The Need for Church Plants Through the Global Methodist Church
The Need for Church Plants Through the Global Methodist Church
The Global Methodist Church is laboring to be a movement for the cause of Christ. For the GMC to be a movement not unlike early Methodism, we must plant new churches. We must plant at a rate of at least 3% annually, which equates to approximately 3,500 new churches in the next five to seven years, otherwise we will drift into decline.
Global Methodist leadership is asking that each local church to do their part in Christianity through Methodism becoming a movement again. As a faith family, here’s a brief overview of what we are doing to be a church that plants churches in the future:
Worship Team Development
For those who attend contemporary worship in Seabrook Hall, you will often notice different sets of worship team members leading worship through song. Why are we developing multiple sets of worship teams? We are developing multiple sets of worship teams because a day will come when we send out teams to plant new churches, which will be made up of a small apostolic team consisting of a pastor, children, and student leaders, as well as worship team members.
Staff Development
We have many talented persons serving as Wesleyan fellows and as staff members of Christ Methodist. A day will emerge when some have been developed and sense God’s leading to be sent out and plant a new church. When that day comes, we want to get behind them and move with God in advancing His Kingdom through new works.
Blessing the Church, Loving the Nations
Our church staff spent the past 20-plus weeks moving methodically by slowly reading and discussing the book, Blessing the Church, Loving the Nations (Better to go slow so a book goes through you, rather than you just going through a book). The book equips the church with the understanding related to each member of the body of Christ doing their part, wed with the development of apostolic teams to be sent out of the church to propagate the gospel through church planting locally and globally. Our Church Council, under the leadership of Jim Dorman, is also going through the book.
If you would like to order a copy, you may do so HERE.
No More Spectators
No More Spectators: 8 Life-Changing Values of Disciple Makers is the primary textbook (it’s a very short book–super easy read) we use to equip the church in the practice of discipleship and disciple-making. Disciple-making is the primary tactical step for the church to take as Jesus builds His church (Matthew 16:18) through new church plants. We offer regular opportunities to be trained and equipped to serve as a disciple-maker. For more information, reach out to Grant Caldwell at grantc@christchurchmemphis.org
Hire a Church Multiplication Pastor
The Staff-Parish Relations Team of Christ Methodist Church, under the leadership of Adam Webster, has budgeted for and created a position on our organizational chart for a Church Multiplication Pastor. This person will train, equip, and mobilize as they lead the charge in church planting. At this stage, the right candidate has not emerged. We ask that our entire faith family commit this open position, along with other open positions, to God in prayer.
Church Planting and Revitalization Cohorts
While not formalized at this time, our staff leadership have engaged in visioning sessions surrounding developing cohorts to train and equip pastors and staff members in patterns of church revitalization and church planting. These cohorts would include practical ministry experience, training in worship-based prayer, theological training wed with best practices, and relationships with spiritual mothers and fathers in the faith.
As Christ Methodist serves as a leader in the Global Methodist Church, these are steps being taken to prepare for our being a part of a great movement. God has done it in the past, and God can do it again. Let us all pray and labor to these ends as we seek to glorify God and make disciples of Jesus Christ among all peoples!
