Keep the Church Young

"If a church wants to stay young, some of its original members need to be encouraged to go and plant new churches"

Keeping the church young is another factor we must consider if we want to create churches that keep sending out pioneers. John Wimber said that young people have babies and young churches tend to plant churches. If a church wants to stay young, some of its original members need to be encouraged to go and plant new churches. This movement will make room for new people to come in with fresh energy and enthusiasm to take up major roles in the church.

South Manchester Family Church was the first church I was involved in planting when we relocated to Greater Manchester in the early 1990s. This wonderful church sent out six church plants in the first nine years, some 200 people. I was always amazed at the vitality and faith in the church as new people stepped up to fill the gaps that sending made available.

Christ Church Manchester is the church plant I am currently leading and it is so exciting to see how, even in its formative days, people started to pray for another congregation to be pioneered. In the spirit of young churches having babies they stepped out before they were properly established, giving money and people. This has enabled CCM:City to start in south central Manchester and has now gathering around 50 adults in just over 2 years. CCM:City is now involved in pioneering a new congregation in Salford and is praying about other parts of Manchester.

Keep the Church Young

Keeping the church young is another factor we must consider if we want to create churches that keep sending out pioneers. John Wimber said that young people have babies and young churches tend to plant churches. If a church wants to stay young, some of its original members need to be encouraged to go and plant new churches. This movement will make room for new people to come in with fresh energy and enthusiasm to take up major roles in the church.