Reach Kentucky Initiative

Church Planting & Revitalization

Church Planting Matching Healthy Church Plants with Prepared Church Planters Church Revitalization Restoring Churches to Vibrant, Spiritual, Relational, Numerical and Financial Health

District Superintendent: Joe Girdler c/o Kentucky Assemblies of God PO Box 98 Crestwood, KY 40014 Phone: 502-241-7111 Email: jsgirdler@kyag.org

Church Planting Director: Terry Crigger c/o Christs Chapel Assembly of God 3819 Turfway Road Erlanger, KY 41018 Phone: 859-371-3787 Email: pastorterry@fuse.net

Kentucky Church Planting and Revitalization Team

District Superintendent --------------------------------------------Joe Girdler Assistant District Superintendent ------------------------------Jerry Parritt Director/Pastor/Church Planter -------------------------------Terry Crigger

Table of Contents

Church Planting and Revitalization:.................................................................p. 4 ! Philosophy, Goals and Strategy Church Planting Terminology ..........................................................................p. 6 Methods of Planting New Churches ................................................................p. 8 Application to Plant a New Church ..................................................................p. 10 Church Revitalization Application ....................................................................p. 12

Church Planting and Revitalization: Philosophy, Goals & Strategy

Our Vision:
To create a structure whereby church planters are recognized, equipped and released to pioneer healthy churches in Kentucky and to assist current pastors and church leaders in overcoming the barriers of numerical growth and common ministry plateaus.

Our Strategy:
Building pastoral relationships within our district committed to the journey of establishing anetwork of trust and friendship as ideas and vision are shared that expand the kingdom of God within the framework of local churches Participating as often as possible in the Annual Church Planting and Revitalization state wide events that include a one-day seminar in the spring and a two-day conference in the fall

Our Philosophy and Goals:

The local church is Gods idea and remains the primary witness of Jesus Christ upon this planet. The Great Commission is our mandate for evangelism that begins in each local church and expands rst to our communities and then to the nations of the world. Church Planting and Revitalization is the biblical and primary strategy for enlarging the Kingdom of God. Cooperating with that strategy will assure success by increasing both the number of people coming to Christ and in believers maturing in the faith. Our Superintendent, Joe Girdler, has stated our collective goal to signicantly increase the number of churches in our district, which currently numbers approximately 150. Three specic goals for Church Planting between the years of 2010 and 2020 are Every county in Kentucky should have an Assembly of God witness. There are 120 counties in Kentucky. It is the goal of the Kentucky District to assure each of those counties has at least one Assembly of God church by the year 2020. That by the year 2020, each of the 12 Kentucky District sections pray, prepare and plant three additional Assembly of God churches. That the areas in Kentucky with more aggressive population growth such as Northern Kentucky, Louisville and Lexington plant a minimum of ve additional Assembly of God churches by 2020.

Accomplishing these goals within the decade of 2010 to 2020 seems challenging, yet realistic and visionary. With clarity of spiritual insight, our primary challenge is in moving beyond the business as usual mentality and choosing to believe God for something miraculous in our lifetime. Having an ending goal of establishing nearly 50 church plants in one decade eliminates the pressure of creating something too quickly that will be short lived, and it also gives us adequate time to create strategy and foundational structure to build for lasting success. Revitalization is a key ingredient to our overall success as well; in fact, it is usually a prerequisite for church planting. All churches experience the numerical and spiritual barriers that cause a degree of stagnation and plateau. Therefore, our collective goal is that all of our pastors, ministers and churches will commit to the journey of revitalization. No longer will revitalization simply dene the one or two congregations in each section that have seen no measurable growth in recent years or those specic churches with facilities needing repair. Revitalization will more appropriately dene pastors and congregations that will invest in the journey of discovery and action necessary for ongoing and sustainable growth. It is a common church fact that a revitalizing congregation is also a planting congregation. This does not always translate specically into church planting but it does usually nd expression in life-giving/fruit bearing ministry.

