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.

This idea is supported by the foundational truth that Jesus referenced when he said we needed to lose our life to find it. Paradoxically, when we try to hold on to our lives, we end up losing meaning and purpose, but when we give our lives away, we enter into a dimension of living that is truly abundant. In the same way, churches or church organizations that exist for their own self preservation end up losing their power and fading away into church history. In contrast, churches or church organizations that deliberately give away their resources and sow out of their abundance into the future through new ministries and new churches thrive.

That’s why I’m thankful to be part of the Assemblies of God. We’re certainly not perfect. But we are choosing to put our emphasis in the right place…sowing into the future that God is calling us toward. Dr. Wood has clearly stated that vigorously starting new churches is a core activity of this fellowship. Yes, we do need to practice due diligence and make sure our existing churches are as healthy as possible. But, again, paradoxically, the most powerful path toward health for an existing congregation or cooperative collection of congregations is to make its primary goal to be fruitful and multiply…give itself away and in the end find itself.