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Creating New Faith Communities
by Craig Kennet Miller
As we enter the twenty-first century, the most effective form of evangelism is creating new faith communities. What is a faith community? It is a worship experience linked to a discipleship system that introduces newcomers to the Christian faith and creates settings where they can come to know and believe in Jesus Christ. But it doesn't stop there.

An Overview of the Biblical Foundations for New Church Development
by Dr. Wesley S.K. Daniel
Striving to grow and revitalize the church of Jesus Christ encourages those faithful to the Great Commission of our Lord to make disciples and be his witnesses. By equipping and nurturing disciples to grow in Christian discipleship, the kingdom of God is thereby built, expanded, and extended throughout the world.

The Role of the Episcopal Office in Starting New Churches
by Bishop William W. Dew
The office of the episcopal leader is the key component that provides leadership for the success of establishing new faith communities and the vitalization of existing congregations within the annual conference in making disciples for Jesus Christ in the twenty-first century.

The Role of the District Superintendent in Starting New Churches
by Tom Butcher
The establishment of new churches, with the goal of their becoming chartered, is one of the most effective means of evangelization in the twenty-first century. This has been true in United Methodism since the time of John Wesley. The role of the district superintendent is vital in fulfilling the mandate to make disciples of Jesus Christ.

The Role of Conference Staff in Starting New Churches
by Dick Freeman
To be effective, new church development or congregational development must be a full-time position in the annual conference. It is helpful for the position to be cabinet level or part of the extended cabinet because much of the long-range planning for new church development involves leadership development and clergy appointments.

Developing a Comprehensive Conference Strategy for New Church Development
by George Howard
Traditionally, new churches are planted through the decision-making processes of a district superintendent or a small group within the conference. While the Book of Discipline places the responsibility with the district superintendent, the catalyzing of a movement can open new doors and empower people to dream and to participate.

Recruitment, Assessment, Training, and Deployment of New Church Pastors
by Jim Griffith and Don Nations, The Griffith Coaching Network
The process through which new church pastors are recruited, assessed, trained, and deployed determines the success or failure of any church planting system.

Target Area Community Assessment
by John Southwick
It is difficult to sort out the assessment/determination of an area from the circumstances that have led to the decision to start a new church. A key principle is identifying people groups who need the church but are not being served by any church. Anticipating the emergence of such people groups by paying attention to demographic change is important.

Identifying a Target Audience
by John Southwick
A new church start will not succeed to its full potential if it tries to be a "one-size-fits-all" ministry.The most effective ministry happens when the ministry style connects with the people it is intended to reach. This means understanding who is there, deciding which people groups to target, and doing it.

Developing a Strategy for Mission: Purpose, Vision, and Values
by Edwin C. DeLong
The biblical mandate is clear: Christians are, by definition, to disciple the next generation.

Developing a Strategy for Mission: Dreaming Big and Narrowing The Focus
by Ben Cathey
Every effective new church begins with a God-given dream, an image in someone's mind. For every new church, there is someone, somewhere who dreamed of that church and set the wheels in motion to create it.

Tips for New Church Starts
by Craig Kennet Miller
Here are key resources, ideas, and themes that should be worked on in developing a new congregation.

Developing Prayer Support
by Dan Slagle
The church must be and understand itself to be a house of prayer, a place where prayer is practiced and modeled in staff meetings, leadership meetings, and so on.

Coaches and Mentors: Every Church Planter Needs Them
by Jim Griffith and Don Nations, The Griffith Coaching Network
Planting a church can be a wonderful, exciting experience. It can also be a lonely, discouraging journey. Because of this, it is important that every church planter have two special people in his or her life — a mentor and a coach.

Developing Financial Support for Mission
by Mary Brooke Casad
Starting new churches is an expensive undertaking. It is also one of the wisest ways the church can invest its money. There is no more effective evangelism tool than the development of new faith communities.

A Win-Win Situation: Involving Established Churches in Planting New Churches
by Ben Cathey
As you begin the planting process, do not miss the opportunity to help established churches become involved with what God is doing in new churches all across America by asking them to help with prayer, financial, and volunteer support. The church you are planting will gain needed support, and the established churches that really do help will gain increased passion for ministry.

Media in Worship
by Tommy Willingham
Why use media in worship? First of all, we minister in an audiovisual age.

Why Church Plants Fail
This article reviews ten factors commonly found in church planting projects that fail.