in relation to Money?
On Your Own: Letter grade for yourself in these areas:
• ____ :
personal theology and practice of financial
discipleship in your own and your family’s life
• ____ : preaching & teaching on financial discipleship
• ____ : financial systems and procedures in church
• ____ : one-on-one counseling and soul-care for financial discipleship (think of how you do this with
individuals in areas such as ministry placement, struggles, relationship issues, etc.)
• ____ : fundraising and resource development beyond regular tithes and offerings
In Pairs:
Each share one you’re really good at and why you think that’s so…

then share one you’re really bad at :)
Top 3 Reasons People Give *
1. A Belief in the Mission (people want to make a difference, help to change lives)
2. Regard for Staff Leadership (giving is a often an issue of trust, respect, and inspiration)
3. Fiscal Stability of the Institution (people do not want to waste their investment)
3-Person Discussion:
• What do you think of these reasons?
• If you’ve had experience in non-profit world outside the church, how do the two worlds compare?
• What has been your experience in your church planting project with these reasons? Any insights?
*
Ideas and highlights on these next two pages adapted from Not Your Parents' Offering Plate, J. Clif Christopher.

Highly recommended. Comprehensive outline and notes, definitely read: bit.ly/notyourparentsofferingplatenotes
“Remember this: Whoever sows
sparingly will also reap sparingly, and
whoever sows generously will also
reap generously. Each of you should
give what you have decided in your
heart to give, not reluctantly or under
compulsion, for God loves a cheerful
giver. And God is able to bless you
abundantly, so that in all things at all
times, having all that you need, you
will abound in every good work.”
~ Paul (2 Corinthians 9:6-9)
PAGE 36! ! FRIDAY

The Three Pockets of Giving
The Earned-Income Pocket (regular personal income)
• Church often does a decent job of encouraging people to consider this “pocket” through offering
during worship, sermons, courses
• Churches are the envy of the nonprofit world when it comes to the earned-income pocket
• Problem: we try to meet too many of our needs out of this pocket and leave out the other two…
The Capital Pocket (accumulated wealth)
• This is the pocket that stores our accumulated resources such as stocks, bonds, pieces of property,
insurance policies, savings accounts, and inheritances we may have received and put away
The Estate Pocket (what we leave behind)
• Religion receives almost 33 percent of all charitable donations in America, however only 8 percent of
all the estate gifts in America, and the ones it gets are much smaller than the gifts to other causes.
• Why? We do not ASK for it.
• Less than 10 percent of all the churches in the United States market for planned gifts.
• The vast majority of clergy never speaks about it or teaches about this responsibility
• “In so many ways, planned gifts are the easiest, not the hardest, funds to raise for your church,
because someone else will do 90 percent of all the work for you.” (e.g. www.covenanttrust.com)
• What do you think of these “three pockets”?
• How do they relate, show up, or not even seem to fit in your context?
• If you’ve had experience in non-profit world outside the church, how do the two worlds compare?
• How would you grade your church plant project with engaging each of these “pockets”?
• How much detailed information should a pastor know about giving in the church?
(read the book or outline and notes for a challenging perspective, excerpt below)
Controversial Issues: What happens when a pastor does not know people’s Giving?
• “when choosing leadership, pastor often selects people whom he or she perceives to be good
leaders and stewards, but they may just have big mouths…frequently seen finance committees
where the chair and the majority of participants were nowhere close to leading the way in giving.”
• “prevents the pastor from ever extending a personal thank-you to those who may have given
generously… we are competing with one million nonprofits, all of whom readily thank their donors.”
• “most important, it denies the pastor insight into what is happening within a person's soul.”
• What are your thoughts on the author’s perspective?
• What would you add or subtract?
• If you’re comfortable sharing, what is your (planned) practice at your church and why?
PAGE 37! ! FRIDAY

Excerpt from “The Top Ten Things I Would Do Now” (from the author, J. Clif Christopher)
1. Pray, Study, and Get My Act Together First
2. Build a High-Expectation Culture
3. Have Weekly Testimonies (best: during worship, immediately before offering; next best: newsletter)
4. Have Regular, Ongoing Christian Financial Planning Classes (e.g. www.daveramsey.com/fpu)
5. Preach Directly on Money Four Times a Year. Recommendation:
• first Sundays in January, which is the time when people are rethinking priorities for the year
• once during Lent (season before Easter)
• once in the Summer
• once in mid-November as persons are thinking about Thanksgiving

[…]*
8. Write Ten Thank-You Notes a Week
• As a part of the ten, you can count any thank-you note you send to someone who has just made an
extraordinary gift to the church
• Advise the treasurer that you want to be notified no later than Monday morning of any gift that
was out of the ordinary so you can personally thank the giver in a letter and later in person
9. Review Individual Giving Once a Month
• We have very few insights into the hearts of people. Giving is the closest thing we have on a daily
basis to getting a true picture of a person’s character
• can also help evaluate ministry programming […]*
* Read the rest: detailed outline & notes at www.bit.ly/notyourparentsofferingplatenotes
Covenant “Mission Giving” as Whole Church Stewardship
• Written into each Church Planter Covenant Agreement is the expectation and requirement that each
church plant practices the discipline of “tithes and offerings” through their 15% Mission Giving
• Recent History: 10% Covenant + 5% Conference (with other potential variations)
Half of the Covenant amount can also be directed toward a Covenant Missionary of your choice
• Great opportunity for vision-casting and to lead by example (for instance, Highrock Brookline
monthly has a leader introduce the offering, also explaining their commitment to the shared mission
of the Covenant, first check placed in the offering is the church’s Covenant Mission Giving)
Practical Application
Write down one thing for each timeframe that you can do:
• Next Sunday:
• Next Month:
• By the New Year:
• Next Year:
What resources do you need to increase likelihood that these are actually accomplished?:
•
•
PAGE 38! ! FRIDAY

