Why Church Planting?
Thriving, Growing, Multiplying Churches for the Next Generation
Why Does Church Planting Matter?
Stadia specializes in services and guidance that help you start thriving, growing, multiplying churches for the next generation. But why? We believe church planting is one of the most effective ways to fulfill the Great Commission. We’ve seen it transform communities and lives across the globe. Church planting allows for innovative approaches to sharing the message of Jesus, making the Gospel accessible for more people!
WHAT IS A CHURCH?
The church is an identifiable expression of God’s love lived out through a gathering of followers of Jesus who are committed to one another and to the world as characterized in the New Testament.
CHARACTERISTICS OF A CHURCH:
- Jesus is worshiped as Lord | Acts 2:36
- Bible-centered teaching and guidance is happening | Acts 2:42
- Disciple-making is core | Acts 2:47
- Recognized leadership | Acts 14:23
Biblical Foundations for Church Planting
Following Jesus’ Mandate
Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
—— MATTHEW 28:18-20 (NIV)
New Testament Church Example
We follow the example of the early church’s practice of sending out leaders.
“‘Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.’ So after they had fasted and prayed, they placed their hands on them and sent them off.”
—ACTS 13:1-3
God’s Plan A
The church is central to God’s plan.
“The church is Christ’s body, in which he speaks and acts, by which he fills everything with his presence.”
—EPHESIANS 1:23
Making an Impact through Church Planting
Reaching the Unreached
New churches attract significantly more unreached people who are not already attending a church.
“The average new church gains most of its new members (60-80%) from people who are not attending any worshipping body”
—TIM KELLER
Effectiveness
Planting new churches is the most effective way to reach people with the hope of Jesus.
“The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches”
—PETER WAGNER
STATISTICALLY:
- New churches reach 10 people for every 100 members
- Churches 3-15 years old reach 5 people for every 100 members
- Churches over 15 years old reach 3 people for every 100 members
Today’s Churches Are Not Enough
EACH YEAR
NEW CHURCHES ARE NEEDED
IN ORDER TO KEEP UP WITH THE GROWING POPULATION & CHURCH CLOSURES
There are 8.1 Billion people in the world
Only 2.38 billion people consider themselves followers of Jesus. That’s billions of people left to reach!
The Population is increasing
U.S. population is expected to be 438 million in 2050, compared to today’s 290 million.
4500 Churches
close their doors every year in the U.S. 3000 new churches are planted each year in the U.S. This leaves a net loss of 1500 churches per year.
There’s been a 30% Decline
of religious affiliation in the United States.
STATISTICALLY:
- There’s a Net loss of 1500 churches per year
- 77% of people in the U.S. believe in a higher power
- 74% want to grow spiritually
- Nearly half of people are more spiritually open post-pandemic
“If every church in America were filled up twice to capacity every Sunday, we would be nowhere near able to accommodate the population, much less positioned to accommodate the growing birth rate. We need church plants because we need more places for people to attend.”
— ED STETZER
Planting Churches for the Next Generation
%
of the unreached in the world are children
Conservative estimates are that more than one billion children alive today have no access to Jesus or a local church
85% of Christians make a decision to follow Jesus before the age of 18
The U.S. Census Bureau projects that by 2050, America will be a majority minority country.
Every child needs a church.
We need to plant all kinds of churches for all kinds of people in all kinds of places.
Your Role in Church Planting
Partner →
Whether you’re an individual, established church, network, or organization you can partner with Stadia to help start thriving, growing, multiplying churches for the next generation.
Plant →
Are you called to start a new church? We’re here to serve and guide you all along that journey—from our Discovery Center, and Startup Services, to Post-Launch!
Pray →
Together, we pray for new leaders, new churches, and new resources to provide accessibility and opportunity around the world so that every child can have a church—and more people can know Jesus!
SOURCES: The Great Opportunity Report, Barna Research Group: 2023 Year in Review, Statista: Development of Global Population, Institute for Family Studies: Religious Upbringing and Adolescence, Southern Nazarene University