Male and female relationships are more than complicated in our world today. Possibly even more complicated in the church than in culture. We struggle to thrive as brothers and sisters because of suspicion, church scandals, poorly formed theology, or we’ve just never seen it done well before. What should be a source of encouragement, partnership,... The post 5 Cultural Reasons to Include Women Leadership in Your Church appeared first on New Churches ..read more

Great leadership is never a one-size-fits-all formula. This eBook explores the complexities of pastoral leadership through the lens of church planters and revitalizers, uncovering the key competencies that define success in different ministry contexts. Based on a survey of 129 leadership competencies, Kevin Spratt explores the similarities and differences between planters and revitalizers and uses... The post What Great Pastors Do appeared first on New Churches ..read more

For the past eight years, I’ve had the joy and honor of meeting with 200 to 250 brand-new church planters twice a year at an event called Send Network Orientation. This event serves as our family of churches’ strategy to welcome assessed and funded planters, immersing them in our shared vision, values, and culture. It’s... The post 4 Guiding Principles for Worship Gatherings appeared first on New Churches ..read more

You might not think of yourself as a visionary because when you think of visionaries, you might think of Walt Disney or someone who started a major tech company. They tend to thrive in theory and have cutting-edge ideas. Do you consider yourself more of a pragmatist? Do you think, “I’m not creative and compelling... The post 3 Tips for Vision Casting appeared first on New Churches ..read more

You were not born a pastor, you were born a person. As Charles Dickens once said, “This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.” Without receiving yourself as a person, the pastor part of you–which is found somewhere inside of that–has no chance but to... The post Embracing Your Humanity as a Gift appeared first on New Churches ..read more

Few hurts hurt like church hurt. People join churches expecting a place of love, grace, and safety–a place that looks and feels like the heart of Jesus. Sadly, the reality of sin often messes that up, and people get hurt. This is especially painful when church leadership causes the hurt. I’ve been on the receiving... The post Healing from Church Hurt: Creating a Culture of Welcome and Refuge appeared first on New Churches ..read more

Appropriate church planting metrics are a thorny topic that many of us struggle with. How do you know if it’s going well? How can you tell? Is it simply a matter of counting? And if so, what do we count? Attendees, baptisms, staff members, compliments, giving, more churches planted, or something else? Clearly, numbers do... The post 6 Questions Around Your Church Plant’s Numbers appeared first on New Churches ..read more

Church planting is demanding, exhilarating, and at times, overwhelming. It is a calling that requires more than just strategic planning or leadership skills—it requires a deeply rooted relationship with God. As church planters, we are called to lead out of the overflow of a Christ-adoring heart. But what does that look like in practice? How... The post The Church Planter’s Heart: Essential Habits for Lifelong Ministry appeared first on New Churches ..read more

I was in the middle of small group when I received a barrage of text messages. People from different spaces in my life were desperately trying to reach me. Their pastor had been fired for a moral failure. They felt betrayed, confused, and lost. With nowhere else to turn, they turned to me. As I... The post The Devil’s Strategy to Destroy Church Planters—And How to Hit Back appeared first on New Churches ..read more

The goal of church planting is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We are called to make disciples for the glory of Christ—everywhere. For the church to do this well, it will require intentionally engaging the lostness of our local communities. We can only engage the lostness of our community well if we know our... The post How to Know Your Community Well appeared first on New Churches ..read more