A Reproducible System for Developing Church Planting Networks among Independent Christian Churches in the Northwest

by George Wilfred Johnson
June 1st, 2000
This study proposes a new model of church planting to be applied within a fellowship of 200 independent Christian Churches in the Northwest, 75 percent of whom average less than 200 in attendance.

Assuming that the most effective evangelistic strategy in the coming millennium is new church planting, the study proposes an adaptation of the successful mother-daughter model for application by a network of small and medium-sized churches. It is the author's thesis that a reproducible system of church planting can be developed and implemented among these churches, empowering them to make the most significant evangelistic impact in the Northwest region in their history.

The study begins with a review of issues related to the topic including the advantages of the mother-daughter model of church planting, the potential of small churches and the power of network partnerships. A second focus of the study is upon the biblical issue of congregational autonomy among Restoration Movement churches. The remainder of the study outlines the proposed model of new church planting comprised of a group of churches in a common geographic region who cooperate together in establishing a daughter church.

The study details the formation of a Church Planting Network (CPN) through a process of strategic prayer. It further defines the character and work of the network leader. The study concludes with an overview of the functional tasks of the network through the conception, prenatal, birth and early development phases of the daughter church.