Church planting in NZ

Dear Pastors

Eight years ago my good friends Nick and Karen Klinkenberg left for Europe (and Holland in particular) on a brand new adventure with a Kingdom passion and a dream. In fact Nick and I first met back in 1986 through a ministry called Discipling A Whole Nation (DAWN), a church planting movement started by Jim Montgomery.

Their Passion: To encourage, coach, resource and develop leaders so ministry multiplies.

Their Dream: Igniting Church planting movements: particularly in Europe & NZ.

Book Recommendation: Multiplication

So recently I sat down and asked Nick a few questions about Church Planting in NZ.

1. Do you think we should be planting new churches in NZ? And if so Why?

Mission leaders worldwide all agree, that the best long term evangelistic method under heaven is the planting of new churches.

We plant churches because at least 3.8 million people in NZ are not Christ followers or unchurched. Planting churches for the sake of planting churches is the same philosophy as the cancer cell. We plant, because lost people matter to God.

For more of the WHYs see Multiplication page 181 – 186.

2. What do you say to the objection I often hear that goes like this? “We have enough churches” OR “let’s fill the churches we have”.

Haven’t we for many decades through seminars, workshops & conferences tried to answer the question, why aren’t churches being filled? Yet we still have many empty seats. It’s not about who’s in church but who’s outside the church, millions in NZ are not Christ followers.

3. In brief what model do you think works best in NZ?

The traditional model is great. That is, start a few small groups, hire a building, make sure the music, lights, stage, children’s area is set up etc. This is a model, but is it THE model? Maybe we need to follow what is happening in China, India, Africa, Sri Lanka? Have we complicated church?

Let’s explore other models. If we are expecting to only plant with a traditional model, this will hinder the multiplication of new churches and release of leaders.

Imagine if an Apple tree wants to be an Oak tree. No matter how much prayer, finance, leadership fertilizer is given, it will never be an Oak tree. My point is why do we focus on getting bigger and bigger! What about thinking how we can multiply? As Jethro wisely said to Moses, find leaders of 1000’s, 100’s, 50’s, 10’s. Ex 18:13-27. (Note that, 75% are 100 or less). Most churches in the world are around a 100 in attendance. Let’s work with this and multiply it. Many churches are in rural settings which has its own challenges re attendance, finance and leadership. The seeds in one apple tree have the potential to become an orchard! Is small the new big?

4. In Metro NZ land and buildings are so expensive now. How might we get around that?

What about using large homes? Let’s not define church by where it meets! Maybe we focus on finances, buildings or paid staff too much? The focus is discipleship & multiplication.

For more see Multiplication page 203-219. Multiplication pages 35-64.

5. Who is successfully planting churches in NZ these days?

I know Vineyard, Arise, New Life and C3 churches are all planting. Also, many churches are planting campuses, (but I do have concerns around this model). My major disquiet and unease is that from my observations salvations are very sparse and few. It seems to be a reshuffling of Christians from one church to another.

Blessings

Alan

Alan Vink is currently the Executive Director for LeadershipWorx. Prior to this role he has been the Executive Director of Willow Creek Association NZ (WillowNZ), a Baptist pastor (23 years), Bible College teacher, and church consultant.