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Building Strong New Churches the Right Way

What is NewStart?

 

Definition:

  • NewStart is an intentional effort to equip and resource the Church of the Nazarene for starting new churches. It is built on the New Testament strategy of starting strong new churches to reach people for Christ.
  • NewStart is not designed to give established churches permission to sponsor a new church. NewStart is created to empower our established churches to sponsor strong new churches.
  •  NewStart is founded on a consuming passion to win lost people to Jesus Christ. Careful studies have repeatedly indicated that starting new churches is the most effective means of winning new people to Christ.



Why does NewStart exist?

The evidence clearly demonstrates that starting strong new churches wins people to Christ more effectively because:

   

  • A higher percentage of people who don’t currently attend church are more willing to try a new church than to visit an established church.
  • A higher percentage of believers who attend new churches invite unsaved friends to church than do believers from established churches.
  • The number of churches in America is not keeping up with population growth. That means there aren’t enough entry points for the unsaved to find—or be found by—a community of believers.
  •  The established churches that help start new churches experience the miracle of replenishment. When a church shares its most valuable resources, it almost always grows to where it started—and sometimes beyond.
  •   When Christians obediently undertake something great for God, like helping to start a new church, they inevitably experience a true outpouring of His Spirit. One result is that they become uncommonly effective at sharing the gospel with those who are lost. Why should my church start a new church?
  • New churches multiply geographic gospel entry points for people.
  • New churches appeal to the unchurched.
  • New churches win people quicker than any other outreach approach.
  • New churches extend the evangelism impact of a local church by taking the gospel to the next community.



Why should my church start a new church?

The Bible Says So!
- Biblical Premises for Starting New Churches

  

  • God wants the lost found (Luke 19:10)!
  • The theme of the Bible is the redemption of humanity.
  •  During Jesus’ earthly ministry He was eager to take the Good News to all the towns and communities of Palestine (Mark 1.38).
  • The Great Commission, given by Jesus to His followers, is to make disciples throughout the whole world (Mart. 28:19).
  • The New Testament occurrences of "all the nations" can also be translated "all the peoples," indicating not just geography but also ethnicity.
  • Paul's interpretation of "Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (Acts 13:2) was obviously starting new churches.



Because America is now a Mission Field
- Reasons why America is a Mission Field

  • A significant multicultural presence has changed the demographics of America. The predominantly white society has been replaced by a microcosm of the world, including all of the world’s peoples, languages, and cultures. The United States is rapidly becoming as pluralistic as the world, as culturally diverse as a mission field, and as needy as any other world area to which missionaries are already going.
  • Society has become secularized, and the viewpoint of rank-and-file Americans is that Christianity is either distasteful or irrelevant or both.
  • Public life is almost totally devoid at Christian symbols and instructions.
  • The English-speaking white church in America has plateaued, and the population is somewhat resistant to evangelism. The multicultural church is growing, and the population is receptive.



What are the characteristics of a new church pastor?

Finding a person with all of the qualities helpful in starting a new church may be difficult—or impossible. Some provision must be made to encourage the strengths and make up for the weaknesses of the person called to pastor the new church. The pastor need not be omni-competent, but the pastor is all-important.

Dr. C. Peter Wagner lists several characteristics to look for in the new-church pastor:

  • A committed Christian
  • A well-adjusted person
  • A person of faith and vision
  • A self-starter
  • A friendly person
  • An experienced leader
  • A flexible, adaptable person
  • A person not easily discouraged
  • A person who wants to plant a church
  • A supportive spouse and family



—From C. Peter Wagner. Church Planting for a Greater Harvest. Regal Books, 1990.

 

 
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