Church Planting Terminology

1. " " " " " 2." " " House Church: This term describes a new church plant in its initial stage. During this stage of development, the Church Planter is meeting with people in homes for Bible Study, prayer and ministry planning sessions. New church plants are required to remain as a House Church until the church has at least 20 committed adult members in its Core Group. New Church Plant: This term describes a church that has advanced beyond the House Church stage, and has leased a building for their services. New Church Plants have also: A. Been set in order as an Assembly of God church afliated with the Kentucky District of the Assemblies of God. B. Been incorporated with the State of Kentucky as a non-prot organization. C. Received tax-exempt status with the state of Kentucky and has a tax-exempt number. D. Received a federal ID number with the IRS. It is recommended that a New Church Plant lease an inexpensive building, such as a school auditorium, a theatre, etc., until the church can afford to obtain other facilities. The District Church Planting Director or the District Superintendent must approve any building before any lease agreement can be signed. District Afliated Church: Any church that is older than three years of age, but has not yet achieved General Council status. Satellite Church Plant: A satellite church plant is a new church that is started under the direct supervision of, and is directly accountable to a mother/sponsoring General Council afliated Assemblies of God church. Such a new church plant is usually viewed as an extension of the mother/sponsoring church. Satellite church plants may be both sponsored by a mother church and afliated with the Kentucky District Council of the Assemblies of God as a District Afliated church. Such dual afliation is required if the satellite church plant is to qualify for nancial assistance from the Kentucky District Church Planting Funds. The Kentucky District will cooperate with the sponsoring church and honor the unique relationship between the mother-daughter churches. The Kentucky District encourages sponsoring churches to guide their satellite churches toward afliation with the General Council of the Assemblies of God as autonomous Assemblies of God churches as soon as it is feasible and benecial. General Council Church: Any church that has completed the process of becoming a self-governing church within the framework and policies of the General Council of the Assemblies of God. To receive this designation, the church must complete both the District Council and General Council requirements for this process.

" " " " 3." " 4. " " " " " " " " " " " " 5." " " "

Church Planting Terminology (cont.)

6.

Plant Sunday: This is the rst Sunday the New Church Plant meets in their leased facility. It is also called the Grand Opening Sunday. This is the rst service the church will hold in a public building. On this Sunday, all initial ministries need to be in place and functioning; i.e., worship services, nursery, Christian Education classes, ushering, etc. Core Group: The Core Group is that group of people who share your vision for the church plant and have committed themselves over the long haul to help with the work and ministry of the new church plant. They will help with strategic planning and contribute nancially to the new church plant. Church Ofcial Board: The ofcial board of every new church plant and District Afliated Church consists of the Pastor, the District Executive Ofcers, the Church Planting Director, and the Sectional Committee. In those cases where a new church plant is both a satellite of a mother/sponsoring church and a District Afliated Church, the ofcial church board will be determined by the Pastor and Board of the sponsoring church and will include the District Superintendent or his designee.

7.

8.

Methods for Planting New Churches

In general terms, a new church may be started in one of the following ways:

1.

By a PARENT CHURCH: In this format, an established General Council church takes the initiative to plant a new church. Usually, founding families, nancial aid, spiritual guidance, and governmental oversight are provided by the planting church. It is the goal of the new church plant to become self-supporting as soon as possible, and it should be the goal of the planting church to release the new church to afliate with the General Council of the Assemblies of God as an autonomous Assemblies of God church as soon as it is feasible and benecial. By the DISTRICT COUNCIL: The District Council itself, usually working through the District Presbytery or the Church Planting Committee, can take the initiative to begin a new church. Selection of a founding pastor and opportunities for fund raising would be provided and approved by the Church Planting Committee and the District Presbytery. By a SECTION: Any Section of the Kentucky District Council, under the direction of its sectional Presbyter and with the approval of the Church Planting Committee and District Presbytery, may take the initiative to plant a new church. Selection of a founding pastor and opportunities for fund raiding would be approved by the section, with nal approval by the District Presbytery. By an INDIVIDUAL CHURCH PLANTER: In this format, a pastor with a vision for a community begins a new church plant through personal vision, individual labor and sacrice. Often the Church Planter will need to do some tent making (providing for persona and family nancial needs by secular word) until the church can provide nancial support. Initial start up funds are available through the Kentucky District Church Planting Fund. The disbursement of such funds has to be approved by the CHurch Planting Committee and the District Presbytery. However, it is to be clearly understood that the Church Planter should not assume that the District will provide all funds that are needed to plant a church. It is the belief of the Kentucky District that God will provide for every pastor who has indeed heard from the Lord of the Harvest, and is obedient to that call. Where God guides, He will provide. As a result of a CHURCH SPLIT: Every effort must be made to preserve the harmony and unity of every existing Assemblies of God Church. Individuals who threaten the health of any church through divisive and disruptive behavior should be held accountable for their actions. However, it is acknowledged that on occasion, irreconcilable differences manifest within the members of a congregation, and a second assembly may emerge as a result. In such cases, the newly formed assembly may be organized as a New Church Plant with the approval of District Presbyter and under the direction of the Church Planting Committee.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Methods for Planting New Churches (cont.)

6.

