ECC Church Planting at CovChurch.org
In our increasingly post-Christian era, 83% of Americans do not attend church. Nearly 1/3 of young people under 30 are religiously unaffiliated. Every year, more than 3,000 churches shut their doors, never to open again. Myriad challenges – from rapid demographic change to tepid evangelism – render churches ineffective in communities across the country…
The Process of Planting an Evangelical Covenant Church
1. We begin with the right CHURCH PLANTER.
This is a person called by God and gifted for church planting leadership. Educationally, we look for someone with a Master of Divinity Degree or who is willing to work towards one.
a. Pre-Assessment: This involves an on-line test and an in-person interview with the planter and spouse. This could lead to a recommendation to the next step.
b. Church Planters Assessment Center. These are held three times a year in various locations. Once you are recommended for the assessment center, your way will be paid in full to the assessment center. Spouses must attend with the prospective church planter…
Book & Web Resources
Church Planting
- Planting Missional Churches: Your Guide to Starting Churches That Multiply (2nd Ed.), by Ed Stetzer & Daniel Im
- 5Q: Reactivating the Original Intelligence and Capacity of the Body of Christ, by Alan Hirsch
- Hero Maker: Five Essential Practices for Leaders to Multiply Leaders, by Dave Ferguson & Warren Bird
- No Silver Bullets: Five Small Shifts that will Transform Your Ministry, by Daniel Im & Thom S. Rainer…
Top Ten List: Why We Need New Churches
1. New Churches are needed because the large majority of Americans do not attend a local church.
About 20% of Americans attend a local church on any given Sunday. Many of those attend a church where they do not clearly hear the message of salvation in Jesus.
2. New churches are more effective than established churches at conversion growth.
Studies show that new churches have 3-4 times the conversion rate per member as established churches…
