Church Planting Guide for Beginners
by Gary Linton Posted in Church Planting 34 Comments
Tags: 501(c)3, church growth, Church Planting
Starting a new church or ministry is one of the most rewarding and fruitful things that you can do to advance the kingdom. It can also be very challenging at times. After personally planting multiple churches and youth outreach centers, I can tell you that you will need all of the information and support you can get. The topics covered here are only a starting point, but are very important when considering a new church plant or ministry.
The need. There is always a need for a good bible preaching church or outreach ministry. The devil will tell us that there are already plenty of churches and therefore there is no need for another one, but he’s a liar as always. Each church reaches a unique group of people. You will reach people that the existing churches will never reach and they will reach those that you can’t. It’s the church that is to come against the gates of hell (Matthew 16:18).
The last thing the devil wants is more strong churches being built. The need is abundant and clear (Matthew 9:36-38; John 9:4; 4:35). If you feel the Lord leading you to plant a new church be assured that there is a need that only your new church plant can meet.
Your calling. Pioneering a new church or ministry from scratch is very difficult. Jesus compared it to a women going through birth pains. It can be one of the most exciting things you will ever do, but there will also be times of discouragement when your faith will be tested and stretched like never before. The devil will fight you every step of the way and cause you to doubt your calling; are you doing the right thing, did you really hear from Him, etc.
If you are not called it will be a devastating experience. If you are called, you will be able to withstand the difficult beginning stages and build something that will display God’s glory and destroy the gates of hell in the region God has called you to (Ephesians 3:10-11 & Matthew 16:18). You have the promise that whatever is born of God overcomes (1 John 5:4 and 4:4; Romans 8:37; Revelation 12:11).
Keeping the faith. You are headed for a tremendous venture of faith. Hebrews 11:3 says, “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that what is seen was not made out of the things that are visible.” In other words, you are going to be building something out of nothing.
You simply have to step out and do it. You might get a group of people right away and yet you will have many services where you wonder if anyone will show up! This is real faith and will determine if you are really called to plant a church. This is where both persistence and hard work pay off (Hebrews 6:11-12, Romans 12:11). If you work hard and persevere, God will help you to give birth to a glorious church through His grace.
Have a covering. It’s very important that you have a spiritual covering which is helping to support you and your family. There will be times when you need encouragement, counsel and the strength of someone outside yourself and your family. Paul was sent out of the church at Antioch while they remained as his covering (Acts 13-14). This can be in the form of a local church that is sending you out and covering you with prayer, and/or being a part of a ministerial fellowship.
It’s also a good idea to have a small group of pastors you meet with regularly for prayer, fellowship and support. When starting a new church, both my fellowship and the group of men I met with for prayer really helped sustain me through the difficult birthing stages of the church, and through times of personal struggle.
Incorporation. One of the first things you will want to do when starting a church or ministry is to incorporate with the state where your ministry is located. You will need to contact the Secretary of State to obtain the correct Articles of Incorporation forms. Incorporation is not necessary, and there is some debate over whether a church should incorporate, but we personally believe the benefits outweigh the negatives. Do some research on the subject and then decide if it is right for you and your ministry. You will need to:
- Decide on a name. Ask the Lord to guide you in selecting a name for your new church or ministry. It’s a good idea to try to incorporate your ministry focus in the name if possible. Try to avoid using names that are similar to the names being used by other churches or ministries in your area. God has a marvelous way of giving you just the right name for your ministry – if you ask Him.
- Put together a board. Get people from outside the church or ministry you are starting to serve on the board at first. To start, get a couple of pastors you know and trust, along with yourself. Authority is a lot easier to give than to take back if you happen to pick the wrong person! Once you’ve been in existence for six months to a year and have people who have proved themselves faithful to your ministry, then you can begin to appoint those from within your local body to positions of leadership (2 Timothy 2:2; Titus 1:5).
- Prepare your constitution and by-laws. You will need to prepare these right away and be sure to include a statement of faith. If possible, get a few samples from other churches or ministerial fellowships to use as a starting point.