Stewardship & Financial Discipleship Ideas and Resources
Covenant Resources: www.covchurch.org/resources/category/stewardship
Tithes, Offerings, and Planned Giving
• Christmas Offering for a special ministry emphasis or new initiative (inside or outside the church)
• Offering Time during Worship: evaluate how your frame this time, the actual way it’s received. Is it
unclear or unhelpful? Are there any barriers to appropriate participation?
• Invite Covenant Trust to work with you and your people (free service)
Good Systems
• Set up Online Giving: Church Management Systems online software offer modules; research
• Quick Books Online, ChMS, & Book-Keeping Service: (Northwest, Great Lakes, and the East
Coast Conferences all offer these for the start up phase of a church plant, ask your DCP)
Preaching & Teaching
• Launch Team: stewardship bible study or message series before you fully launch
• Plan Stewardship Series: example: www.artisanchurch.com/series/money_mavericks
[Support Materials: 1) Pre-Series Survey, 2) Simple Budget Form, 3) “Try the Tithe” form]
• Incorporate “money message” as part of larger series: example: Life 2.0 Series: “Money 2.0”
• Ongoing Discipleship: Regularly offer stewardship courses such as Financial Peace University
Communication:
• Clearly communicate vision, make it “normal & natural” to engage stewardship
• Simple communication pieces: search for “bulletin” at bit.ly/marketingmaterials for example
• Quarterly Members and Friends Gatherings: example: “The Gallery” at Artisan Church
• Simple format: potluck dinner, celebrate and honor particular servants and volunteers,
debrief recent ministry efforts, highlight finances, discuss future plans, cast vision
• www.slideshare.net/jasoncondon/the-gallery-at-artisan-church-080509
When is a “Money Problem” not (just) a “Money Problem”?
Don’t assume “money” is the issue: Capacity issue? Outreach issue? Generosity issue? Systems? Vision?
• Rough Math: Ave. Monthly Offering ÷ Ave. Monthly Worship Attendance = Ave. Giving per Person
• Example: $10,000 ÷ 100 people = $100/person/month ($120k Annual Budget)
But what if Monthly Budget Need is $12,000 to accomplish Mission? ($144k Annual Budget)
• Increase Giving $20 more per person : 100 people × $120 = $12,000
• OR Grow by 20 more people : 120 people × $100 = $12,000 [hint, this is usually the easier one]
• OR Cut Budget by $2,000/mo (e.g. fire part-time worship leader, go part-time, downgrade rental
space… yes, those are the actual choices you will face)
www.LifeChurch.tv at open.lifechurch.tv (give away all their resources for FREE)
• Strapped - recent finance series
• Money Matters - small group video sessions
• YouVersion bible reading plans: Debt: A Biblical Exploration; Undying Commitment: A 14-day
study in Stewardship; Money Matters;
• Kids & Students Series: Money Street & Wasted
PAGE 39! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 40! ! FRIDAY

Friday 2:00 PM
Fundraising
Enlisting patrons & supporters
to advance the mission
Fund Development
1. Clarify the Vision:
• Create a vision statement
• Determine what the “win” looks like
• Create dynamic presentation materials
2. Set a Realistic Goal
• (See worksheet at the end of this document)
3. Create an Initial List of Contacts
4. Pray over the list
5. Set up initial meetings with potential donors
• Start with large gift donors
• Host group gatherings of other potential donors
• Host “Meet the Church Planter’s” gatherings for potential donors
6. Prepare a presentation
• Heavy on vision (people give to vision, not to need)
• Not overly technical or detailed
• Be enthusiastic and zealous
7. Meet and ask donors to prayerfully consider a gift
• Resist the urge to take a gift at that first meeting, it will almost always be smaller than if you are
patient.
• Clearly define the ask
• Offer only one option in the ask (don’t give a list of choices, after all you are there to ask for
money)
8. Set a time to follow up and answer any questions
9. Make the ask, and be specific. (ASK BIG!!!)
“In every nonprofit with which I have
ever worked, at the top of the job
description for their executive
director is fund-raiser… whoever is
perceived to be in charge must be the
number one vision caster and fund-
raiser for that vision. All nonprofits
know this except the church.”
~ J. Clif Christopher
PAGE 41! ! FRIDAY

10. Provide cards, envelopes, or electronic giving tools as a reminder, especially if the gift is
to be made in installments
11. Create and send out regular newsletters sharing progress and answered prayer
• Always give God the glory
• Use a consistent medium to communicate
12. Create a fund raising letter and donor list for those who might give small gifts
13. Celebrate and thank those who give in an appropriate way
14. Network other potential donors
15. Create a church support opportunity
NOTES:
PAGE 42! ! FRIDAY

