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Within the past couple of months, many of our BMA of Missouri churches have received a letter from one of our churches that has expressed dismay at the number of churches planted in the past decade or so. I, too, wish more churches had been planted and that the attempts that were made had been successful. I asked a missional leader about how we could intensify our efforts. He followed up my question with another question: “What do you need from the BMA of Missouri to start another church plant this year?” I had to pause for a couple of minutes and think about that question before I could answer. I responded with the following 3 needs:

1. I need a church planter and his family whom the association could recommend and approve of their election. I think it would really be great if we could raise-up a planter from our own BMA of Missouri “family”. They would already know the culture, the demographics, and the needs of our state. Less time would be needed for them to immerse themselves into the culture and community of the “Show-Me State”.
2. I need 3 to 4 churches who would serve as “partner churches” to the new plant. Of course we need a “Mother Church” or “Sponsor Church”, but we also need the extended family to come along side of and help with the initial start up efforts and costs. Partner churches might provide people, funds, equipment, prayers, mission teams, etc. The more churches involved in the process, the greater the momentum and growth. Churches plant churches…not missions directors, nor missions department.
3. I need our churches to increase their missions giving. I have heard the argument that if we had more church plants going, then our churches would rise to the challenge and increase their giving. I don’t believe that is the sole reason for decreased giving. I do believe that many of our churches are in a “survival mode,” rather than a “let’s expand the Kingdom mode.” When churches begin to feel a financial crunch, the first thing that is cut out of the budget is mission giving. I would be hard-pressed to favorably explain that line of reasoning to the Lord (2 Cor. 8:1-5). We need more money to support planters!

As your state director of missions, I have prepared myself to assess, train, and coach church planters. It is my part-time job within the BMA of America missions department to do these things all across the world and we are finding great success! I am ready and willing to do the same here in our state, but I need your help. If the above three things could happen, then we could get started with one more church plant this year.

I have been in contact with a young man who is seeking God’s will about getting a new church planting effort going in the southeast portion of the state. I do not have his permission to share his name, but I would like for you to pray for him as he begins his first Bible studies with a group of people this month. It may be the beginning of a new church.

by Danny Kirk

I ran across an article where a church planter/coach was doing a consultation with a group that was focused on small town and rural church planting within a particular region. It caught my attention, because many (if not most) of our churches are in small towns and in rural areas. His advice to this association of churches was to focus on making disciples– because if they make disciples, a church might come out of the harvest. Instead of thinking, “How can I plant a whole church?” he encouraged them to ask where they could release 2-3 people to be incarnational missionaries.

Imagine if several of our existing churches in a particular region could each release a few people in this way, then they could together set up a support structure for all of those incarnational missionaries that networks them together. They could gather together for worship and support, using a simple church model so they could free up more time to focus on making disciples during the rest of the week. They may be working in different places during the week, but can provide emotional and relational support for one another when they come together. If a Bible study arises out of this effort, then great! If two or three Bible studies are created, then that is even greater. Perhaps one of the sponsoring churches could make a larger investment and call this a satellite campus. Eventually, as these small groups continue to engage their community, a church may very well be planted. The risk is minimum, but the rewards may be great!

We have invested huge sums of money to plant a missionary in a particular area, only to see him leave the field after 2-5 years and with little to show for it. It would be great if there was an approach, where someone felt led to begin with just 2-3 people and see what happens. If churches are to plant churches, then it means that the pastor will release people to leave their Sunday School and start a Bible study in their home. In this very simple way, a church can truly be involved in church planting. The people involved can engage in pilot projects that are more outward focus and relational in nature. There is no pressure to raise-up a self-supporting church in 5 years. Instead it is a step of faith in seeing what God might do with people who are willing to invest in those who are unchurched and not connected with Christ-followers.

Danny Kirk