Comments on: ChurchPlantSpeak!

By: Faith Untamed · ChurchPlantSpeak '07

Faith Untamed · ChurchPlantSpeak '07 — Fri, 07 Dec 2007 05:12:43 +0000

[…] Nearly a year ago, I blogged on what I called “ChurchPlantSpeak”. That is, the “expert” voices at the time who were explaining why so many church plants fail. You can read the post by clicking here. […]

By: Carl

Carl — Fri, 05 Jan 2007 02:26:29 +0000

Good post. I have seen more than one fail because the planter was not very good at leading a church and did not want to get under someone who would teach them.

I also think the “out of your element” excuse is just that. The Gospel is the Gospel. It plays the same regardless where you are in my opinion.

By: faithuntamed

faithuntamed — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 21:49:46 +0000

Thanks Phil. Be blessed!

By: Phil McAlmond

Phil McAlmond — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 12:28:29 +0000

Good post. I have hesitated to write comment as I have planted several churches earlier in my life and ministry and also have been involved in restarting churches that failed to be planted or remain planted over time.

I think all too often the issue of failure is too narrowly defined. That there are different levels of failure or at least different dimensions of it. In other words I may fail to plant a church successfully, fail to have a thriving living body of believers gathering together for worship, word and fellowship in Christ Jesus over time. However I may not have failed my calling or have not failed Christ Jesus in obedience, righteousness and faith.

I also do think that you could plant a church and have people in attendance regularly, etc. and still have failed the Lord Jesus on other levels. John Wimber once said within my hearing that we can plant churches without the Holy Spirit and that deeply concerned him. It does me as well.

Anyway, I won’t ramble on. Good post. Thankyou for bringing up the subject.

Merry Christmas and Blessings in Christ Jesus!

By: faithuntamed

faithuntamed — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 04:49:03 +0000

Thanks guys. I appreciate your kind comments. You’re both right about the percentages. I’ve heard anywhere from 66-80% failure so I thought I’d at least try to improve my chances in the post!

I’ll have to pick up the book you both recommend. Sounds like good reading. Congrats on the new one Lon! You’re a blessed man!

By: Lon

Lon — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 17:27:10 +0000

Marty, i just put down that book and saw your comment. I’m really liking it… what is a church is an excellent question we need to continually root ourselves in.

By: martyschmidt

martyschmidt — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 16:51:26 +0000

Great thoughts and insights.
I’ve heard higher then 80% which makes me wonder do any church plants make it?
Currently I’m reading a book by Neil Cole “Organic Church” and in it he claims that his group has started over 400 churches in the past 5 years. Which leads me to the question of what is the definition of a planted church.

By: Lon

Lon — Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:11:40 +0000

Great post. I’ve typically heard 80% failure rate as the stat. I think some of these stats are thrown out just to give people a quantitative idea of the level of risk involved… but I think the real question is what really is failure? If a church plant dwindles after a few years of struggle, but the planter was faithful to God, is it really failure?

But you’re spot on, often there are more obvious reasons for ‘failure’ such as a vital relationship with Christ…