Fundraising Data & Rules Of Thumb
1. $240 billion was given to NPO’s in 2003
• 85% was given by individuals (living & bequest) according to “Giving USA – 2004” pub by the
American Association of Fundraising Council
• 80%+ was given to religious organizations
2. 20% of the individual donors give 80% of the gifts
• The other 80% give the other 20%
• (actually 30% give the other 20% and 50% give next-to-nothing)
3. “Rule of Thirds”
• 10 donors account for the first 3rd of funds raised
• Next 100 account for the next 3rd raised
• All the remaining donors account for the final 3rd
4. Rule of Thumb:
• “donors in the lowest income levels give the highest % of their income
• donors in the highest income levels give the lowest % of their income.”
5. For every $1 a person gives through the mail
• They will give $10 over the phone
• And $100 in person
• On-line Giving - While still small, is the fastest growing area of giving. On average, people give
20% more than what they’d give by mail when people have an opportunity to plan, they always
give more
6. Have an advisory committee
• The chair should be able to give generously and ask others to do the same
• Ask board members to give and to give names of others who could give
• Give feedback to the plan and process
7. Sort potential donors by 3 types:
• Suspects: have not given in the past bur are thought to have the ability if interested and involved
For every 3 suspects, you’ll find one good prospect
• Prospects: have given in the past but not at the major gift level. For every 3-4 suspects, you’ll find
one major gift
• Leads: have given a major gift in the past and have the ability to repeat
8. Understand the “Life Cycle of Donors”
• Age 25-50 – participate in annual gifts
• Age 50-70 – participate in major gifts
• Age 70+ -- participate in planned gifts
PAGE 43! ! FRIDAY

9. Fundraising Plan – Documents:
• Mission Statement
• Vision Statement
• Long-Range Plan
• Case Statement – why this mission merits donor support
• Fund-raising Plan for 1-3 years
• Ethics statement
10. How to talk with potential donors:
• LISTEN – to their story, ask open-ended questions, listen to their passions and interests…
- Relationship building should be 75% of your time with them
- Build trust
• Communicate – give correct information and let them know how they will stay informed about
their giving and the impact of their gift
• Engage them - have them visit to see and experience who and what they’re investing in
• Set up an appointment by saying:
- “I’d like to visit with you about your level of involvement with our organization…
- I’m available at ____ and ______ on [day] – would one of those times work for you?”
• Invite them to special events (all the better if it’s directly related to what they’re investing in)
• Thank them frequently (and in various appropriate ways)
• Plan – what next steps need to be taken with them
• ASK
- after determining their interest in your mission, engaging them in what they’ll be investing in,
building a personal relationship, and determining what they’d be able to give, be specific and
- Ask: “Would you be willing to give a gift to planting a new church at the $10,000 level?”
• After you ask, BE SILENT and let them speak next… (Whoever speaks next, loses)
11. Reasons for Failure in Fund Raising (Public Management Institute, 1978)
• Not asking for the gift
• Not asking for a large enough gift
• Not listening – talking too much
• Not asking questions
• Talking about the organization and its approach rather than about the benefits to its clients
• Not being flexible, and not having alternative to offer the prospect
• Not knowing the prospect before the solicitation
• Forgetting to summarize before moving on
• Not having prearranged signals between solicitation team members
• Asking for the gift too soon
• Speaking rather than remaining silent after asking for the gift
• Settling on the first offer that a prospect suggests, even if it’s lower than expected
• Not cultivating the donor before soliciting
• Not sending out trained solicitors
PAGE 44! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 45! ! FRIDAY

Friday 3:30 PM
Leadership
Reproducing leaders that effectively
lead, serve, and multiply
2-2-2 Principle* (from 2 Tim. 2:2)
1. 1st Generation: Paul → Timothy
2. 2nd Gen: Timothy → “Reliable People”
3. 3rd Gen: “Reliable People” → “Others”
4. 4th Gen: “Others” → ...
Recognizing Potential Apprentices
The Must-Haves:
• Spiritual Velocity (what’s their movement/direction, not just position in relation to Jesus?)
• Teachability (are they open to being developed and sharpened?)
• Relational Intelligence (do they get people, and do people like them?)
The Bonuses:
• Missional (are they willing to sacrifice for God’s mission?)
• Discerning (can they wisely discern things in people and situations?)
• Inclusive (do they love to bring people alongside them?)
• Biblically Knowledgeable (do they have a strong grasp on God’s Word?)
5 Steps of Leadership Development
1. I do. You watch. We talk.
2. I do. You help. We talk.
3. You do. I help. We talk.
4. You do. I watch. We talk.
5. You do. Someone else watches. You talk…
*
Ideas and highlights on this page adapted from Apprentice Field Guide, created by Community Christian Church.

Highly recommended. $10 at www.lulu.com/shop/apprentice-field-guide/paperback/product-13387075.html
“And the things you have heard me
say in the presence of many witnesses
entrust to reliable people who will
also be qualified to teach others”
~ Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:2)
“The best leaders are not those who
have the most followers but those
who develop and deploy other
leaders. The true test of a leader’s
influence is to look at what is left
behind once the leader is gone.”
~ Neil Cole, Journeys to Significance
(recommended book)
3 Question at each
debrief (“We talk.”)
• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• How can we improve?
PAGE 46! ! FRIDAY

