According to the Better Bridges report, as of September 2007, there were 597,815 bridges in the United States. Matsuo Bridge Company indicates that there are 6 basic “types” of bridges…girder, arch, truss, cable stayed, rigid frame and suspension. All of these bridges have the same basic purpose…to connect two geographical points that are separated by an obstacle. Yet despite sharing the same basic purpose and being classified into 6 basic types, every single one of these bridges is completely unique…they’re like snowflakes…no two bridges are exactly alike. The reason this is true is because every single situation requiring a bridge to be built has a unique set of circumstances that must be considered when the bridge is being engineered. Some of the factors that must be considered are things like: weather, wind, soil, span, load, etc. Due to the diversity of factors that impact the necessary elements of each bridge, it is necessary that every single one of the 597,815 bridges in the United States has been individually designed to fulfill it’s basic purpose in its unique context.

Nobody really knows for sure how many communities of disciples (churches) there are in America, but the number seems to be in the neighborhood of 320,000 or so. It’s hard to find a consensus on the basic “types” of churches, but there might be at least 10 different “types”…organic, emergent, community service-driven, multi-cultural, ethnicity-focused, purpose-driven, traditional, mega, multi-cultural and family. All of these churches have the same basic core purpose…to join Jesus on his Mission to seek and save the lost. And the reality is that every one of these churches is completely unique! Why? Because the context in which every one of these churches exists is characterized by a set of factors that must impact the “design” of of the church in order for it to effectively be on mission with Jesus.

Thinking about bridges enables us to identify some core principles that can inform our thinking about leading churches and starting new ones. Read the rest of this entry »

Last August, the Assemblies of God started a “ripple” that is slowly but steadily growing into a “wave.” The Assemblies of God Church Multiplication Network Matching Fund invested in 7 new church starts by giving them $30,000 each to assist with their start-up expenses. Those original seven have now been joined by 12 other new church starts that have taken the required actions to qualify for the funding. Here are the most up to date statistics on the progress of our matching fund churches….

• Number of churches funded so far: 19
• Funded church starts that have publicly launched: 11
• Districts represented: 9
• Number of personal contacts with lost people through face to face connections and events: 4741
• Individuals who have been baptized in water: 54
• Recorded confessions of faith: 263
• Amount of money invested by these new churches into missions: $64,055.98
• Missionaries or missionary projects invested in: 76
• Amount of money re-invested into the matching fund by these new churches: $25,648.72
• Kingdom Impact: Eternally priceless!

Keep in mind…the oldest of these churches is 8 months old. Most of them are much younger. According to Ed Stetzers research on AG church plants from 2002-2006, the average AG church plant averages 51 on their first anniversary. The 11 churches that have already launched have a cumulative average of 69 each week and have not yet reached their first anniversary! The “early returns” are very encouraging!

We have deliberately under-publicized the matching fund because we wanted to make sure it added value to the ministry effectiveness of the recipients. So far, that appears to be the case. In the coming months, we hope to significantly increase the number of churches we are partnering with through the matching fund process. If you’d like to know more, please visit the Church Multiplication Network Matching Fund page. Then give us a call with any questions you have!

Yesterday, I heard about a network of churches that has decided to de-emphasize church planting and put their energy into recruiting existing “independent” churches into their fold. I can only guess the reasoning behind that approach but I can tell you without any hesitation that it is a strategy that will not produce the hoped for results. They may experience some short term gains in the number of churches and people who call their part of the Christian family “home,” but over time, this strategy will only lead to stagnation at best and division at worst. The only strategic plan I can think of that would be even less productive is for an organization to put all of its energy into maintaining and preserving its existing churches. The only strategy that gives true hope for the future of any church or cooperative organization of churches is to make starting new congregations their number one priority.

Every church or cooperative organization of churches does need to have strategic plans to maintain existing churches and ministries as well as adopt existing ones. Obviously, on the level of the local church, there are certain ministries that are fundamental to the health of the church and need to be maintained. Additionally, God will send along individuals who have existing ministries that can be “adopted” into the life of the church because they are compatible with the existing mission of the church. Nothing wrong with maintaining and adopting as long as those are not the focus of the overall ministry strategy. However, new life, new ministries and churches, must always be where the primary resources and energy of the church or organization is directed. Read the rest of this entry »