CHURCH PLANTING WITH THE CHRISTIAN AND MISSIONARY ALLIANCE
1. What is the first step?
Please contact Rev. Joseph Toomey, Director of Church Planting, at 724-929-6516 to explore the possibility of planting a church
in Western Pennsylvania.
2. Am I ready to plant a church?
We will do a complete assessment of your calling to see if you are ready. This would include personal preparation, family preparation
financial consideration, giftedness, etc.
3. Where will I plant?
We will help you figure out where to plant a church and how to find demographic information about that area.
4. Who will I be working to reach?
We will help you focus on the individuals you should be targeting for your church plant.
5. What training is available?
We will provide training on a regular basis for you to be an effective church planting pastor.
6. Who will be my prayer partners?
We will help you enlist prayer partners. Church planters often do not realize the spiritual battles they will be facing.
You will need strong prayer warriors.
7. Will I receive coaching?
We will be calling and coaching you through the entire process of planting the church.
8. How will I develop a plan?
We will help you develop a thorough plan of action to plant your church and how to put your vision into strategic steps of action.
9. How will I develop core team members?
We will spend time helping you to train and develop your leaders in the new church plant.
10. How do I organize outreach events?
We will train you to identify, plan and carry out outreach events to provide opportunities to connect with people in your target area.
11. Where will our church meet?
Great places for new churches to meet are in rented facilities such as schools, movie theaters, hotels, community centers or fire halls.
These are great neutral places for "seekers" to feel comfortable. We will help you find the place where God wants you to begin
holding church services.
12. What will my relationship with The Christian and Missionary Alliance be like?
There are significant benefits to a long-term relationship between your church and The Christian Missionary Alliance. We will be
happy to discuss these with you.
13. Where will I find resources for legal issues?
We will walk with you through the legal issues such as tax exemption, EIN number, 501(c)3 status, church membership, constitution
and bylaws, church checking accounts, pastoral license and ordination.
14. Will I have help with financial issues?
We will help you with advice on budgets, pastoral support, insurance, fund raising, equipment and rental, outreach, marketing, etc.
We also provide some help with funding church plants as monies are available.
If you feel God is calling you to be a church planter in the Western Pennsylvania District, please contact Rev. Joseph Toomey, Director of Church Planting.
WHY START NEW CHURCHES?
The passion of Jesus Christ was to take the Gospel far and wide. He did not want the town down the road to be left without the Good News. He pushed on from town to town, from village to village, modeling how His followers are to reach out to neighboring communities. As established churches plant new churches or forge other outposts of ministry in nearby communities they follow the example of the Master. The Office of Church Planting functions as a catalyst to help extend the kingdom of God in Western Pennsylvania
History shows that Christianity has always expanded through the multiplication of new churches.
Consider:
- New churches are needed because of the growing number of unchurched persons. There are approximately four million persons living in the geographical area comprising the Western Pennsylvania District of The Christian and Missionary Alliance. Half to three quarters of this population is unchurched.
- Cultural diversity requires a diversity of churches. It takes all kinds of churches to reach all kinds of people.
- Many people are open to spiritual things. They need to experience meaningful relationships and see the love of Christ in a local church. Church growth specialist, Peter Wagner says, "Church planting is the most effective means of evangelism under heaven."
- More churches are closing than new ones are being started. Among all churches across America, nearly three times as many churches close each year as new ones start.
God loves people and wants them to be in His family. Healthy churches will effectively reach their community with the Gospel of God's grace by multiplying ministry among various segments of the population both locally and in nearby communities.
YOU MIGHT BE A CHURCH PLANTER IF:
- You prefer to start things rather than manage something already established.
- You enjoy networking with new people.
- You derive satisfaction from recruiting people to help you accomplish a big vision.
- You know how to build effective work/ministry teams.
- You are passionate about reaching unchurched people.
- You are not afraid to take risks.
HOW CAN I BE INVOLVED?
Planting churches requires a partnership of many people. You can be a partner in one of the following ways:
- Prayer Partner: Intercessors are needed to pray that churches will catch a vision to multiply their ministry and be involved in church planting in some way. Prayer covering for new church plants is needed. Prayer that the Lord of the harvest will raise up workers (church planters and team members) to lead new churches is essential for multiplication to take place. If you are interested in becoming a "prayer partner," please email us at office@cmawpa.org.
- Giving Partner: Adequate funding is always a challenge for new churches. The contributions of giving partners from far and wide help meet the expenses of starting a new church. If you would like to become a "giving partner," please send your check to the WPA C&MA District Office, Attn: Church Planting, 341 Chestnut Street, Punxsutawney, PA 15767. You can either designate your giving for a specific church plant or church planting in general, but please indicate this on your check so we can credit the proper account.
- Going Partner: Individuals are need who feel God is leading them to go out from their church and be part of a core group to form a new church. Partners are needed to assist in various ministry projects of church plants. If you are interested in becoming a "going partner" please email us at office@cmawpa.org.