The Leadership Stool | Six Leadership Styles
Created by Dave Olson
• All three legs are required
• The seat provides strength and stability
• legs should be near the same length
Spirituality:
• commitment to deep spiritual transformation that
brings about the life-changing work of God in people
• Biblical insight and passion
• Devotions and intimacy with God
• Authentic self-revelation
• “PRAY”
Chemistry:
• an inviting relational atmosphere within your church that connects people to God’s community
• Personal relationships
• Small group dynamics
• Leading large gatherings
• “PLAY”
Strategy:
• process of sequential actions that produce fruitful ministry in line with God-directed goals.
• Ability to anticipate tomorrow
• How to get from point A to point B
• Delegation and administration
• “PLAN”
NOTE: every church planter can request codes to utilize a special online Leadership Stool testing tool
for lead pastor, staff, and church teams by contacting carla.erickson@covchurch.org or your DCP
Group Activity: self-select into the three groups in different parts of room
• Joined by a leader representing your group’s Leadership Style
• Leader with own group: What are our strengths & weaknesses?
• Leader rotates and asks:
• What about us annoys each other? :-)
• How should we communicate with you and show we value your style?
• How can you do the same toward us?"
Covenant Resources: www.covchurch.org/what-we-do/develop-leaders
PAGE 47! ! FRIDAY

Understand Your Leadership Style
There are Six Leadership Styles 1
(see diagram next page)
1. Relational Leader
• Leadership Sequence:
CHEMISTRY - Spirituality - strategy
• APEST 2 Type is often: Shepherd (Pastor) -
interpersonal intelligence helps them connect
to people in a warm and caring manner.
2. Inspirational Leader
• CHEMISTRY - Strategy - spirituality
• APEST: Evangelist - social intelligence helps connect
with people, especially in crowd context
3. Sacred Leader
• SPIRITUALITY - Chemistry - strategy
• APEST: Teacher - their greatest gift to the church is
communicating to people the deep things of God
4. Imaginative Leader
• SPIRITUALITY - Strategy - chemistry
• APEST: Prophet - like to look to the future and call the
people of God to become who God created them to be.
5. Mission Leader
• STRATEGY - Spirituality - chemistry
• APEST: Apostle - ability to lead the mission of God into
the future, through the development of ministries,
ministers (both professional & lay), and mission endeavors
6. Building Leader
• STRATEGY - Chemistry - spirituality
• APEST: Apostelist (hybrid of an Apostle & Evangelist) -
primary love is growing the church or organization they
serve, while simultaneously making it better and stronger.
Pragmatic visionaries that focus on strategy and structure,
they typically stay in a location for extended times, never
tire of creating “more” and “better”
1 There is a four page detailed report available for each style that will help you understand how God has
created you to lead. Go to www.leadershipstool.com/sixstyles for a copy of your Leadership Style.
2 APEST = shorthand for ﬁve-fold gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd (Pastor), & Teacher
“So Christ himself gave the
apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, to
equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up.”
~ Paul (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Implementation in a
church context
• Mission Leader (Apostle)
sets the Agenda
• Imaginative Leader
(Prophet) analyses the
Target (the Culture)
• Inspirational Leader
(Evangelist) leads People
to Christ
• Relational Leader
(Pastor) disciples the
Converts
• Sacred Leader (Teacher)
lays (reinforces) the
Scriptural foundation
• Building Leader
(Apostelist) grows the
Church
~ Johannes Reimer,
New Testament Scholar
PAGE 48! ! FRIDAY

Complementary,
Styles
Complementary,
Styles
Complementary,
Styles
Sacred
Leader
Inspirational
Leader
Imaginative
Leader
Mission
Leader
Building
Leader
Relational
Leader
TheImaginativeLeaderisgifted
byGodtointeractpowerfullywith
aninnovativevisionfromGod,then
leadpeopletostepoutinfaithand
liveoutthatnewwayofbeingthe
peopleofGod.
Strongest7in
Spirituality
Strongest7in7
Chemistry
Strongest7in7
Strategy
TheBuildingLeaderisgiftedby
Godtostrategizeforgrowth,
enlistotherleaders,andthen
togetherleadthewayinenlarging
themissionofGod.
TheInspirationalLeaderisgifted
byGodtoconnectpowerfullywitha
crowd,andmotivatethemtofollow
Jesus,byencouragingthemto
engageinthemissionofGod.
TheRelationalLeaderisgiftedbyGod
toconnectemotionallywithindividuals,
andinspirethemasagrouptofollow
Jesusandloveeachother.
TheSacredLeaderisgiftedbyGod
toconnectspirituallywithpeople,
andencouragethemtogrowdeeper
withGod,whilebringingattentionto
thevoiceoftheHolySpirit.
MissionLeaderisgiftedbyGodwith
spiritualvisiontoforeseewhatisneeded
intheimmediatefuture.MissionLeaders
callpeopletofollowadeeperGospel,
whilemultiplyingdisciples,expanding
ministriesandstartingnewventures.
PAGE 49! ! FRIDAY

The Six Primary Roles of Christian Leaders
1. .........Relational Leader Love
2. .....Inspirational Leader Motivate
3. ...........Building Leader Grow
4. ...........Mission Leader Multiply
5. .....Imaginative Leader Create
6. ............Sacred Leader Deepen
The Six Hidden Needs of Christian Leaders
1. .........Relational Leader Need for attention, Need for aﬃrmation
2. .....Inspirational Leader Need for power, Need for attention
3. ...........Building Leader Need to over-work, Need for power
4. ...........Mission Leader Need to over-innovate, Need to over-work
5. .....Imaginative Leader Need to be right, Need to over-innovate
6. ............Sacred Leader Need for aﬃrmation, Need to be right
The Six Intelligences of Christian Leaders
1. .........Relational Leader Interpersonal Intelligence
2. .....Inspirational Leader Social Intelligence
3. ...........Building Leader Organizational Intelligence
4. ...........Mission Leader Strategic Intelligence
5. .....Imaginative Leader Cultural Intelligence
6. ............Sacred Leader Intrapersonal Intelligence
PAGE 50! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 51! ! FRIDAY

