| Church Development Six Compelling Reasons To Plant New Churches
By Dr. Montfort C. Duncan Jr.,
Executive Director, Church Development
 At
times I am asked to address the question, “Why should Florida be
intentional about its high commitment to starting new congregations?”
Our recent meeting on new church development addressed this issue. The
following six reasons were shared by Dr. Steve Compton, church
development officer for the North Carolina Conference. His research is
the basis for this information.
New people are more likely to join new churches than older churches.
New refers to people from other places and those who have never made a
commitment to Jesus Christ.
Older churches are moved toward renewal by the presence of new
churches in their communities. Existing churches usually discover that
they must raise their evangelism temperature for those in their own
community.
Older denominations are renewed as the percentage of new churches in
their total number of churches increases. Denominations with more
young churches (under 30 years old) are growing.
New churches are more likely than older churches to be open to all
kinds of people (inclusive of race, ethnicity, socioeconomic class,
nationality, gender, etc.).
New churches are more likely than older churches to call or receive
pastors who are women or whose cultural background, race, ethnicity or
nationality differs from that of the majority membership.
New churches find it easier than older churches to live out a new
paradigm of mission and ministry. Examples are new ministries of
overnight hospitality for the poor and homeless and contemporary
worship.
The Florida Conference relies upon the faithful
support of every church paying its New Church Start connectional
giving 100 percent to help continue starting new communities of faith
to build God’s Kingdom. For more information about this item contact
me at 1-800-282-8011, extension 147. |
