In Matthew 16:28, Jesus tells Simon that his name will henceforth be Peter, meaning “rock,” and that he is to build the church of God. Have you experienced a similar calling from God to begin a life of ministry? If so, there are mountains and valleys in your future, but stand firm. In this verse, Jesus promises Peter that if he builds his church on a solid foundation in Him, all the powers of hell will stand no chance against it. As you begin your season of church-formation, be sure to keep Matthew 16:28 in mind. Still unsure of where to start? Here are just a few tips on how to start your own church.
No Task Too Small
In the early stages, every step is important. Be sure to map out your vision for your church and set clear intentions. Delegate tasks based on category, and trust that your team is equipped to handle their various roles. The last thing you want to do is burn yourself out in the first phase by attempting to do it all yourself. Set a team for each aspect of your ministry; administrative, children’s ministry, financials, parking team, etc. These areas will differ based on the size and location of your church, the number of campuses and offerings provided.
Once you’ve established your leaders, entrust them with the task of hiring their team. From there, leaders can assign appropriate tasks that will set your church up for its first few months. First and foremost, have your administrative team stock up on necessities. The best place to visit to ensure you’re well prepared is Cokesbury church supplies. Equip your church leaders with proper attire, curriculum, furnishings, software, and anything else they may need. Set that strong foundation from day one so you’re never scrambling to find necessities.
Call in the Pros
The in’s and outs of starting a church, especially financially, are complicated. If you want to ensure your ministry will last over time, call in professionals to get it done right. Hire a CPA to draft the appropriate documents, set up and maintain payroll, and ensure your church is up to date with the latest accounting protocols. The last thing you want to deal with is liability issues due to improper or inadequate preparations.
Work with companies like Mines Press to create personalized items for your accounting needs. Tax return folders, forms, envelopes, and other catalog stationery items can be vital tools for staying organized. You can even create custom pens to place at stations around your church. When new guests fill out welcome cards, they can take the pens home as a thank you gift to spread the word about your ministry.
It’s Personal
Remember that church isn’t just a building to visit once a week. We aren’t called to attend church, we’re called to be the church. When you’re planning, choose the ministry you feel most called to. Whether it’s local outreach or global, find a cause and pour your resources into it regularly. Several churches will attempt to cater to every cause at once, but you’ll make the most impact if you channel your focus one area at a time.
Find creative ways to get your entire community involved. When you’re creating various groups, be sure there are also opportunities to work together as a church family; You want to have teams, not cliques. Have fundraisers like field day where the worship team plays against children’s ministry and the security team challenges the small group leaders. At the end of the day, combine members from each time to play one giant tournament. You want to create a church that can function in specific teams but isn’t limited to them. So long as you keep Matthew 16:28 in mind, your church is bound to flourish and bless others.