Friday 4:30 PM
Lab Time & Journaling
Normal & Natural Pathways Work
• More fully develop your “Normal & Natural Pathways” for your church plant
• Put down one clear and concise idea for each, then go back and more fully develop a couple
Journal
• Reﬂect on what you've learned today (or this week)
• What was your primary take-away, something you were encouraged by, convicted by?
• List one or two things you're doing well
• List one or two topics you need to tackle with your Coach or DCP
PAGE 52! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 53! ! FRIDAY

Friday 5:45 PM
•
•
•
•
DINNER | 6:00 PM
After Dinner
Free Evening
PAGE 54! ! FRIDAY

NOTES:
PAGE 55! ! FRIDAY

Saturday 9:00 AM
Morning Devotions
Scripture:
Notes:
Review of Previous Day
•
•
•
•
“MISSIONAL”
“We afﬁrm a commitment to the
whole mission of the Church. The
early Covenanters were known as
“Mission Friends”— people of shared
faith who came together to carry out
God’s mission both far and near.
Mission for them and for us includes
evangelism, Christian formation, and
ministries of compassion, mercy, and
justice. We follow Christ’s two central
calls. The Great Commission sends us
out into all the world to make disciples.
The Great Commandment calls us to
love the Lord our God and our
neighbors as ourselves.”
~ from the Covenant Afﬁrmations
PAGE 56! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 9:30 AM
Four-Stage
Launch Process
Your first twelve months
of church planting
Purpose of Four-Stage Launch:
• Build missional momentum and effectiveness
• While having “permission” to focus and pace yourselves accordingly
Overview of Four-Stage Launch:
Timing & Benchmarks: Each stage is 3-4 months with clear healthy, missional benchmarks
1. Stage 1 - Launch Team Development: gathering like-minded, diversely gifted,
missionally-motivated people into a cohesive team
2. Stage 2 - Monthly Preview Worship Services: reaching and gathering more people to the new
church, developing effective ministry systems, practicing what you’ll become
3. Stage 3 - Weekly Pre-Launch Worship: continuing to reach and gather, refining the ministries,
getting the systems right, acting “as if ”
4. Stage 4 - Grand Opening Launch: launching for accelerated growth and impact, unfettered
outreach & evangelism, robust ministry systems
Four Scenarios for Adaptation
1. New Church Plant: from scratch, not pre-existing
2. “2.0” Church Plant: pre-existing ministry, new to Covenant, from soft relaunch to hard reset
3. New Campus: extending church’s pre-existing ministry to a brand-new location or venue
4. New Worship Service: multiplying worship services (new times, different rooms, new styles, etc)
Cautions & Common Mistakes
• New Church Plants
(and sometimes Campuses or Worship Services):
• go too fast, skimp on key components
• downplay or ignore benchmarks
• “2.0” Church Plants
(and sometimes Campuses or Worship Services):
• assume “regular attenders” = “Launch Team”
• don’t make the “hard asks”
• don’t revisit foundational principles
Loose Definition of “2.0” Church Plant:
• pre-Covenant history, already meeting
weekly, usually was bi-vocational pastor
• has now been through official Assessment &
Recommendation process
• now under a Covenant Agreement, treated
fully as a Covenant Church Plant
PAGE 57! ! SATURDAY

Table Discussion
• what scenario (or blend) best represents your project? what are its advantages? disadvantages?
• what caution or mistake resonates most? (you made it, avoided it, don’t believe it, etc!)
• what do you loathe (or just dislike, for the polite) about the Four-Stage Launch idea?
• what’s just one way it might be extremely helpful?
Three Key Metrics (each a blend of qualitative & quantitative measures)
1. Launch Team Members: Speciﬁcally asked to commit to the church plant launch, the reliable
leaders and workers, count on each other (balance of quality and quantity)
2. Worship Attendance: Through prayer, evangelism, invitation, events, marketing, follow-through,
and more, reach or surpass goals for each stage (emphasis on quantity, care for quality)
3. Key Ministries: Deploy Worship, Children, Hospitality, Follow-up & Connection, Small Groups,
Evangelism & Outreach (or others). Improve “letter grades” throughout each stage (emphasis on
quality, care for quantity/capacity)
Examples of Suggested Timeline & Benchmarks:
Sunday-Centric/Launch Large Model (Traditional/Majority Approach in ECC)
STAGE: Launch TeamLaunch TeamLaunch Team Preview Worship/Soft-LaunchPreview Worship/Soft-LaunchPreview Worship/Soft-Launch Weekly Pre-LaunchWorshipWeekly Pre-LaunchWorshipWeekly Pre-LaunchWorship Grand Opening LaunchGrand Opening LaunchGrand Opening Launch
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
LT: 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 65 70 70 70
WA: N/A N/A N/A 100 110 120 90 105 120 150 140 130
KM: C C+ B- B B B+ B+ B+ A- A- A- A-
KEY: LT = Launch Team WA = Worship Attendance KM = Key Ministries Letter Grade
Discipleship-Centric/Missional Multiplication Model (Newer Experiment in ECC)
1st Discipleship Huddle &
1st Missional Community
Discipleship Huddle
Multiplication Begins
Discipleship Huddle
Discipleship Huddle
Monthly Worship Begins,
Accelerated Huddle Multiplication
Weekly Worship & Multiply
Missional Communities
Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
DH: 1:8 1:10 1:12 1:12 1:14 2:16 2:18 3:20 3:22 3:24 3:26 4:28 5:30 5:33 5:36 5:37
MC: N/A 1:20 1:24 1:28 1:32 1:34 1:36 1:40 2:45 2:55 2:65 2:70 2:80 3:90 3:100 3:110
WA: N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A 60 60 65 65 70 100 110 120 120
KM: N/A N/A N/A N/A C C+ B- B B B B+ B+ A- A- A- A-
KEY: DH = Discipleship Huddle | [# of Huddles] : [# of Disciples] MC = Missional Communities | [# of MCs] : [# of People Involved]
1. “Launch Team Members” Variations:
• Discipleship Huddle: Those who’ve committed to the discipleship process of becoming a
discipling leader; Invitation only, high commitment, with intentional reproduction pathway
• Missional Communities: Medium-size groups of 15-50; (Example of Adaptation at Dust
Church, Blacksburg VA: House of Study, House of Art, House of Service)
PAGE 58! ! SATURDAY

