I find it still quite amazing when I come across leaders who feel that church planting is not for them, or that there is no way they will be involved in planting churches. YET they are either highly involved in their church or leading a church. 

I don’t think that everyone should be planting a church, but many could be on a team or financially involved (via missions) in planting new churches. Some leaders have even planted their church and now their church is not involved in planting new churches at all. 

I realise there are many reasons for this. It could be that a new church plant or two didn’t fire and had to close down. Maybe expectations were dashed, and hopes for what was to be, were smashed. Or maybe there has been great disappointment in church generally. Or it could be you realise that it is really difficult and hard work to plant, and you don’t want others to go through the same pain. I have been through each of the above scenarios. I have also realised the discouragement of seeming failure after you have prayed and believed God. Church planting is hard work; yes there will be failures; yes there will be heart aches and struggles. 

But the fact is the church is God’s plan A and there isn’t a plan B!  Jesus is coming back for His church, a church without blemish. It’s a church that is vibrant and alive. He’s coming back for a church of many shapes, sizes and colours with imperfect people, made clean by Jesus! 

Here are some (not all) factors regarding church planting: 

• Every church that is in this country, (in fact any country) has been planted by somebody. In New Zealand every church that has been planted has been planted in the last 170 years or so. 
• History would tell us that mission has always been synonymous with planting new churches. In fact the result of mission is new churches planted. Also, let’s note that moves of God throughout history have ALWAYS resulted in the planting of new churches. Churches preserve and nurture the fruit of evangelism.
• It is the Biblical pattern. Paul’s missionary journeys are church planting and church nurturing journeys. In the book of Acts, the most concrete, lasting form of ministry is church planting. (‘Multiplication’, page 11. C.P. Wagner quote, 2008). 
• Mission leaders worldwide are convinced church planting is how cities, towns and villages will be reached with the Gospel. 
• Evangelism is completed when people are serving Him as Lord, connected to His Church. Matt 28:19-20. 
• Church planting trains and develops new leadership. Every principle of church health is realised through planting a church. The Bible was never meant only for information, but for transformation. 
• Church planting stimulates existing churches. The Body of Christ is expanded. 
• Surveys and research shows new churches are more likely to grow. (My book, ‘Multiplication’, page 197-198).
• New churches provide more options for the unchurched. 

I still hold to the fact and have a conviction that the following statement from Rick Warren continues to hold true. “The best way to fulfil the Great Commission in Matt 28 that Jesus gave to us is to plant new churches”.