Lack of respect for the local context.
A local leader who has seen many church planters come and go over the past 15 years told me one of the biggest mistakes is a lack of respect for the local context. Planters move from another part of the country and unconsciously try to turn Denver into a version of their home town.
They see a casual attitude, fierce independence and commitment to the outdoors as obstacles to be overcome rather than a culture to embrace. They believe deeply that once people are exposed to authentic worship and true Gospel preaching they will cancel their season lift tickets and skip Broncos games to join a small group and faithfully attend Sunday services.
Sadly, when this doesn’t happen, they are disillusioned and soon move back home.
Underfunded.
Church planting is an expensive business. It will usually take longer and cost more than planned for, and this catches many planters by surprise.
It doesn’t matter what model you use, it takes money to survive.
Many planters have tried to plant in Denver using missional communities, thinking it is cheaper than the traditional ‘launch large model’ espoused by Rick Warren, Nelson Searcy and others. While they don’t have to purchase a monster sound system, a massive trailer and incredible children’s ministry equipment, what they often fail to account for is how little money 30 people in a missional community give.
Missional church planters often find themselves working a full-time job to feed their family and leading missional communities in their spare time. Growing a vibrant, self-supporting church from a missional community base is incredibly difficult and slow. Many planters run out of energy and money before the new church can thrive.
Not only is the launch large model expensive upfront, but the costs just keep coming even after the equipment is purchased and the mailers are sent. The Overhead Monster (payroll, rent, insurance, supplies, equipment repair) eats 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Services cancelled because of a snow storm? Feed the Monster.
Offering drops by half because the Broncos have an 11:00 a.m. kickoff? Feed the Monster.
Trailer and all the equipment stolen and insurance won’t pay? Feed the Monster. Feed the Monster. Feed the Monster.
While piles of cash don’t guarantee a church plant will survive and thrive, lack of funding eventually dooms many church plants. You can’t raise too much money.
