Creating a Church Planting Culture
by Pastor Paul McCulloch
What is it that caused a small city congregation to plant three churches in one year? What was it that caused that same congregation to eventually sow their Senior Pastor to a larger canter, recognizing the region needed to be impacted with his gift? Let me share with you some keys I have learned to create this type of Kingdom producing culture.
- A Word received creates an atmosphere.
- Once that atmosphere is sustained, then it becomes a climate.
- A climate maintained becomes a stronghold.
- Once a stronghold is developed a culture can be influenced.
These four steps can literally change a nation, a province, a city, or a local church. It all begins with a Word. If our churches in this nation are going to reproduce and plant more churches, the leaders have to hear from God. The DNA of Victory Churches International is church planting, therefore it is not hard to get a Word. However, each local church must receive a rhema Word from God concerning multiplication.
Proverbs 29:18 declares "where there is no prophetic utterance‚ (or vision) the people cast off restraint (or loose direction)".
As a local church leader I have come to understand that my job is to declare the direction of the church by receiving from God His mandate. Multiplication and reproduction are always part of God’s will for every local church. I must open up my spirit to receive a Word and openly declare it in the anointing of God so it can be received. That means I must creatively preach it until it is received!
Once I feel God’s Word is received then an atmosphere begins to take place in the church. Now this atmosphere is unstable at first and subject to all different types of pressures. An atmosphere can be affected by demon spirits and distractions, good or bad (eg. programs, the latest success story, etc.); however, if I will sustain the atmosphere and the Word God has given us, soon the atmosphere in the church becomes a climate!
A climate of church planting is much different than an atmosphere. An atmosphere can change, excitement can lift, but a climate cannot. It is a way of thinking.
Once the Word of God has been stood on long enough, no pressure can change the atmosphere because reproduction has become the climate of the house.
The only thing that can affect the climate of a church is a sudden or extreme storm, however, once the storm passes the climate is still there!
Just like certain parts of the world have different climates, we in Victory are to achieve a climate of church planting. Constant vision casting and maintaining an atmosphere of reproduction through a Word from God is the Key. It is when the church has maintained an atmosphere for the appropriate time and is transitioning into having a church planting climate, that it is ready to plant a church. Just like in the natural. Until that seed is received there is no pregnancy, or baby on the way. Just because you're excited about having a baby does not make you pregnant. A church planting climate means the congregation is impregnated with a vision. They know where and when it will come forth.
Once this spiritual climate is maintained then a stronghold begins to be developed. A stronghold is a place that cannot be penetrated. It was from a stronghold that King David began to move out and influence the countryside around him.
Once a stronghold of thinking has been developed within a local congregation, nothing can stop them from seeing the Kingdom of God advance. Teams, strategies and facilities are constantly in the vocabulary of the people. Not is there only a climate of church planting in that local body, there is a stronghold of thinking that suggests there is nothing as important as multiplying the Kingdom of God.
We all know there is no better way to affect any culture, city, province or nation than through planting a local church. Something shifts when a baby is born. However, one of the most significant things that happen after a baby is born is the desire for more children. Once a congregation has went through each developmental stage of birthing a church they will never be the same. They will only want to do it again and again.
How do I create my church to have a church planting culture? By creating a healthy appetite for successful family, and by maintaining a stronghold of thinking, there is no better way to influence individuals, cities, provinces and nations than through the multiplication of churches.
It all begins with a Word from God. Live it, breath it, give it, and many will receive it.