Activity: 3 Minute Disasters! (because that’s all it takes :)
Get into 2 or 3 groups around the room
• You have 10 minutes
• to create a 2-3 minute skit
• of a possible (likely?) “disaster” resulting from a missed benchmark.
Create your own scenario (or spark off one of these disturbingly true-ish ideas :) …
• “We’ve Got Each Other (and That’s Alot)”: About to hold ﬁrst Monthly Preview Worship, you
only have 15 actual Launch Team members, all old friends from the same Christian high school
• “Raised by Wolves”: Awesome house band for worship, no children’s ministry leaders or plan
(“eh, we’ll give ‘em activity sheets during the message time”), Weekly Pre-Launch starts next month
• “Living in Mom’s Basement (or Over Dad’s Garage)”: Parent/Partner churches have been
providing 3/4ths of your worship team and 1/2 the kids workers, they cannot (and will not) keep
doing it once you start Weekly Worship… which is scheduled in two weeks
• “III Corinthians (Smarter than Paul)”: You’ve done a beautiful job with personal evangelism
(not really worrying about the “less important” stuff), you now have a Launch Team of 35!… 27 of
which are brand-new believers (what could possibly go wrong)
Notes:
PAGE 59! ! SATURDAY

Notes:
PAGE 60! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 11:00 AM

Stage 1: Launch Team
Development
Activity: Preparing the Table
• Discuss: What are some of the “tables” we’re setting
for people to experience Jesus and his community?
What is a Launch Team?
• Simplest Deﬁnition: “Show up and get it done.”
• Highly committed leaders and hard workers who will pray, sweat, laugh, cry, grow, and bleed
together for the church planting mission to which God has called them
• As the pastor, you can rely on them. As the Launch Team, they can rely on each other
Purpose: build, assist, provide, raise up, become, create, protect
Gathering: Where will these people come from?
• pray, pray & pray some more! (Ask the Lord of the harvest…)
• work, work, & work some more! (faithful with the little things…)
• Parenting Churches, Partnering Churches, and Strategic Networks
• tap into, partner, and network with existing churches & organizations
• organize and execute well targeted gathering events (vision desserts, open house, picnics/bbqs,
service projects, etc.)
Team Mix
• Roughly 1/3rd each: Committed Christians,
Unchurched Christians, New Christians/Seekers
• reﬂective of your target (multi-ethnic, 18-30 yr-olds, etc.)
• balanced gifting (musical, kids, hospitality, admin, etc.)
• from a variety of social networks (not all from same parent church, extended group of friends, etc)
Training Best Practices
• Teach the Vision - “T-Shirt Test” (succinctly communicate its essence)
• Key Ministries Teams – break the group into your 5 or 6 teams
• Pray and Practice - reduces fear, builds skills, increases success
“People are God’s method.
The church is looking for
better methods; God is looking
for better people.”
~ E.M. Bounds,
Power through Prayer, p. 13
PAGE 61! ! SATURDAY

