Benefits of a Church Planting Movement

In the New Testament, examples of urban, church planting movements are the churches of Corinth, Ephesus, and Jerusalem which numbered many thousands and had multiple congregations gathering all over the city. They would have gathered together as one body from time to time, but they mainly met in smaller congregations. These smaller congregations functioned fully as churches in their own right, yet also remained as recognizable parts of the whole body of Christ in their particular urban settings.

1. Increased multi-culturalism

The multi-congregational, city-wide church creates indigenous neighborhood congregations that, when woven together, create a dynamic, diverse multi-cultural church.

2. Shared resources and coaching

The multi-congregational, city-wide church shares important resources of administration, finance, and staff. This model also provides on-the-job coaching for church planters and pastors.

3. Dreaming big, but doing small

The multi-congregational, city-wide church gives pastors a larger, city-wide vision, but also particular, hands-on pastoral ministry.

4. Neighborhood-based congregations, with city-wide impact

The multi-congregational, city-wide church impacts both urban renewal and the renewal of individual neighborhoods. As a city-wide church, we seek the renewal of the whole city; as neighborhood congregations, we seek to meet the needs of each unique neighborhood.

5. Big church ministries, with small church care

The multi-congregational, city-wide church offers “big church” ministries; yet, as neighborhood congregations, we still have a “small church” feel.