Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Ed Stetzer Phillip Connor

Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Ed Stetzer Phillip Connor

METHODOLOGY • A sample of 2266 church plants were selected among 12 denominations or church planting networks of which 2080 were determined to still exist or not. • Church plants who received denominational funding between 2000 and 2005 were included in the sample. • Over 1000 church plants were contacted by phone to determine their survival, of which 500 completed the telephone survey • Among Southern Baptists, we attempted to contact all Nehemiah church planters appointed since 2000. • Over 100 factors were tested for higher attendance and baptisms as well as church plant survivability. Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

DENOMINATIONS/NETWORKS Southern Baptist Sovereign Grace Ministries Baptist General Conference Leadership Network General Baptists Wesleyan New Thing Network Assemblies of God Evangelical Free Foursquare Christian Church Lutheran Church Missouri Synod

Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Factors for higher attendance • meeting in a school in the first year • meeting in a theater in subsequent years • meeting in a school in subsequent years • conducting a special children’s event (i.e., Fall Festival) • mailing invitations to services, programs, events • conducting new member classes • using a church covenant signed by new members • starting at least one daughter church within three years of the • church plant • having a proactive stewardship development plan enabling the • church to be financially self-sufficient • having multiple staff members rather than a single staff members • at the beginning of the church plant Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Factors for higher attendance • being financially compensated as the church planter • receiving health insurance as the church planter whereby the majority of the premiums were paid for by the church plant, sponsoring church, or denomination • conducting a block party as an outreach event • delegating leadership roles to church members • conducting leadership training to church members • working full-time over part- or half-time as the church planter • being assessed prior to planting the church as the church planter • having the church planter’s expectations realized Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Factors for higher baptisms • engaging in ministry evangelism (i.e., food banks, shelter, • drug/alcohol recovery) • starting at least one daughter church within three years of the • church plant • having a proactive stewardship development plan enabling the • church to be financially self-sufficient • conducting a mid-week children’s program • conducting a children’s special event (i.e., Fall Festival) • sending out mailers for invitation to services and church events Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Factors for higher baptisms • conducting a block party as an outreach activity • conducting a new member class for new church members • conducting leadership training for church members • receiving church planting training in terms of a boot camp or basic training by the church planter • working full-time over part-time as the church planter • being assessed prior to the beginning of the church plant as the church planter • delegating leadership roles to church members Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Factors Associated with Survivability • Church Planter Expectations • Increases survivability by 400% • Church Member Leadership Development • Increases survivability by 250% • Church Planter Peer Group • Increases survivability by 135% • Stewardship Plan • Increases survivability by 178% Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Compiled by the Center for Missional Research, NAMB, Alpharetta, Ga.

Church Planting Survivability and Health Study 2007 Ed Stetzer Phillip Connor