Launch Team Landmines
• “tasks not titles” (proven faithfulness and effectiveness)
[related for staff: “hire slow, fire fast”]
• “process not promises” (leadership development path)
• faithfulness and fruitfulness need to be demonstrated
• Three “highly” people:
• highly controlling
• highly needy
• highly missional
• Extra Cautions for “2.0” Church Plants: “regular attenders” ≠ “Launch Team”, you must make the
“hard asks”; you must recruit, enlist, and infuse new Launch Team members into the existing mix
Agenda Harmony: How do we keep this group together?
• critical to have clearly defined DNA, mission and vision that are Biblically based (cf. earlier session)
• planting pastor must be the champion, custodian, and defender of the mission, vision, and values
• Out-counseling poor fits is a necessary leadership task
Benchmarks
• minimum 30 committed, gifted adults
• 50% of Launch Team from new contacts
• planter is seen as the legitimate leader of the group
• increasing number of people contacted, coming, connecting with the group with growing enthusiasm
Poster Activity:
How do I gather 30-40 people? [table groups develop how-to list]
• Make invitation list (could even call or email during the Training)
• Create strategy for reaching 30 people total (4:1 ratio, probably need to connect with 120 people)
• Put real names to list
• Pray with a partner for your lists
• What to do with your Launch Team
Review at Tables:
• training best practices. landmines, etc
• What would you add?
PAGE 62! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 11:40 AM
Stage 2: Monthly Preview Worship
Question: What is one of the biggest mistakes church planters and their teams make?
Goals
• accelerating health and growth
• continue to build momentum to more fully express what your church is becoming through public
worship, and expanded attractional & incarnational ministries
Benchmarks
• 50 new people attending each preview service
• strong word-of-mouth: over half of guests from personal invitation
• double size of the Launch Team
• 75-125 at each monthly worship service (momentum building)
The ‘W’
• for most, gathered worship is the high-
bandwidth high point of their experience
of God and his community at a new church
• but there’s a tension, especially early on, also
need depth with Launch Team development,
training, and small group experiences
• yet both “extremes” can overshoot many types
of people you hope to reach, so you also need
some more accessible middle ground
• Repeating Cycle: each one is “open”, invite each
time to each one (Note Benchmarks from
Suggested Launch Timeline)
Suggested Rhythm
• Worship: music, message, related key ministries,
vision casting, a vital invite opportunity to the following weeks (invite at each)
• Launch Team Mtg 1: orientation, bible study, vision-casting
• Gathering Event: picnic, bbq, service project, bowling, etc.
• Launch Team Mtg 2: prep key ministries teams for next Preview
• Worship: like Week 1, only improved upon, more new people, etc. (rinse, repeat)
Wk 1:
Preview
Worship
Wk 2:
Launch
Team Mtg
Wk 3:
Gathering
Event
Wk 5:
Preview
Worship
Wk 4:
Launch
Team Mtg
MONTH 1 MONTH 2 …
PAGE 63! ! SATURDAY

Applications
Brand-New Church Plants & Campuses
• fairly straightforward, though variations are possible
• e.g. Preview Worship every other week, stretch out over summer lows, etc.
“2.0” Church Plants:
• Soft Reset:
• Turn weekly meeting time into a feature, leveraging the existing structure and strengths…
but still honor the principles!
• Build the rhythm and emphases into your weekly gathering, treat each gathering purposefully
• others:
• Hard Reset:
• strategically “shut down” weekly public worship for a season (4-8 weeks)
• clear opt-in process for Launch Team members (with other open activities for everyone)
• others?:
Notes:
PAGE 64! ! SATURDAY

Activity: Four Afﬁnity Groups
Instructions
• gather around the room into groups along the lines of your ministry setting (as much as possible)
Groups:
1.
2.
3.
Discussion
• What struggles will you face with the monthly worship concept and execution?
• Done well, what beneﬁt will it bring?
‘W’ Posters
• Put up three sheets on wall, side-by-side to create three months of Ws (heading toward Stage 3)
• Write ideas on sheets (or use post-it notes) following the suggested rhythm, building each month
• it’s ok if you have wide variety of items (even mutually exclusive) as you do this as a group project
LUNCH | 12:30 PM
PAGE 65! ! SATURDAY

Notes:
PAGE 66! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 1:30 PM
Stage 3: Weekly Pre-Launch Worship
Natural continuation of Stage 2, with still some freedom to tweak, improve, and over-haul
as needed (plus, people are more forgiving when it’s labeled “Pre-Launch” :)
Goals:
• develop more strength and structure through vital ministry teams and effective systems
• strengthen and improve your Key Ministries
• strengthen gathering and growing prior to Launch
• develop leadership and volunteers
• ﬁnalize Grand Opening Launch Strategy
Benchmarks
• minimum of 80 in the weekly services (75 is the enemy!)
• quality of Key Ministries improving from B to B+/A-
• increasing number of people serving in ministry teams
• 50% of adults in small groups
Stage 4: “Grand Opening” Launch
Goals:
• launching strong (qualitative)
• launching large (quantitative)
• letting the entire community know we’re here!
• Help assure sustainability and growing Missional Impact for future generations
Benchmarks
• Launch past 125 in Worship, stay above 125 throughout
• Key Ministries with letter grades at B+/A-
• Great facility that can accommodate growth to 200+
• Seeing increasing numbers of people coming to Christ
• Healthy Mix:
• 1/3 mission-minded
• 1/3 formerly de-churched
• 1/3 formerly un-churched
PAGE 67! ! SATURDAY

