Church-planting explained

France Mission believes that a healthy church will be a faith-sharing church. That means that it will also soon become a parent church, creating daughter (and eventually grand-daughter) churches as it grows.

Typically, a growing church will get to a size where it can commission some of its members and leaders to move out into a new church-plant, keeping links with the parent church from time to time. This can happen over a period of between five to eight years.

More than just a theory, this principle can be seen today in the planting of new congregations in Paris and Nancy.

To explain the strategy, we often talk about BEES... Bees know when their hive is full. They then "hive off" with the Queen and a small group of workers and settle in another hive. Both hives prosper.

...or STRAWBERRIES! In the first year of a strawberry plant, there are leaves. In the second year, there is fruit. In the third year, there are runners. If the gardener leaves the runners to take root, in the fourth year they will produce leaves, in the fifth year, fruit, and in the sixth year - more runners!

The Biblical principles behind this strategy are as follows. In the Book of Acts, the early church was blessed with spectacular growth in these five ways, which France Mission considers the pattern for modern church growth:

Christian believers will multiply. 1 Corinthians 1:17-19. Each disciple is to be a witness to the cross and to win others to the Lord.

Church officers, or deacons, will multiply. Acts 6:1-6. This step is a practical necessity if a growing church is to function smoothly and if its members are to be instructed and trained.

Elders will multiply. Titus 1:5-9. As the church grows, there will be an increase in problems requiring spiritual and pastoral oversight. God calls elders to be recognised by a maturing church so that its growth will continue positively and harmoniously.

Missionaries will multiply. 2 Timothy 2:1-6. Those whom the Lord has gifted with pioneer qualities are commissioned to move out from their home church, with its blessing, support and prayers, in order to preach the gospel and found other churches.

The church itself will multiply. Acts 9:31. One of the natural goals for a healthy church will be to give birth to a daughter church. Such a step will be evidence of the parent church's maturity and ability to reproduce its life and church structures. A church is not a static organism, but one which grows, develops, and reproduces itself by multiplication. Every time a church takes such a step is a test of the faith of its members and a powerful stimulus to unity amongst the membership.