Coaching Through the Stages of a Church Plant
VCF Tempe
Imagine a church planter who is in the heat of the battle. He and his team have launched and now they are in the church planting zone where a mixture of emotions is the norm. The best of times and yes, difficult times…at any given point the church planter can be sucked away by that downward moving whirlpool of subjectivity. In that unique experience called planting a church, the church planter can default to survival mode and lose sight of his original vision of planting a Vineyard church.
What hope does he have? Out of the foggy haziness of emotions, spiritual warfare and tight finances comes the church planter’s coach. A mentor who has been there and experienced the joy, pain, exhilaration of breaking 50, and has had to have his wife pull the knife out of his back on occasion. He is a survivor with a story and more than that can bring an objective eye to his young apprentice’s situation. He is someone who has grown wise accidentally through his failures and been humbled by the Lord’s victories in his ministry.
In the 90’s, one of the smartest things the Vineyard did was to begin to require that each CP (church planter) had an assigned coach. In fact, a CP can not be released without an assigned coach signing off on the release form of the church planter. It goes without saying, but I will write it anyway, that a wise church planter will communicate with their assigned coach on a regular basis, not just times of crisis.
You see the Vineyard is not just about planting churches but planting Vineyards. We have been entrusted with a unique perspective that serves God’s purposes both in our mission and our service to the rest of the Body of Christ. The role of the coach is to not only show the CP the ropes and help him deal with difficult issues but also to make sure that when it comes to values, practices and the nuts and bolts, the church planter is laying down a foundation that will yield the desired result: a Vineyard Church!
It is so easy to become focused on attracting numbers that the CP forgets to incorporate key Vineyard values, Kingdom theology and practices that define a Vineyard church. This is where coaching plays a huge role. It is crucial that the coach become that outside objective voice that reminds the church planter of what he can be working on at each stage of the church planting process at the three levels listed above (values, practices and administrative).
An effective coach will know what diagnostic questions to ask along the planting process that will help he or she assess the condition of the church and church planter in specific areas. The answers to those questions can then lead to effective coaching. The checklist for each stage can be found in the chart but let’s look at a few important items at each stage.
Conception Stage (Potential Church Plant)
At the conception stage, the potential church planter is developing his vision. The church planter should be encouraged by his coach to dream about what his church will be like. This should also be a time when the coach can help the church planter develop vision casting skills. This is one of the most important acts of communication the church planter will do. It is not enough to simply state word for word the vision of the church but the use of stories (testimonies) that illustrated just what you are after as a church are powerful. The coach can also help the CP develop a philosophy of ministry. This philosophy of ministry serves as an anchor during both the exciting and difficult times ahead.
Incubation Stage (Church Plant)
In the incubation stage, the church planter should be focusing on a few people in order to reap a harvest of many. In other words, a leadership development plan must be in place and executed. For every leader trained, 12 -15 people can be cared for. The CP must be intentional with his time and energy.
Gathering should also be happening and the simple question by the coach of “what are you doing to reach out to the unchurched” will reveal the church plant’s condition in this area. The worst thing a church planter can do is rely solely on its weekly meeting as a means of reaching the non-Christians. We have to go out and get them!
Also the coach can look over the CP’s written assimilation plan. It should be known by every person on the CP team. It should answer the following question: “How will people get plugged into the community of faith?”
Birthing the Church (Mission Church)
At this point, a trained leadership team has emerged and has bought into the vision and Vineyard values that have defined the church plant. The coach can now focus on more practical aspects of the church plant with the church planter. Everything from a facility to how to choose an advisory council and an adequate bookkeeping system should be in place. Some form of children’s ministry should be in place. This is a key to seeing the church reach its gathering potential; kids will come to Christ. Also since leaders have been developed, other ministries can begin to blossom and broaden the ministry of the church in your community. The coach can give practical tips for working with a lay staff.
An Established Vineyard (75-100 people)
More than just reaching the numerical level of one hundred people, an established Vineyard has more importantly incorporated key Vineyard values. From the worship style to small groups to Kingdom of God theology; there is a Vineyard lifestyle springing up all around. Coaching questions like: What percent of your people are in a home group?...How big is your leadership core?...How many people are being saved and baptized?...Are you ministering to the poor?...will be very useful for the church planter as reminders of what his church should be about.
An insecure church planter may protest at some of “the numbers oriented” questions but numerical results reflect investment of time, prayer and emphasis of values. Another useful coaching tool would be the church taking a Natural Church Development Survey to get an idea of how healthy the church is. NCD is a powerful tool and will help the church planter focus on quality that will lead to healthy growth.
A very good thing happens at this stage; the CP must consider taking the leap into full-time ministry. The coach’s input will be extremely valuable for the CP regarding salary and benefit packages.
Reproduction
Hopefully, sooner rather than later, the established church will begin to prepare to plant a church just as it was planted. The senior pastor will look to “sow” his best leader who has a heart for church planting as well as the skill and vision to do so. This means having an intentional plan for training up church planters. The coach can encourage the process and also help in identifying the church planter.
In conclusion, though the church planter has the “tough thrill” of starting a church from scratch, he is not alone. With the support of his sending church, his coach and his team, the Kingdom of God advances one soul at a time and the unique assignment given the Vineyard is passed on to another group of people!
The Stages of a Church Plant
- The conception stage: potential church plant
- Birthing Your Vision!
- Developing a clear vision
- Understanding who God has called you to reach
- Finding out who you are and what your philosophy of ministry is
- Defining the goals God has placed on your heart
- Gathering your core group
- (This is your two year plan)
- Incubation stage: Church Plant
- Vision is being shaped and formed
- Released by Vineyard to plant
- Unbelievers are coming to faith in Christ
- New leaders are being trained to start cell groups
- Understands and begins evidencing the Vineyard genetic code
- At least two or three small groups are functioning well
- New people are being assimilated into the church through these groups
- Core group is growing to around 50 people
- Major ministries that will start in the next 3 years are defined
- Birth: mission church
- Birthing your Church!
- Leaders “own” Vineyard genetic code
- Worship team in place with Vineyard values
- Located a good place to meet
- Implemented the most crucial ministries
- Some form of Children’s ministry
- Gathered enough people to facilitate your initial ministries (Between 50-75)
- You have trained leaders for your initial ministries
- At least two or three small groups
- Bookkeeping/budget in place
- Developing leadership council
- Moving toward self governance
- Growth to maturity: established Vineyard Church
- Vision is being realized!
- Genetic code visible in ministries
- Sunday attendance between 75-100
- Functioning Children’s leadership team
- Effective in outreach
- Small groups are multiplying (6 groups)
- New leaders are regularly being trained
- People are involved in ministry using spiritual gifts
- People are becoming real disciples of Jesus
- Finances to support full time pastor
- Church government established
- Legal incorporation
- Permanent meeting place