Helpful Growth Equation
Net Growth = [Visitor Flow × Retention Rate] – Backdoor Loss
Visitor Flow = how many ﬁrst-timers experience the church
Retention Rate = percentage who become regulars at least for awhile
Backdoor Loss = how many eventually leave for any reason
• pay attention to each of those variables so you know what’s working & what needs improvement;
this applies to worship services, small groups, etc. - any “ministry” that should grow through people
• easy to focus on the wrong thing, so get beneath the “numbers”
• BIG Caveat: these are people, not soulless numbers;
the “numbers” are merely a tool for fruitful accountability and ministry insight
Scenario 1:
•
[10 visitors/mo × 20% Retention] - [2 leave/mo]
= 2 stay/month - 2 leave/month = 0 Net Growth
• Possible Interpretation: 20% is actually a fairly good retention rate and 2/month
departing isn’t bad either, therefore increasing the number of visitors (through prayer,
invitation, evangelism training, hospitality, etc.) will likely increase Net Growth
Scenario 2:
•
• Possible Interpretation: 10% isn’t great for retention, though 2/month departing
isn’t bad. For some reason people aren’t coming back and getting connected.
Evaluating hospitality, facility, spiritual vitality, quality of programming, etc. might
reveal ways to improve that retention rate to increase Net Growth
Scenario 3:
•
• Possible Interpretation: Might be an urban area or college town with very
transitory population and lots of “churn” AND/OR church is great at “ﬁrst
impressions” but lacks depth and growth opportunities. Depending on issues, may
need to really increase visitor rate while also working on back door loss
PAGE 68! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 2:00 PM
Launching Large,
Launching Healthy
Discussion
• What would launching large look like in your context?
Share with two other people what it would mean to
launch large in your context.
• Discuss Around Your Table: What you can do to
launch large enough and healthy enough to have a
missional impact in your community.
• Action Steps: What speciﬁc action steps still need to be done to launch large in your setting?
Who will be responsible? Add them to your timeline.
Related Resource: Planting Fast-Growing Churches, Stephen Gray
“No tree bears fruit for
its own use. Everything in
God’s will gives itself.”
~ Martin Luther
“A few weeks before he took his
life, former Methodist preacher
Vincent van Gogh painted a
picture of a church. It emanated
a dimly eerie light from the
inside, but it had no doors.
There was no way in. Van
Gogh's The Church at Auvers gets
my vote as the most haunting
painting in the history of
religious art.”
~ Leonard Sweet
(Soul Salsa, p. 87)
PAGE 69! ! SATURDAY

Notes:
PAGE 70! ! SATURDAY

21 Insights on Fast-Growing Church Plants
Dr. Stephen Gray
Dr. Gray is Director of Church Planting for the General Association of General Baptists and consults
with New Church Specialties.
Based on his doctoral research through Asbury Seminary of 2,285 church plants from 5 denominations,
only 168 (7%) qualified to be counted as “fast-growing”. A fast-growing church plant is defined by its
ability to achieve an average attendance of 200 and be self-supporting over a 3-6 year period.
1. Assessment is a must. The Ridley assessment is the one he refers to and they find a positive
correlation between fast-growing church plants and above-average planters.
2. Adequate financial support is a must. A combination of funds from a supporting organization and
funds raised by the planter works best. They find a balance is needed between too-much and too-
little support.
3. A majority of fast-growing plants were led by full-time planters.
4. A majority of planters leading fast-growing plants received salary support for 2 years or less. 85% of
fast-growing churches received salary support for 2-3 years. 80% of planters in struggling church
plants received salary support for 3-5 years.
5. A majority of fast-growing plants received additional financial support beyond salary support.
Generally this was a one-time start-up grant.
6. The start-up grants for fast-growing plants were $50,000 or less. Start-up grants for struggling
plants were over $50,000.
7. Planters of fast-growing plants were personally involved in support-raising.
8. The vision for the church plant must be birthed in the heart of the church planter.
9. The church planter must choose the target audience.
10. Planters of fast-growing church plants were free to spend their funding as they saw fit.
11. The more successful the church plant, the less control the sponsoring agency exercised over the
plant.
12. Fast-growing church plants have planters who have adequate emotional support.
13. Sponsoring agencies must develop a quality training program – generally 1 or more weeks – true for
77% of fast-growing plants. Planters of struggling plants received less than a week of training –
true of 74% of struggling plants.
14. Fast-growing plants started with two paid staff. This was the case in 88.3% of fast-growing plants.
On the other hand, 88.5% of struggling plants had a solo church planter.
PAGE 71! ! SATURDAY

15. Fast-growing plants had a larger adult core – generally over 40 adults.
16. Fast-growing plants had 3 core ministries from the start: worship, kids, and teen ministries.
17. Fast-growing churches used both preview services and small groups to build the core group.
18. Fast-growing plants used 5+ preview services on a bi-weekly basis. They find waiting a month
before doing another preview is too long to develop connections.
19. Fast-growing plants launched with larger attendance than struggling plants – generally over 100..
20. Fast-growing plants taught about finances and stewardship within the first 6 months.
21. Fast-growing plants kept their ministry outward-focused. This included mission giving from the
start. Fast-growing plants tended to give 10+% to mission.
Additional Insights:
• Amount of Ideal Support for “Average Church Plant” (will vary by region, cost of living, etc.)
FOR: 1 PASTORAL STAFF 2 PASTORAL STAFF
$50k salary × 2 yrs 100k 200k
Start-up grant yr 1 50k 50k
additional fundraising by planter 50k 50k
Total: $200k $300k
• Both fast-growing and struggling church plants had
• Similar prayer networks
• Similar level of coaching
• Similar commitment to a one-day a week facility
PAGE 72! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 3:30 PM
Panel Discussions and Q&A Time
Notes:
PAGE 73! ! SATURDAY

Individual Lab Time
Time for planters to work individually or with Coaches, DCP, and others on strategic plan,
normal & natural pathways, ministry planning calendar, launch team development, etc.
Notes:
PAGE 74! ! SATURDAY

Saturday 5:45 PM
•
•
•
•
DINNER | 6:00 PM
After Dinner
Free Evening
PAGE 75! ! SATURDAY

Notes:
PAGE 76! ! SATURDAY

Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Chicago, March 12-17, 2014

Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Chicago, March 12-17, 2014

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