Pop Quiz! 10 True-False Questions About Church Planting in the 21st Century

(This is a short quiz based on my experience as both a new church development pastor, and as the chair of a Presbytery committee that oversaw a number of new church planting efforts. Answers are at the end, below the picture. There is one "it depends" and one "half-true.")

1. Bigger is better. A new church should prioritize numerical growth above all else in its early stages.

2. Worship should be the central and defining practice for all new churches.

3. Sunday morning is no longer the best time for many churches to hold worship.

4. We “reach out” and meet new people in order to eventually “bring them in” to participate in worship and programs.

5. Most young people want a “rock band” or some sort of contemporary music in worship. Older people prefer traditional piano and organ music.

6. Hiring a young pastor is critical for bringing in young people.

7. Reaching financial stability within 3-5 years is an important goal.

8. Buying property and building a building is not necessarily the best way for a new church to establish itself.

9. The role of the church planter is to meet as many people as possible and encourage them to join the new church.

10. Goals and objective should be clearly outlined and measured, but also flexible and adaptable to new circumstances and insights.

Answers:

1. False. Many successful new churches are intentionally small, setting a goal to reach a certain amount of participants, and then to focus on a specific type of ministry or mission. Others seek to reach a certain size, and then send a group forth to start another new church community in a nearby location.

2. False. While this is still true in many contexts, many new churches will struggle to grow by focusing efforts around a single worship service. They might achieve better success by incorporating worship practices into other activities that will bring people together. 

3. True. Worship time is highly contextual in the post-Christian era. Many people are alienated from church participation because they work on Sunday mornings. Others choose social or recreational opportunities during that time slot. Since the overall culture no longer sets aside a weekly time for “church,” each congregation needs to find its own best times to gather - which may or may not be on Sunday.

4. False. We “reach out” in order to be a Christ-like presence in a hurting world, not to build up our own church institution. This doesn’t mean we won’t get to know people who might eventually come to our church, but it is not the central reason we go forth in mission. We go forth to love people, seek justice, and serve in our communities.

5. False. Young people are quite diverse in their church music preferences. Some actually prefer traditional hymns and choirs. The preference for a contemporary “rock band” is more of a Boomer trait than a Gen X or Millenial one. Each congregation will develop worship music based on the talents and interest within their own people, or to reach a demographic they feel called to reach. 

6. False. Any age pastor can lead a successful outreach to younger people. The key is not a youthful appearance, but rather that they understand the rapidly changing cultural realities and the need to be “out there” doing ministry instead of trying to simply attract people “in here.” I have seen retired pastors doing amazing part-time church planting work, simply because they “get it” and don’t try to replicate a 1960 church.

7. It depends. Different church plants have different funding models. Some are dependent on grants or denominational support that expire in 3-5 years. Others have more diverse and flexible funding sources, and can take 8-10 years to reach financial independence. There is no one-size fits all answer.

8. True. Again, context is key. Some churches will need a physical location and a building of some sort to fulfill its mission. Others will do better by renting space when needed and remaining more flexible and not tied to a mortgage and/or building maintenance costs.

9. Half true. New church planters do need to meet as many people as possible in order to understand their context and the vision for what a new church is called to do. However, people need to join the church if and only if they’re on board with the vision. If people are encouraged to join who do not share the vision for the church, division and conflict will ensue that can kill a young congregation.

10. True. It is necessary to have a vision, and goals that inform strategy and practices, but it is also good to make them very adaptable. New church planting always brings surprises and new learning, and sticking rigidly to an initial set of objectives and practices can inhibit the work of the Spirit.