Philip Wagner

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I am a church planter.  I’ve only planted one church.
It was 28 years ago.

While this year, 2012, is a year in that Oasis Church needs to enlarge our home base by finding a larger venue – at the same time – I have my eye on Church Planting.  “Church planting” is simply starting new churches.  I’m excited about what we will begin to do now and what we CAN do in the future.

We have been members of the ARC (Association of Related Churches) for the last two years.  We are partnering with them to help plant churches in the US and around the world.  We are now increasing our focus and efforts in this area.  In our own history, two or three people who at one time were leaders at Oasis, have started churches but none that we were actively involved in.  Now, Church Planting is becoming part of our future plan at Oasis.  We share ARC’s vision and are supporting their work as well as actively investing in young leaders who are planting a church.

At Oasis, we will initially have a focus on the West Coast, by helping men and women who have the desire and calling to plant new church here.  In the future we will be a part of planting churches in the US and other nations.

Why is Church Planting Important?
The Bible clearly teaches that we need to go into the entire world and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ, evangelize.  We also see that the Scriptures show that those who become followers of Christ should be brought into the local church.

We have been helping existing churches to grow over the years, but we can add another effective focus. In reality one of the most fruitful ways to evangelize & disciple people is to plant new churches. 

Consider these facts:

• There are about 350,000 evangelical churches in North America, however for every new church that opens, 4 close. 

• With the population of 300 million people in the US. 65% or approximately 195 million people have no vital church connection. 

• If we were to start new churches of 1000 people each, we would need almost 200,000 new churches in the United States to win all these people. 

• The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches. (C. Peter Wagner, “Church Planting For a Greater Harvest,” Page 7.) 

• I once heard Peter Wagner say in a seminar. “It is easier to have a baby than to raise the dead.”  It takes much more energy to bring new life into an existing church than to start a new one. 

• The U.S. has the 4th largest population of unreached people in the world, after India, China, and Malaysia. 

• 15,000 people per month convert to Islam in the U.S. 

• 85% of all churches in America are either plateaued or are
  declining (Win Arn, Church Growth Expert; found in Aubrey Malphurs, Planting Growing Churches. Page 13.) 

• Only 1 out of 100 of the churches that claim to be “evangelical” are actually winning non-Christians to Christ.   

• Church planting can stimulate the growth of existing churches 

• New churches can grow faster than old churches 

• Church planting is the only way to fulfill the Great Commission 

• Christian Schwarz in Natural Church Development, surveyed over 1,000 churches from 32 countries and 6 continents. He discovered that new churches of 100 people, were 16 times more effective in winning new converts to Christ than mega churches. 

• Church planting can facilitate good relationships in your church 

• Only 28% of people ages 23-37 attend church, as opposed to 43%-52% for older generations.

• Church planting is the best way to reach unreached people groups 

• More different types of churches are needed 

• Church planting can provide a rewarding ministry for church members

The sobering facts are:
According to Ed Stetzer, a leader in church planting, says that the National average is about 40% of church plants fail within the first 4 years – a 60% success rate.

I like the ‘ARC approach’ to church planting.  They have planted over 200 churches and have a 93% success rate.  This means that after 5 years, the church plant is still alive and growing.  

I believe Church Planting is a great way to accomplish 3 important goals in ministry, 1) bring people to Jesus Christ, 2) help people to grow in their faith and 3) to develop leaders.

I’m excited to see what God will do in the lives of people all over the world through the next 20 years.

Are you someone who has a desire to plant a church? Let me know.