- Obtain your government numbers and exemptions. Contact the IRS to get your federal or employee ID number, and the State Department of Revenue to get your state ID number which will exempt you from having to pay sales tax for ministry related purchases. Fortunately, these are relatively easy to obtain.
- Obtain you Letter of Exemption or 501(c)3. This is what exempts your church from federal income tax and gives your supporters tax credit for their donations. Unlike federal ID and state exemption numbers, the 501(c)3 is more difficult to obtain and requires a fairly expensive application fee. Before you can apply for federal tax exemption, you will have to prove your church has been in existence for a period of time. It’s usually best to get an attorney to help with this if you can afford one. If possible, have another church or fellowship cover your ministry for the first year or so while you use their exemption status. After you’ve been in existence for a while, apply for your own letter of exemption. NEXT – Church Planting Guide Part 2 >
About the Author
Gary Linton is a writer, teacher, church planter and preacher with over 30 years of ministry and church planting experience. As founder of GSL Ministries, Gary trains and encourages pastors and church leaders from all walks of life.
How to Build a Church or Non-Profit Website in One Day
it might be possible for me to write more and more but i liked the communication i am the member of CEMP Christ Evangelical mission in Pakistan
Hullo freind, just been going through these articles, and some them are amazing. However, they also leave some questions in my mind about the way God does things: Why does one have to sleep on the internet psimply looking for people to sponser ministries start ups, and other plantings? Why is there always a deep financial question to millions that God has called to ministry on how they are to start and survive? If it is God’s work, why does He not take the pioneering role, instead of me looking around on how to be funded to do God’s business? No wonder many have not acted trustworthy with the funds accessed. Why? Simply they do not sense God in this at all. It was all their internet time and diligent search for resourceful sites. And when it is time to eat the pie, God is totally out of the picture. Any way just help me understand this. Otherwise it seems i am giving up on searching for sites, and just plant churches with the resources God has given me. And if He cant further His work, which He has commissioned me to start, it shall be up to Him. “Is Ministry a Burden”
Thanks
Please partner with us in Ethiopia. We are planting Churches in Muslim and phanatic Orthodox dominated parts of the country. We need partnering missineries and churches. I appreciate your point in planting churches.
Thank you so much for the excellent articles that comes from you.
Im Geneboy, one of the Leader here in our Church in Kuwait. Jesus truely transformed me and mold me, to do His ministry more. God give me a vision to do a Church planting in the Phillipines, where I am born. I realy need Ur support if You can provide me, some guidelines or Articles more on How to make a Church Planting?
Thank you so much,
Geneboy Ferrer
Thanks for your good works in planting new church.
I appreciate your your ministry. I am trying to plant a new church in a muslim densely populated state in Nigeria.May the Good Lord bless your good work. Thanks.
Pastor Joseph,
Thank you for your comment. We have many Pastors in Pakistan and prayerfully support them all.
God bless!
THE BIBLE REVIVAL MINISTERIES PAKISTAN (Registered)
Phone no: 092-042 7074535
Mobile no: 0300-4629612
E MAIL: josephbless@live.com
WEB SITE: tbrmpk.blogspot.com
Dear pastor,
Greeting in the name of JESUS CHRIST who is our savior lord.
My name is Pastor Joseph mohi uddin. Our ministry has been working since fifteen years in Pakistan. We are preaching word of God especially in remote areas of Pakistan. We are working specially among gentiles, drug addicted people. Our mission is to give Bible teaching, plantation of churches, Bible schools, printing literature, translating books in Urdu language. Paul said: “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I, who lives, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me”
We as Christians have a responsibility to spread the word to others so others may be saved as well. We have need of your prayers to continue this missionary work. We want to work with you in Pakistan for spiritual revival. “How wonderful it is, how pleasant, for God’s people to live together in harmony” Psalms (133, 1). I and my pastor’s team will pray for your ministry. Please share your blessings of God with US That God has given you.
God bless you abundantly.
Please visit this site:
http://www.tbrmpk.blogspot.com
Your brother in Christ,
Pastor Joseph mohi uddin
I have studied your web site, and I found it the most wonderful site to get right to the True Word of God. I found that all your material is full of knowledge concerning development of religious faith. Living in Pakistan we Christians is to face many obstacles to get the access to the word of God. Most of the people in Pakistan are not capable to understand the English language and they are hungry of the God’s words.
