Fellowship Send is a ministry of Fellowship Bible Church in Winchester VA.
It empowers church planters to establish thriving, gospel-centered churches by providing the resources, support, and leadership training needed to overcome challenges and make a lasting community impact.
01 WHO WILL PLANT?
Are these qualities noticeable in your life?
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A strong Gospel-centered orientation, theology, doctrine and life.
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An entrepreneurial spirit.
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Highly energetic and enthused about starting a new work.
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A commitment to a team approach to ministry.
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A leadership ability that is evidenced by past performance.
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Shows ability to enlist others in new ventures.
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A spirit of courage and confidence with a great sense of humility.
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A proven communicator and teacher with pastoral experience.
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A teachable spirit and a desire to learn and grow as a leader.
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Lives a missional lifestyle, marked by evangelism and discipleship.
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Your wife is just as passionate about planting a church.
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A willingness to work intensely for an extended period of time.
02 WHY PLANT A CHURCH?
It is a Biblical Mandate:
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Jesus' essential call was to plant churches, not just to share the faith. The Great Commission emphasizes baptizing and incorporating individuals into worshiping communities.
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Paul's strategy was to plant churches in towns and cities, which he believed was crucial for spreading the gospel effectively.
To Reach New Generations, Residents, and People Groups:
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New churches are more effective at reaching younger adults, new residents, and new sociocultural groups in a community.
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They are also better at reaching the unchurched, with studies showing that new churches attract a higher percentage of new members from this group compared to older churches.
As a Way of Renewing the Body of Christ:
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New churches bring new ideas, identify strong leaders, and challenge existing churches to self-examination.
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They can also act as an "evangelistic feeder" for the community, attracting converts who may eventually join older churches.
It is a Kingdom-Mindedness:
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Church planting fosters a mindset focused on the overall health and prosperity of the kingdom of God.
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While some members may leave existing churches to join new ones, the benefits of church planting, such as new leaders and ministries, can strengthen and renew older congregations.
03 WHAT ARE THE OBSTACLES?
EXTERNAL PROBLEMS
• Funding and Resources: Securing financial support and resources necessary to start a new church. • Finding a Location: Identifying a suitable location for the new church that is accessible and welcoming to the community. • Building a Team: Recruiting and training a reliable team, including elder leadership, to support the church’s activities and growth. • Marketing and Outreach: Effectively promoting the new church to attract members and raise awareness in the community. • Administrative Challenges: Handling the logistical and administrative tasks involved in starting and running a new church.
• Fear of Failure: Anxiety about whether the church plant will succeed or fail. • Balancing Family and Ministry: Struggling to balance the demands of church planting with personal and family life. • Maintaining Personal Faith and Energy: Ensuring that the pastor’s personal faith and energy levels remain high amidst the challenges of church planting. • Leadership Confidence: Doubts about their own leadership abilities and decision-making skills. • Managing Expectations: Handling the expectations of their congregation, family, and themselves. • Self-awareness and Care: Recognizing and addressing their own mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being to avoid burnout and stay effective in their ministry.
INTERNAL PROBLEMS
• Purpose and Mission: Ensuring that the new church stays true to its Gospel-centered mission and makes a meaningful impact in the community. • Community Impact: The belief that starting a new church should genuinely benefit the community and bring people closer to God. • Stewardship: The ethical and moral responsibility of managing resources, people, and their own time effectively. • Longevity and Sustainability: The importance of creating a church that will not only start strong but will also sustain and grow over time.
PHILOSOPHICAL PROBLEMS
04 CREATE A PLAN
Fellowship Send will train and assist you in creating and implementing a church planting plan that is Kingdom focused and fits your context.
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Meet with the Fellowship Send Team to understand their vision, goals, and specific steps toward planting a church.
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The Fellowship Send Team will conduct a thorough assessment of your readiness to plant a church.
Initial Consultation
05 next steps
How can Fellowship Send help you get started? SEE MORE >
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Schedule a Consultation: Sign up for a time to discuss your church planting goals and ideas with the Fellowship Send Team and how Fellowship Send can help.
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Download Our Church Planter's Training Matrix: A comprehensive chart of skills and practices that Fellowship Send can help you learn to start a new church.
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Complete the Online Application: Take a full-sized next step and complete the application and begin the church planting process.
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Create a Prayer Team: Church Planting is a life changing decision, having a number of people praying for you and with you in the journey is essential. Download our 4-step plan for Creating a Prayer Team.
CONTACT
Got questions? We'd love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out with any questions, concerns, or to find out more about who we are and what we do
