Planting Churches among the City's Poor - Volume 1

P ART I: D EVELOPING U RBAN C ONGREGATIONS • 33

Missionaries who plant indigenous churches emphasize several distinctives of their church-planting strategy. First, a proper beginning is of utmost importance. 27 The first church planted in an area becomes a model for later churches that are “spun off.” Therefore, it is especially important to set up indigenous self-government at an early stage. The missionary first assumes the role of evangelist. Once a core group of believers is gathered, the missionary takes on the role of teacher. However, even in this early stage the indigenous leaders chosen by the church should hold church government roles. The missionary trains the church leaders who in turn govern the church. From the beginning the church is self-governing. Self-Support The church carries its own financial burdens and finances its own social service projects. An indigenous church regards the social problems of its local environment as its own concern and does not rely exclusively on outside resources in addressing needs. Finances are necessary in church planting. Mission funds support church planters and undergird their initial efforts to gather a church. Nonetheless, finances must be handled carefully if the church is to become self-sustaining. The danger is that the church may become dependent upon outside finances unless the use of mission funds is administered wisely. Financial considerations often determine the shape of church-planting strategy, especially in low-income areas where potential church members are poor. In discussing possible strategy options Jim Westgate, a church planting specialist for the Evangelical Free Church, says, “Many house churches carry on with no financial outlay at all. . . when enough house churches are formed, they can merge together and buy a suitable facility. The key in this strategy is one coordinating pastor or leader with trained leaders ministering in the house churches with the intent of merging in the future . . . the house church provides flexibility for penetrating the mosaic of such an urban culture.” 28 Others suggest variations of this option in which, “. . . one might encourage house churches in con junction with a central church that meets once a week or once a month.” 29 ________________________________________________________________________ 27 Melvin L. Hodges, The Indigenous Church (Springfield, MO: Gospel Publishing House, 1953), pp. 22-23 28 James E. Westgate, “Emerging Church Planting Strategies for World Class Cities” Urban Mission , Nov. 1986, pp. 9-10 29 Roger Greenway and Timothy Monsma, Cities: Mission’s New Frontier (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1989), p. 145