Church planting wisdom from the pro's

Below is a great discussion by Wayne Cordeiro...I found two thoughts to be really helpful:

1. "Often, Christians aren't that honest. We can say one thing but not mean it. We marginalize those we don't agree with, and we use religious words to endorse what we want to do."

Isn't it funny that we can easly disconnect, or cut off folks with whom we disagree with. I know I've done that before, and it's wrong and not Godly!

2. "We stay in close relationship with each of them, but like a baby, we cut the umbilical cord to allow them to breathe on their own, but the relationship is not cut. It actually gets stronger."

I was discussing the issue of church planting with a friend, and I also read a book by Ralph Moore...Ralph states that once a church plant is six months old, they are let go, so they can learn and grow on their own. A mother church must allow the new church to breath and grow and learn. It's vital to the leadership development of the young church. Anyhow, this is some great wisdom from some great leaders...

daveferguson.org: "Wayne Cordeiro's On Creating A Culture That Attracts Leaders

Wayne,

When a church is looking to reproduce sites and reproduce through church planting - what are the top 3-5 'must do' for creating a future culture that will attract high caliber leaders for site pastors and church planters?

Thanks!

Dave

Wayne_cordeiro

Aloha Dave!

Great hearing from you. You are one of the top emerging leaders in the 21st Century Church! Thank you for using your leadership skills for the King! Great and relevant question. Top 'musts' when creating a future culture that will attract a high caliber of leader will be:

1. THE CURRENT LEADERS MUST BE OF HIGH CALIBER.

Like attracts like. But one of the more important factors is not just the competency factor, but the 'authenticity' factor. That is, the leaders need to be real, and human. I know that sounds dumb, but true leaders can see through any veneer pretty quickly and they are not attracted to competency alone. Authentic character plays a huge part. Are the current leaders 'people-persons?' Is there fruit in their marriages? Are they just drivers using people to achieve their goals?

2. THE SECOND IS LIKE UNTO THE FIRST... THE CURRENT LEADERS MUST TRULY BE 'DREAM RELEASERS.'

They need to be committed in releasing the dreams of young leaders. Not all emerging leaders will end up in your church, and not all will end up what they thought they’d be in the beginning. Sometimes what was to be the training of a lead pastor will find him to be a marketplace minister after a few years. We have to be committed to seeing them fulfilled in their calling even though it may not include our plans for them.

3. BUILD A CULTURE THAT IS COMMITTED TO BIBLICAL HONESTY.

Often, Christians aren't that honest. We can say one thing but not mean it. We marginalize those we don't agree with, and we use religious words to endorse what we want to do. I find that young leaders of high caliber appreciate a gracious honesty in all we do, and one that is biblical in action as well as in spirit. Most young leaders are attracted to that kind of atmosphere.

4. A CULTURE THAT IS COMMITTED TO WINNING THE LOST, NOT JUST EXPANDING THEIR BORDERS.

On another note, we have seven sites now that go live except for the message, which comes by video. The first year, we have them download nearly 100% video. The second is 60% video, and 40% the lead pastor teaches. The Next year, they do 60% of the teaching live. After the third year, we cut them off as their own self-standing church. They can still use video up to 40% but we encourage them to do less. We make a transition with two sites next month after three years. One is 500 and the other is 1900. We stay in close relationship with each of them, but like a baby, we cut the umbilical cord to allow them to breathe on their own, but the relationship is not cut. It actually gets stronger.

God bless you Dave. It is a joy serving the Master with you!

Great stuff! If you want to see how it works I will be doing an online coaching seminar for Easum-Bandy from January 23-26."

Dave Ferguson