Ed Stetzer offers some very interesting research on other churches’ involvement in church planting. He bemoans that:
“Lifeway Research surveyed over 1,000 Protestant pastors and found only 3 percent of their churches served as the primary sponsor of a church plant in the past year, and only 14 percent gave financial support in partnership with other churches to help start new congregations.”
For Ed, this was disappointing. I’m curious…what do you think?
Some people say church planting is for wimps. We should primarily be revitalizing and transforming existing churches. Others say our best efforts should go to new churches. What say you?
Church planting is…
If by church planting we mean adding to the body of Christ the only answer must be, yes. If by church planting we mean creating more organizations with accompanying buildings and programs like we see on so many corners, I would have to go with not so sure. As to revitalizing what currently exists in the organized church, I'm also left with a not so sure. I suspect that when/if revival comes we will be surprised at what it looks like. our boxes well be extrememly stretched. Even so come. Lord Jesus!!