What's It Take To Be A Sponsoring Church?

What’s it take be a sponsoring church?

Recently I had the opportunity to spend four hours with forty of our Ohio church planters, asking the question “What do you want from a sponsoring church?” They were in four groups, and each group did not know the responses of the others. The consistency was surprising, as was the number one response.

Each group echoed ‘It’s not about the money.’ Not that they do not need financial resources, but the most important thing they want from a sponsoring church is relationship. One planter shared how a sponsoring church pastor’s wife came about every six weeks to take his wife to lunch and the huge impact that had on his family and ministry. Another told how his sponsoring church would provide childcare and money for a date night for him and his wife.

Planters spoke of the importance of the mentoring/coaching relationship with the sponsoring pastor, the one-on-one time to share, and the opportunity to bounce ideas off someone with more experience. ‘I need someone I can call, it gets lonely planting a church,’ one planter commented. Others commented how much they appreciated a call at least once a month, perhaps as often as once a week, just to ask, ‘How’s it going.’

Prayer support was another huge request. When the sponsoring church enlists prayer warriors and encourages the church to pray with and for the church plant, everyone shares in the victories and the Father gets the glory.

Again, more important than money, the church plant needs people, the right people. Volunteers who come should understand what church planting is about, and come prepared to work, not just fill a seat. In the beginning years children’s ministries are often a way to reach the community, and those who can come, stay long enough to train workers to continue the work, are priceless. Short-term mission trips are also valuable to the new work.

A sponsoring church pastor can be a great help telling the story of the mission and helping to recruit others. He can facilitate building a network of support, connections, and bridges to others who can come alongside the work. When available, the sponsoring church staff can be a great assistance, sharing input on worship resources, providing administrative support, even the use of office equipment. Sometimes the ‘stuff’ the sponsoring church has stored – chairs, tables, sound equipment, lights – can be just what the new work needs.

When it comes to financial support, consistency is the key. Deliver what you promise, and when you promised it. We preach sacrificial giving, and we can illustrate that in the way the church gives to see the kingdom expanded.

I then asked the question: ‘From your perspective, what have you seen as benefits to the sponsoring church?’ These planters have watched the Father honor the sacrifices made by the sponsoring churches. People grow spiritually as they see the answer to prayer. Sponsoring churches shift their mindset and begin to think more missionally. As they see the church plant reaching people they renew their commitment to evangelism.

When people go to serve, they come back different, ready to work at the home church. Many of them have been waiting for an opportunity to get involved; mission projects often discover new leaders.  They see their Cooperative Program dollars at work, and are ready to give more.

Sponsoring churches see the kingdom opportunities, not just their backyard. The think ‘Judea and Samaria,’ and the church looks more like the New Testament pattern. There is a sense of community, working together for the gospel, which creates joy and excitement. There is an investment beyond themselves, a desire to leave a heritage, a legacy for the next generation.

The enthusiasm of birthing something new is contagious. Often it opens the door for the church to reach a new people group, perhaps another language group in their community.

The sponsoring church often learns from the church plant. New ways to do things, innovative ideas, new technology can be shared learning for the sponsor and plant.

The North American Mission Board reports that nationally, 4% of SBC churches are sponsoring churches. If we compare Ohio, currently 8% of SCBO churches are significantly involved in church planting. Sounds good, but if we are going to have one million believers in 2020 Congregations by the end of 2020, we must have many more sponsoring churches. If you would like more information about becoming a sponsoring church there are many ready to help. Contact your associational missionary, Steve Hopkins or Gary Odom. (SteveHopkins@scbo.org, GaryOdom@scbo.org)