Beauty of Church Planting

Church Planting

Summer 2016

by Joel Comiskey

People ask me, “Joel, why are you so interested in cell church planting?” I tell them that cell groups are the perfect place to develop new leaders. Leaders are not developed and released by sitting in church on Sunday morning or worshipping in a large group. In a cell, a person can develop into a leader. Cell ministry brings out the ministry skills a person will need in a future church plant—pastoring, caring, counseling, evangelizing, and coaching. It’s the perfect microcosm to prepare a mature, future church planter

The beauty of a simple cell church is that it’s reproducible. Reproduction is at the heart of the cell church movement. This reproduction comes at the level of cell multiplication, but it must move into the realm of church planting because church planting is the best way to fulfill the great commission of Jesus Christ.

A person who has led a cell, multiplied it, and coached the daughter cell leader(s) has completed the core basics of cell church planting. Such a person is a prime candidate for future church planting—anywhere in the world.

Undoubtedly, a potential church planter will seek out biblical education and grow in the knowledge of Jesus Christ. Fruitfulness on the cell level builds confidence for future church planting and allows the candidate to then make it happen. The order is clear cut:

  • Attend a cell.
  • Receive training.
  • Plant a cell.
  • Multiply the cell several times.
  • Coach the leaders who have multiplied into other groups.
  • Receive more biblical training.
  • Plant a church in the US or overseas using the same strategy.

Cell churches don’t require a huge budget, a large plot of land, modern buildings, or super-talented pastors. The cell strategy uses the houses of people all over the city as the primary meeting locations. Instead of laboring to get people out of their houses once a week for an hour-long service, it seeks to utilize those same houses to reach an entire city and nation.

It is true that many cell churches are huge, yet the vast majority is small and flexible. More and more leaders around the world are attracted to a simple form of church life, one that doesn’t require huge budgets and super-talented preachers but follows the pattern of the New Testament church. I now find myself desiring a simple, reproducible, New Testament model. How about you?

Download the free PDF about how to plant a cell church

Seven Steps to Plant a Cell-Based Church

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