We are a team here working to bring such material into Hindi, Chines, Bangloe, Tamal,Urdu and Punjabi, languages. My suggestion for you is to create your material into Hindi, Chines, Japaniess, Tamail, Urdu and Punjabi, languages. It will bring lots of blessings of the Word of God for the Pakistani and Indian people. Although it will take your low expenses as well, as fund for the Word of God to reach out to the deserving people. As a translator I will take the expenses that will be spending just for the Word.
Please visit our website. http://crownoflifepk.webs.com
Your article was tremendously helpful. God bless you tremendously.
Dearest brethren in Christ Jesus Lover of our souls,
Thanks be to God who in Christ always lead you in victory and through you
spread the fragrance of the knowledge of God so far as soucessful church planting is concern every where in the world.
We would like to learn more about partnering with you in planting NEW CHURCHES AS FROM CAMEROON AND BEYOND through huse church planting.
We are Vincent Nwana Ndanjong /Yoning Anie Adeline,Cameroonian citizens with
holistic gospel mission intent in heart ,pre-occupied upon how we can
achieve the goal to reach the lost and unsaved souls recovering them for the
kingdom of God as mamy as possible.
We have been working with churches for thier expansion and extension since
three years ago.
And now we have been directed by the same God
to explore and evangelised some three environments as from the Douala Town to some small villages far from the Douala Town .We have just plant a house church in the Douala Town of more than 20 people since three months ago,of which 10 of them is seeking water baptism.
After visiting your web page,we discovered that you are a wonderfull partner for a rapeat church planting growth.
For this same cause, we kindly plead for partnerships in this enterpreneurerialship.
If possilbe you participate for the baptism of the ten people by giving us a date in which you would be ready to come or choose some one you trust better who is around the Africa continent.
We really need your urgent partnership for a wonderfull saturated growth in every area of this new church planting.
We kindly plead with you to prayerfuly see in to this matter and graciously work and lead alongside this small newly planted house churche and the ones to come.
Jesus said that where two or more are garthered in His name there is a church.
This is to say that we are too small to support our selves,but
believing we will never be to small to reproduce.We want to be
part of a church that is as wonderful as the first century church in Jerusalem .
We believe and accept to work together under your leadership ..We believe there is a powerfull synergy that takes place when godly people united for God than with every person,pursuing his or her own desires independently(Philippians 2:1-2).
We need you here in place so that you see it.
Waiting to hear from you.
Vincennt,
Blessing.
Dear Brother & Sister In CHRIST.
Greetings in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ coming soon.
I am idol worship family member.Wondrously Living God capture me 1972
I thanks to the holy spirit,i heard your name doing Gods work praise Lord
I hope to you and your family my daily devotion and Congregation praying
to you and your ministry.
I am doing Gods work among the Lambadis& Koyes areas sence 28 years.
I and co workers preaching the word of God in tribal area many pleases By
faith in God Kindly pray for my work.
We are not in position to man ten daily need we are always depend on God
only. We are leaving in Hut houses worship in Tree levees Huts,conducting
meetings monthly ones,every Saturday youth meeting running successfully
kindly pray holy night prayer on Saturday night,I request to you pray for
my work and needs in you daily prayers, If you visit india kindly come to
my area Thanking you.
God well see our work through your prayers.
Grace be with us Amen.
In his servant,
K.Paul Geeyesurao
Zion rock Church ,
Ananthavaram
Zip–507301,Khammam Dt,
AP–INDIA
The ministry I belong encourages this as much as possible.I mean The Redeemed Christian Church of God.I have been involved in several church planting both as a member and as a pastor.The experience is awesome.Once you have the calling,God will see you through.
Years ago in a nearby town, we managed to plant a church and you are right…if it is not God’s will, then people will give up. But if it is, you will be able to endure the many trials and voluminous amounts of red tape. I think looking back now, that it must have been God’s will, for the church is still there, although we moved to another town, the Holy Spirit didn’t. Fine article and one that gives ample supply to anyone to which such an endeavor is called. I wish I had this resource back then.
