Vice President Trevin Wax discusses the evolution of church planting, emphasizing reliance on the Holy Spirit and the impact of capitalism. They delve into the importance of apologetics, equipping future pastors, and the need for impactful church growth. The episode explores shifts in church planting trends, challenges faced, and plans for the podcast's future.
Church planting now focuses on supporting planters with resources for sustained impact, not just the process.
Balancing abundance of resources with genuine evangelism is key in modern church planting initiatives.
Deep dives
Evolution of Church Planting Practices Over the Years
Church planting practices have evolved significantly over the years, shifting towards a focus on supporting church planters themselves rather than just the process. Historically, church planters faced challenges with limited resources and support, leading to high rates of burnout and failure. However, with the advent of comprehensive resources and community support like the New Churches podcast, church planters now have access to extensive tools and training, fostering a more sustainable and effective approach to planting churches.
Challenges and Opportunities in Modern Church Planting
Modern church planting faces a dual challenge of abundance and complacency due to the proliferation of resources and commercialization in the church planting industry. While easier access to tools and methods has streamlined the process, there is a risk of prioritizing church growth over authentic evangelism. This shift calls for a renewed focus on maintaining evangelistic fervor and impactful outreach efforts to ensure that church planting initiatives lead to genuine life transformations.
Adapting to Future Trends in Church Planting
Looking ahead, the future of church planting demands adaptability to diverse cultural contexts and evolving societal trends. Church planters need to navigate the complexities of a secularizing environment and engage with apologetics and persuasion to reach a changing demographic. Embracing a multifaceted approach to church planting, encompassing various styles and methodologies, will be crucial in effectively addressing the spiritual needs of a shifting landscape. By remaining committed to authentic evangelism and mission-driven initiatives, church planters can navigate the challenges and opportunities presented by the changing ecclesiastical terrain.
Host Ed Stetzer meets with Vice President of Research and Resources Trevin Wax to discuss the many shifts and trends that have taken place within the world of church planting in recent years. Discover where the New Churches podcast has been, as well as what you can expect in future seasons!
In This Episode, You’ll Discover:
How resources for church planters have evolved over the years
Why relying on the Holy Spirit is not something you ever outgrow
How consumerism has changed ministry—for better or for worse
Why apologetics is a worthwhile use of your time as a church planter
How we can better equip the pastors and church planters of the future
Helpful Resources:
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Sharable Quotes (#NewChurches):
The biggest shift in church planting is not the change in denominations or even in demographics. It’s that if you take the time to learn, you can learn from the best. — Ed Stetzer
Sometimes church planning can become like a trade show: “This is how you just do this—just add water, and you’ve got a church!” — Ed Stetzer
I want to help plant churches that see lives change. If we plant more and larger churches, but they’re not impactful in changing people’s lives, all we’ve done is move sheep around, and that’s happened too much in the last decade. — Ed Stetzer
The future is good. Jesus is at work there, and we’re going to plant churches with Him there. But I don’t know that we can rely on many of the assumptions of the past. — Ed Stetzer
I get up every morning wanting to see men and women trust and follow Jesus. From the city of Buffalo in late ’80s and still today in 2024, the message remains: people need the Lord. — Ed Stetzer