Our goal is to help existing LCMS congregations reach more effectively into their communities by providing the very best training for men and women who will work under their Pastor and Elders to plant new worshipping communities.
The culture of Jesus’ time was extremely anti-Christian; the church which Jesus established had no financial resources initially (Matthew 10:9-10) and no buildings; yet it grew like wildfire.
If you are someone who is serious about wanting to help others come to confess Jesus as Lord & Savior (1 Corinthians 9:22) through the planting of new worshipping communities which are under the oversight of an established LCMS congregation; this could be for you.
Successful graduates will be considered for advanced education in our Concordia University System & ministry placement.
Click here for more information about this new program!
At the 2004 Synodical Convention, the delegates set the exciting and essential goal of planting 2,000 congregations by the year 2017 (the 500th anniversary of the Reformation). Why plant 2,000 churches? One of the most compelling reasons for planting a church was observed by prolific writer and parish consultant Lyle Schaller:
"the most important single argument for making new church development a high priority is that this is the most effective means for reaching unchurched persons. Numerous studies have shown that 60-80% of the new adult members of new congregations are persons who were not actively involved in the life of worshipping congregations immediately prior to joining that new mission. By contrast, most long established congregations draw the majority of their new members from persons who transfer in from other congregations."
In order to accomplish this godly goal of planting 2,000 new congregations by 2017, established congregations are encouraged to become covenant congregations who will commit to planting between 1-4 congregations during the next ten years.
They are...missionary minded...concerned about people and their eternal welfare...culturally savvy...able to build community...people who can work well with other people, especially strangers...able to be all things to all people so that they might win some...willing to work hard...optimistic in spirit.
Just a few of the many essentials are...dependence on the Holy Spirit...thinking bigger than the boundaries of your congregation...learning from others who are engaged in church planting...planning to serve for the long haul...spiritually mature leaders and disciples of Jesus Christ who are committed to this venture...flexibility, since there is no one way to plant a church...building bridges into the lives of people through loving, caring relationships.
Finally, we reflect on the missionary labors of the early church as they brought the Gospel to the nations and to what motivated them. Author Michael Green observed that the disciples of the first century had a sense of...gratitude, as they had experienced the grace and love of God in Christ Jesus and they wanted others to know of His grace and love...responsibility, as they came to know Jesus as the Light of the world, they sought to share that light with people walking and living in darkness; and as they were made wise to God's way of salvation in Jesus Christ, they sought to help others become wise to their salvation in Jesus Christ...concern, for they knew that there were only two kinds of people - those who believe in Jesus and are saved AND those who do not believe and are condemned - there are SHEEP and GOATS, WHEAT and TARES, THOSE WHO ACCEPT THE INVITATION and THOSE WHO REFUSE THE INVITATION to believe...urgency, for they knew that life is short and that getting the Gospel message out to others was urgent; we also know that life passes by quickly, that we are to make the most of our time and to reach others with the Gospel message while we still can.