First, new congregations are the basic building block of a Great Commission strategy
focused on sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Second, new congregations can be the most effective means
of evangelism to people who are pre-Christians, unchurched, or dechurched.
They are also the best vehicles for helping individuals and faith
communities to be on effective and meaningful spiritual and discipleship
journeys.
Third, new congregations can be more effective than existing congregations at
reaching a target group of people who are different than the people connected with the existing congregation.
Fourth, new congregations do not have to worry about the
long-term cultural values and traditions of an established congregation.
They have the opportunity to establish their own worship, fellowship,
disciplemaking, and decision-making patterns. They build their own
leadership and management practices.
Fifth, new congregations tend to grow both qualitatively and quantitatively.
Numerical growth seems obvious. A new congregation that does not
experience numerical growth won’t survive. Growth in quality has to do
with what happens spiritually to people who are involved in starting new
congregations. Many people find that the activities in which they are
involved cause them to rethink their basic faith, and their basic
understanding of the character and nature of the church. The end result
for most people is that their faith is strengthened, and their loyalty to
a community of faith is deepened.
Sixth, new congregations have systemic effects on the region. They
bring energy and impact to all other congregations that are part of regional life.
Seventh, new congregations being started are not simply occasional
events, but a movement that happens continuously, it creates a driving force for Kingdom
growth, as well as congregational innovation and effectiveness. New resources and leadership
are brought into the Region.
