Should Small Churches Plant Churches?

[from an article by Rev. Ken Behnken, Center for U.S. Missions]

How often haven’t we heard the excuse that we will plant another church when we get larger? How large is larger? At what point do you, as a new mission start, start thinking about having a family? This is something newly married couples discuss already in their courting days. By the time they are pronounced husband and wife they already have a pretty good idea about when they will start their family.

New church plants ought to be doing the same thing. The initial mission plan should include “family planning.” When will we start having children? It is never too early to plant a new church. Many non-denominational churches are grooming a team for a new church plant in their first year of existence. By the time they reach 100 members they are ready to give away leaders and members to help start the next church.

If we are serious about reaching more people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we need to be thinking exponentially. We have daughter churches that have daughter churches that have daughter churches. This is New Testament thinking. Paul, Barnabas, Timothy, and the early apostles did not plant a church and wait until it grew to a certain size. As soon as there were leaders established in the new church, they were off to plant the next church.

Yes, it is costly. It will cost you money, people, leaders and delayed dreams. Your initial church would probably be larger if you did not plant another congregation. It is easy to get so focused on our own turf that we forget to look at the Kingdom.

A newly-married couple that selfishly chooses not to have children because it would interfere with their occupations and dreams of material wealth, come to the end of their lives having multiplied things but not themselves. When you plant a daughter church, you have multiplied yourself and are reaching twice as many people. As your daughter congregations plant new churches, the multiplication continues. Think of the joy you receive by watching God bless your children. Think of the joy you will have watching God bless your daughter churches. Think of the family reunions as you get together with your daughter churches and your granddaughter churches.

It is never too soon to start thinking about multiplying your church family. Prayerfully seek God’s guidance and then watch Him perform the miracle.