SO, WHY PLANT A CHURCH?
1 | It's Biblical.
Paul’s strategy in spreading the gospel was simple: plant more churches (Titus 1:5). The Great Commission (Matt. 28:18–20) is a call not just to “make disciples” but to baptize (baptism means incorporation into church community Acts 2:41–47). The Great Commission and church planting go hand in hand.
2 | It’s effective.
Church planting is the most effective way to spread the gospel and create *new* disciples. Tim Keller says, “The average Church Plant will bring six to eight times more new to faith people into the life of the body of Christ than an older congregation of the same size.” The data shows that, if we want to reach the lost church planting is the best strategy.
3 | God said to.
Never in my life (Joel) have I heard his voice more clearly and more repeatedly. Beyond all the stats and logic regarding church planting, I’m primarily doing it out of obedience. This historically hasn’t been my dream, but if there’s anything I know in life it's that when God says “go,” you go.
& FOR THE NUMBERS PEOPLE OUT THERE
Lifeway Research found that “4,500 churches close their doors every year in the U.S. 3,000 new churches are planted each year in the U.S.”
Additionally, it’s estimated that “8,000-12,000 new churches need to be planted annually to keep up with population growth and to outpace church closures.”
In Ocean Beach (92107 area code) there are 31,223 people and there are 11 churches. If each congregation had roughly 200 members (generous estimate) that would mean only 7.1% of Ocean Beach is involved in a local church.
We’re led primarily by the Holy Spirit... but the math checks out as well; Ocean Beach (and the world) needs more churches. Even now, as we're preparing to launch, our small team is already asking who are we going to send out as our first church planter in the next few years?
