McMullen
As the multiplying healthy churches team leader, I work with churches to help facilitate the starting of healthy multiplying church plants and replants.
One of the key things that I do for churches and associations is identify areas/people groups that are underserved and under-reached with the gospel. This information is gathered through community analysis, demographic research and what I like to call “boots on the ground” investigation. This last approach is particularly critical.
Church planters must immerse themselves in the community, listening deeply to understand its unique needs and culture. Once these areas are identified, they are shared with our churches where they can begin to pray and see the need of our state for new churches.
My job entails working closely with churches interested in church planting through an integrated approach of active recruitment, partnership development, and church planting coalition building.
We focus on identifying potential church planters, whether they come from outside the church or have been nurtured within its congregation. Our comprehensive process involves thoroughly assessing candidates’ strengths and weaknesses, providing targeted training, offering strategic coaching, and supporting their personal development journey.
During the development of the plant, we work with the mother church to see that the plant grows into a healthy multiplying congregation. In a nutshell, a healthy multiplying congregation is a church that has an outward focus that develops people to move from just being a believer to being a missionary for the Kingdom.
Everything that church does has this for its end goal. A healthy multiplying congregation is a church that is self-leading which means they have developed their own leadership, leadership culture, and have a process of developing new leaders. A healthy multiplying congregation also looks for ways to start new churches and campuses so that the Gospel can be shared.
We plan to collaborate with those in the field who express an interest in church planting by developing them to become “church planting champions.” The way that you identify church planting champions is they are the ones who have an outward focus and a Kingdom mindset. They see the needs beyond their walls and realized something new has to happen to reach those that are not being reached.
These champions also help churches to realize that church planting is not about taking members from another church but rather developing missionaries to reach the unreached. Once they are identified, our team can come alongside them and coach them.
Our team provides a comprehensive support ecosystem for church planters.
This includes an online training library accessible through Pathwright, ongoing training events, scholarships for planter training, a statewide coaching network, and an annual Church Planter’s and Wives Retreat. These resources are designed to equip and empower church planters with the knowledge, skills, and support they need to succeed in their mission.
We must realize that churches plant churches.
Our ultimate goal is to work with existing churches, helping them grow into healthy, multiplication-minded organizations that are committed to expanding the Gospel’s reach throughout the state.
By fostering a culture of missional thinking, strategic development, and continuous learning, we aim to create a transformative network of churches dedicated to meaningful community engagement and spiritual growth. B&R