I have been pushed to start a new church in Soldotna,AK finally I am at peace with the Lord and the blockage inside removed, i pray the work is done lives are changed and hope is given to the people for a brighter future and love peace and joy abound. Pray for us and send me comments to zservanttoall@aol.com
The materials covered is excellent. I want everyone that left a comment that i am praying for you. Our goal is to reach people not build buildings so I am encouraged by each of you. I am a student at the Baptist College of Florida and my long term goal is church planting and missions but concentrating on theology to ensure my believe in doctrine is correct according to God’s word. Everyone be encouraged and courageous that we can do all things in Christ that strengthens us. I love you all and you are definitely not alone. God Bless
Sir, your material is a life saver to church planters like me. This is the first pratical down to earth material on church planting i have read. Really encouraged and refired me. I Wanted to stop my church planting efforts because of lack of surport and d
Am just a college student in Kenya but undertaking Evangelism ministry in the Christian Union (CU). However, am finding it rough to do since am facing fights among my fellow colleagues and at times my fellow leaders.
JUST PRAY for our colleges and institutions of higher education.
Thanks and am more than blessed.
‘am encouraged with your material, but right now am finding it difficult to make a move as to launch out to start the ministry the lord has placed on my heart.please help with some tips. God bless you.
Wonderful, I am happy for your article on planting a new church for beginner.I am a young pastor and about to start an evangelism and church palnting ministry as the Lord is leading me.Fisrt I want to plant a new church in Cameroon, Africa.Please I need covering and I want you to send me information on affiliating with GSL Ministries, Inc.
Hoping to hear from you,
Pastor CHE DIDIAN ANYE
Redeemed Power of God Ministries International
P.O.BOX.877.LIMBE
CAMEROON
Tel:+237-76355413
fax:+237-33332702
Thanks so very much for your article, it has blessed me much more than I can imagine, I have battled with starting a new Church several years now but the holy spirit has helped me through you. Lots of thanks.
wishing to partner with your ministry,show me how to reach you for more details.
wishing to partner with your ministry,show me how to reach you for more details.
I thought your article to be very encouraging. Keep up with writing more articles like this. Peace and Blessngs.
Planting a church is great and it will take a mighty hand of God. I have started one in Kenya hope to get more information from your ministry.
Sir,
I am a church Evangelist I am looking for some supportes who willingly support our cause to carry on our visin among North Indians . I am a Hindu Convert who accepted Christ as saviour in the year 1995 and I am working among Punjabi Hindus. I have a vision to start a new ministry registered with the Government rules. I am looking for someone to help me to carry it in and pray for me,and help me..
With much love
Your’s in Christ
Darpen masih
I am starting a new church work. Please send a downlable version of sermons on church planting and beginning a new work. I enjoying your materials.
Thanks
Be bless all who will buld up the kingdom of God with many wonderful works and deeds and blessing inChrist ,and God may be with us all in joy and thanksgiving hearts and helping all to be big in faith and love to the Lord ,thanks and bless and pray,keijo sweden
Yes Matthew, the church is guided by the Holy Spirit and built by Jesus (Matthew 16:15-19). However, the first church was not Catholic at all (Acts 2). Paul planted many churches and they were not Catholic. The Holy Spirit leads people to start churches of varying denominations and non denominational ones.
Church planting? You can not make your own church. The one and only true church is the Catholic church. Christ founded it himself, and it is guided by the Holy Spirit.
I just want start a new ministry as been lead by the Lord.Can i get any guild line from you.thanks
I have just started planting a new church in Ndola, Zambia and the challenge is big. Your notes on the new church plant are very helpful, clear and up to the point. I wish to get more information on the need for getting covered and how i can get affliated to GSL Ministries,Inc. May the Lord bless the works of your hands as you influence many in godly leadership.
wishing to partner with your ministry in church planting,evangelism,outreaches
Am just pioneering a new church here in germany ,your matrerial is fantastic and very practical.The Good lord bless you for the great work you doing.
Leave a Comment