Bonifacio C. Patricio Jr.
Church Planting is one approach in evangelizing Philippines. This writer does not claim nor profess to be an expert on the subject. He just had an experience on Church Planting that he wants to share.
He had planned to work in an area where the church is not found. And that was the reason why he chose to first plant the church in Pasay City in 1985 (after getting some recommendations from some concerned brethren).
All the congregations were started to meet a need, to evangelize the different areas where the churches were located. As this writer looks back he realizes that what happened is what it is called CHURCH PLANTING.
THE BIBLICAL BASIS OF CHURCH PLANTING
Matt.28:19, reads, "Go and make disciples of all nations". The disciples have to make disciples anywhere. The early disciples planted churches in places where there were no churches.Mark 16:15,says "Go and preach the gospel to every creature..." "Every creature will include those people who are in other countries and places where there are no churches. To reach them there is a need to plant churches .
Acts 8:4, "Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word". Acts 8:5-ff.. Philip, the evangelist planted the church in Samaria.
Acts 11:19-ff-The church at Antioch was planted by those who were scattered (v.19) and with the assistance of Jerusalem Church and Barnabas. (v.22.). Acts 13:1-5 The church at Antioch sent Paul and Barnabas. They planted churches in; Perga, Lystra, Derbe, and Antioch (of Syria). This is called the 1st Missionary Journey (Acts 13-14).Acts 15:39-18:22- During the second Missionary Journey of Paul, he planted churches to these places; Philippi, Troas, Thessalonica, Berea, Corinth, Ephesus. Acts 18:23-21:16. Paul planted churches in Galatia and Phrygia, and in Macedonia (20:1-5).
Paul was a "church planter".
1. 2 Cor.10:15-16," Not boasting of things beyond measure, that is in other men's labor, ...to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man's sphere of accomplishment.".
There is a "Macedonian Call" to the churches.
Acts 16:6-10 ".A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him saying, "COME OVER TO MACEDONIA TO HELP US". There was no church in Macedonia. That’s the reason for the “Macedonian call”. There are those who come to us for help. They say, "Help us start a congregation in our place!" .We can not tell them. "Just wait, we'll plan for that, or Sorry, we can not because we want to build a mega church here in our place."
The brethren are helped to grow or mature.
Church planting provides the opportunity for brethren to be responsible Christians, and evangelist too. Heb..5:12, teaches that "old" Christians ought to become teachers.
It was observed that "older" Christians who were not delivering sermons while worshipping with large congregations, were able to do it in the new planted congregations. This writer's sons, learned to serve the Lord’s table and lead prayers in the new planted churches. Also, those who will stay in the congregation where the church planter comes will be forced to do their part in evangelism.
Increase our membership.
Church planting is growing in number. The ten congregations This writer has a part it their planting are small congregations. All have the average membership of 35-40, (except the newer ones). Fewer than some congregations in Metro Manila (but is larger than others too). But if you multiply 35-40 to 9 or 10 then that is 350 to 400 Christians.
It multiplies the number of evangelist.
More preaching brethren will multiply in church planting.
Big congregations have the problems of overlooking the potential of some brethren who are capable of preaching and so they are not asked to preach.But in a newly planted church, men are forced to study and preach.
There is need to look for the "lost sheep".
The parable of the lost sheep, teaches that one sheep is important
In a church planting in an area there is always the opportunity of finding the lost brethren.After the signage was put up, not a few brethren visits and say, "We're happy to find the church. We have not worshipped for a while".
The church must be where the people are
CHURCH PLANTING IS NOT :
Starting one congregation in one place, and staying there through out your life. It was a church planting but when one stops there, then he stops planting church. The PROBLEM of many preachers is that they have not nurtured the church they planted 30 years ago, 40 years ago. (They have not trained Christians to become leaders of their congregations and therefore can not leave their congregation). A more SERIOUS PROBLEM is that a planted church becomes a dead church later because of the preacher.
Church planting is not starting one congregation and leaving it without provision to grow.“We are not judge how we started but how we finished”. Paul, after establishing churches, sent evangelists to look after the concerns of the new planted churches.(Tit.1:5).
He also communicated with the new churches. His letters in the N.T. are his communications with the churches.
It is not becoming a preacher of one congregation already established.
There is nothing wrong with being a preacher of one established congregation, but you are not a church planter.
For a congregation who wants to plant a church:
Possible steps in church planting.
The church must be well advertised in case there are other Christians in the community. If there are Christians in the community, who do not attend any congregation they must be informed about the plan and be asked to participate. Members of the planting churches must attend the worship services and activities of the newly planted church, to show support. Members of planting church must attend at least for a year or two. There must be a consistent evangelism program from the very start. New members must be edified and be trained to participate.
Start scouting for a full-time worker. Teach the new congregation of their responsibilities.
CONCLUSION:
These observations and recommendations are based on the experiences of this writer. It comes to you as suggestions in evangelizing the country.