Why Church Planting?
Jesus calls us to make and mature disciples through his Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20). Church planting is the biblical pattern for mission and is the most effective way to “make” disciples. Church planting is also a great strategy for “maturing disciples” as multiple congregations create multiple opportunities for people to serve and use their spiritual gifts. We are a church that plants churches that plant churches. (http://www.acts29network.org/acts-29-blog/why-church-planting/)
What does it mean for a church to be multi-congregational?
The phrase, “multi-congregational” means that we are one church with two different congregations. While united in a shared mission and vision, each congregation contextualizes itself to its particular setting in the Valley. Each congregation has a different “vibe” and that is by design.
Why one church with multiple congregations?
Often times a new church plant begins with a church planter working on his own to gather and build a team with very little help or coaching. The multi-congregational model is a “team” approach and provides shared resources, coaching and encouragement throughout the life of the church. We believe the connectional nature that one church with multiple congregations provides is a good model for facilitating a movement of healthy churches.
When did the leadership decide to be a multi-congregational church?
The decision to be a multi-congregational church took place before Becky and I moved to Phoenix to plant New Valley. This goal was a part of our original plan and was one of the primary reasons why we chose to name the church, “New Valley.” We saw New Valley not only as a church plant, but a church that would plant churches that would plant churches and together would work to see the “Valley” made “new” through the gospel.
Why Downtown and why now?
We chose to plant the second congregation of New Valley in Downtown Phoenix for two reasons. First, downtown and central Phoenix had the highest concentration of people driving to Ahwatukee (AHW) from outside of our original target area. Second, God was placing a vision and passion for planting in downtown in the heart of one of our elders (Jack Kutsko) and similarly in the heart of others living downtown-some were already involved with New Valley and others who were a part of Redemption Church Arcadia (Redemption Church has been very supportive). After much prayer and planning we decided that God was calling us to move forward.
How does the leadership structure work?
Scott Brown serves as the senior pastor of New Valley Church (one church in two congregations). Each congregation will have a team of elders (Teaching and Ruling) that will oversee and shepherd their congregation. It will take time for us to establish elders for downtown. While the combined elders of both congregations will be one session, functionally they will ordinarily serve as two distinct teams working to pastor the two congregations. The elder teams will gather frequently. The session will gather less frequently to oversee spiritual matters that effect the church as a whole. For the foreseeable future we will remain one church with multiple congregations, and therefore Scott Brown will remain as the senior pastor over the church as a whole, and remain the lead pastor of the congregation in AHW.
When and how will we add a lead pastor for Downtown?
We will eventually hire someone to serve the Downtown congregation as an assistant pastor, and then after a period of evaluation likely move him into the lead pastor role.
How do finances work?
Each congregation is expected to become self-supporting (this takes time for new plants) and will have it’s own budget. Each congregation will be committed to giving 10% of its offerings to church planting/missions and eventually may give a percentage of their offerings to help support “Central Operations” (shared accounting, payroll, communication, website, graphics, for the church as a whole). From the remaining funds, each congregation will pay for facilities, staff salaries, and ministry expenses, etc.
How Does Preaching Work?
Each congregation has live, in-person preaching. Ordinarily each congregation will be going through the same biblical text, topic, or series. Currently, whoever preaches at New Valley preaches at both congregations (AHW 9 and 10:30 am, and Downtown at 5 pm).
What size are we seeking to be?
Our goal is faithfulness and fruitfulness. The objective behind planting multiple congregations is to faithfully make and mature disciples of Jesus, not to remain or grow to a particular size. We desire for AHW to grow both deep and as wide as the Lord would have us. We want the same for Downtown or any other congregation we may have the blessing to plant. How many congregations will New Valley plant? For now we are focusing on making our two congregations as healthy as possible and are praying that God will richly bless our efforts. Moving forward, as we identify leaders and the need for a new church, combined with a clear movement of the Holy Spirit, we will plant. We pray that God will use us and other like-minded churches to so cover the Valley with gospel centered and outwardly focused churches that Phoenix becomes a new valley!
By Scott Brown (Thanks to Luke Simmons http://www.faithfulandfruitful.com/multi-congregational-church-model-works/ )