There are many different factors one must consider when launching a new church with the Association of Related Churches (ARC). It’s natural for the process to seem daunting, and pastors can often feel defeated, lonely, and vulnerable. 

Luckily, the ARC provides various resources, support, and even funding to pastors around the world who want to create a new community that spreads the word of Jesus. For instance, one of the biggest benefits of launching new ARC churches is all the advice and support you get from others who have done the same before you, such as ARC partner Shaun Nepstad, Lead Pastor of Fellowship church.

In this article, Shaun shares valuable advice to assist other launchers. 

Connect Them

The Association of Related Churches (ARC) considers those who help future launchers of ARC churches to be coaches, not mentors. Why? Because mentors are a dime a dozen. They can be found through social media websites, online listings, and even by listening to a podcast.

A mentor pours stuff into other people. A coach, on the other hand, pulls valuable resources out of people. It's the job of pastors and coaches to equip saints for works of service. And the best way to do that is to connect them with others. 

Those who are most connected in any church are those who serve and are in small groups. While preaching is powerful and important, it doesn't build a church all by itself. 

What does build a church is leadership — and helping other people lead. Church leaders at the Association of Related Churches need to help take people from where they are now and lead them to where God wants them to be. When they're connected, it's easier to do that.

Help Them See What You See 

Preaching isn't always an effective form of leadership. It's great for spreading the word of God, but pastors at ARC churches must do more to lead. They must help people see what they see.

Shaun Nepstad says that his church tells the stories of Joshua and Caleb often. They were the only ones from the original generation who were accepted into the Promised Land.

And why is that? Because they were the only ones who saw the Promised Land. That fact alone made them great leaders.

Yet, at the same time, Joshua and Caleb fell short a bit in their roles as leaders, Nepstad said. If they had gotten others to see what they saw, they could have reached the Promised Land sooner — and others would have joined, too, he added. 

Get People Invested

Getting others involved in ARC churches is not always easy. You need to figure out how to get them invested.

Many people enjoy the service a church provides. However, they might come for the service once a week to hear the word of God, and then they leave. Some won’t get involved. Some won’t give back. 

The reason behind this is that they're not invested. When they become invested, they begin to realize what life is all about. They begin to see how they can help make a difference. 

If you’re launching a church with the Association of Related Churches, the key is to connect with the people of your church, help them see what you see, and get them invested in what you do. Then everything will be a whole lot easier.

About the Association of Related Churches

The Association of Related Churches (ARC) represents a collaborative network comprising independent congregations from various denominations, networks, and backgrounds. Its primary mission is to provide essential support and resources to church planters and pastors, enabling them to effectively share the teachings of Jesus Christ. ARC's operational approach revolves around empowering and equipping church leaders, thus helping them foster the widespread dissemination of Christ’s life-changing message. Established in 2000, the Association of Related Churches has evolved into a worldwide entity and has played a pivotal role in facilitating the establishment of over 1,000 new churches globally.