New Church Starts - The CBF Approach
"Churches serious about participating in missional ministry will be starting new congregations."
- Bo Prosser, CBF coordinator of congregational formation
At the heart of the Fellowship's new church starts ministry is a partnership model. This is consistent with the approach that we use throughout the movement. Partnerships are created to allow for a number of entry points to begin a new church start and to allow for support and sustenance of the new church. It can begin at any point, and partnerships form to support the work and the participants.
The Fellowship is committed to starting new churches. Distinct patterns define the CBF initiative:
Analytical
We look at multiple data sources to assess place and leadership for a new start. Demographic studies, focus groups, church starter assessment tools, partnerships and fund development. The Holy Spirit leads this process, and prayer and discernment are at the core of a new start.
Entrepreneurial
Baptist creativity is a part of every new start. Each one is missional in implementation, self-directed by highly motivated individuals or groups, and entrepreneurial in delivery to the community. Each new start is directed by the creative and entrepreneurial spirit of the person or the group initiating the new start.
Community Concentrated
Several new starts have emerged around concentrations of people. We are looking for “pockets” of people who are not served by a church and are desirous of a CBF congregation in the area. These churches are typically begun by a core group of persons living in a high density area.
Called and Affordable
Church starting is hard work. The core group must have a definite calling to participate in a new start. The group must be flexible in adapting to the cultural setting in which the start is occurring. The participants in a new start will understand that resources will be limited. Funds will be allocated to help with the infrastructure and marketing of a new start. Most church starters will begin their new work as a bi-vocational pastor. No funding is available for providing salaries for these positions.
Evangelistic
CBF is committed to advancing a church starting culture. Within this culture we encouragepersons to accept Christ and to join Christ in the work of the Kingdom of God. Evangelizing the culture will never happen without effective evangelism of the individual. The missional congregation is the best expression of this evangelism. As we share Christ with our communities, we will see more and more opportunities for new congregations to emerge.
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