As a Satellite Church: Some existing churches choose to mother a new church as a satellite church. A satellite church is basically a branch of the mother church planted in a new location. The mother church may own the property of the satellite church and provide the staff. Mother churches who plant satellite churches are encouraged to schedule their satellite pastors for a Church Planters Assessment interview with one of our Assessment Teams, and to send their satellite pastors to a Church Planters Boot Camp. To qualify for funding from the Assemblies of God Kentucky Church Planting Fund, satellite churches must comply with the applicable policies and procedures as outlined in this manual and be set in order as a District afliated Assemblies of God church.. As a Fresh Start Church: Fresh Start Churches will be classied as such if they meet the following basic criteria: A. Fresh Start may be considered when an existing church in a specic community, town or neighborhood, has been ofcially closed by the District Presbytery. The only connection between the Fresh Start and the previous church in the same community, will be any capital assets remaining from the previous church. The Fresh Start must have completely new pastoral leadership with a unique mission, vision and values that distinguish it from the previous church. 1) Fresh Start Churches and planters will be approved utilizing the same process currently required for new church plants. The Church Planting Committee, in consultation with the Sectional Presbyter, will determine whether a New Church Plant should be classied as a Fresh Start Church or a new Church Plant. 2) Approved Fresh Start Church pastors will be sent to a Church Planters; Boot Camp using funds from the Church Planting Fund. 3) Approved Fresh Start pastors will be assigned a coach and the coaching expenses will be paid from the Church Planting Fund. 4) Approved Fresh Start Churches may be eligible for grants from the Church Planting Fund, with the approval of the District Presbytery. 5) All assets of the previously existing Assembly of God church will be available to the Fresh Start Church being planted in the same specic community, town or neighborhood. "
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7.

B.

C.

APPLICATION TO PLANT A NEW CHURCH

Kentucky District Council of the Assemblies of God, Inc.
! NOTE TO APPLICANT: Along with this completed application, please submit a recent photo. 1. Date: ____________________________________ 2. Name: __________________________________________Spouse:______________________________ Address: _____________________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ________________________________ Cell Phone:_______________________________ Email Address: _______________________________ Website: _________________________________ Name(s) and age(s) of Children: __________________________________________________________ ! ____________________________________________________________________________

3. Location of proposed new church (be as specic as possible): ____________________________________________________________________________________ 4. Section: _________________________________ Presbyter:____________________________________ 5. Name of A/G church(es) within a 5-mile radius: ____________________________________________________________________________________ 6. Why do you believe this is a good location for a new church? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 7. Approximate population of the community/area? _____________________________________________ 8. Do you have a group of people interested in helping with this new church? YES NO If yes, how many adults? ________________________ YES NO

Are these adults presently involved in a neighboring church?

If yes, where? ____________________________________________________________________________ How much monthly nancial support can you expect from these adults? ______________________________

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9. Do you have any type of promised nancial support available to assist you with this project? (District or Sectional Faith Promises, National Home Missions Support, support promised by friends, family or churches, etc.). If so, how much has been promised? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 10. If you plan to engage in some for of tent making? What do you expect your income to be and how many hours per week will it take? ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ 11. Total of monthly payments you make on your personal consumer debts including mortgage/rent, car loans, credit cards, school loans, medical debts, etc.). $ ___________________________ 12. Is there a meeting place available? Yes No Unknown at this time

If YES, type of building or facility: __________________________________________________________ If YES, monthly rent/lease: $ _____________________________________________________________ 13. Have you made any commitments for purchase, lease, or rent of property? _________________________ If yes, please explain: ____________________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ ___________________________________________________________________________________ 14. Will you cooperate with the Kentucky District policy throughout the process of establishing a new church? Yes No 15. Credentials: Ordained Licensed Certied Minister

16. Signature: ___________________________________________________ Date: ____________________ 17. Signature of Parent Church Pastor (if applicable): _____________________________________________ 18. Write a specic overview of your vision and methodology for your proposed church plant (several paragraphs recommended).

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CHURCH REVITALIZATION APPLICATION

Kentucky District Council of the Assemblies of God, Inc.

1. Date: ________________________________ 2. Name: ___________________________________ Spouse: ______________________________ Address: _______________________________________________________________________ Home Phone: ______________________________ Cell Phone: __________________________ Email address: ______________________________ Website: ____________________________ Name(s) and age(s) of Children: ____________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ 3. Church Name: __________________________________________________________________ 4. Church Address: _________________________________________________________________ 5. Section: _____________________________________ Presbyter: _________________________ 6. Website: _______________________________________________________________________ 7. Average Current Sunday Attendance: ______________________ 8. Will you be attending the next scheduled CPR Conference? Yes 9. I would appreciate being contacted by the CPR Director. Yes No No

10.Write a detailed overview and assessment of your journey as pastor of your current church and what your vision is for the congregation for the next ve years (several paragraphs recommended).

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