The vigorous continual planting of new congregations is the single most crucial strategy for 1) the numerical growth of the Body of Christ in any city, and 2) the continual corporate renewal and revival of the existing churches in a city.
- Dr. Tim Keller, "Why Plant New Churches?"
CHURCH PLANTING RESOURCES
The following is an ever-growing list of resources our team has created for the encouragement, edification and equipping of the saints of Downtown Cornerstone Church. (Eph 4:11-16) We hope they serve you and your church well.
SERVING
Community Lead Description
Community Lead Application
Deacon Primer & Process
Volunteer Background Check
Ministry Descriptions
GROWING
Discipleship Group Starter
Recommended Reading List
Combined Navigator + M’Cheyne Bible Reading Plan
PLANTING
Launch Documents
This document is a compilation of the various resources we created, synthesized or adapted during the Launch Community development phase (June-Dec 2010) of Downtown Cornerstone Church.
Vision Document
This booklet was created in the initial phase of planting to help cast a vision for this new work and call others to join us on mission here in Seattle.
Sex Offender Policy
The Downtown Cornerstone Church Sex Offender Policy is designed to protect families, members, visitors and “Sex Offenders” by encouraging accountability, full-disclosure, and compliance with the laws of Washington State.
RECENT POSTS UNDER "PLANTING"
Cities are places of transition. Seattle is no different. Many people move to Seattle for school, work or new opportunities. Moving to a new community is difficult. But, finding a church that loves Jesus, believes the Bible and preaches the gospel is even more so. Since launching in 2011 we’ve met many new-to-the-city Jesus-following transplants in search of a church to call home. That search is not as easy as it might sound, particularly in Seattle. What follows are questions I encourage others to consider when in search of a new church family. There's no such thing as a perfect church or a church that will fulfill everything you wish a church would be, but there are a number of things that should be non-negotiable as you consider partnering with a local body of Jesus followers...
I'm about three years into planting a church, which means I'm not an expert. However, I do trust my Bible, love my Jesus and have some battle scars. I know first hand many of the things, internally and externally, that compete for the church planters heart, mind and soul. Unfortunately, the reality is that many, if not all, of these can threaten to eclipse the very thing that our people need most from us.
BOOKS
These are my top ten church planting recommendations, though not necessarily in any order as each has a unique focus:
Center Church, Tim Keller
Church Planter, Darren Patrick
Planting Missional Churches, Ed Stetzer
First Steps, Gary Rohrmeyer
Discovering Church Planting, JR Payne
Beyond Church Planting, Logan & Cole
Redeemer Church Planting Manual
GCA Church Planting Manual
Launch, Nelson Searcy
Church in the Making, Ben Arment
CONFERENCES
GCA Church Planting Conference (Highly recommend)
Acts 29 Boot Camp (dates/locations vary)
Soma School (dates/locations vary)
OTHER
Jonathan Dodson's Tools for Missional Church (Highly recommend)“Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.”
“I find there are three stages in every great work of God: first its impossible, then its difficult, then its done.”