Launch Conference, Part 10A: Building Systems for On-going Growth

I think I'm gonna have to divide this next section up into two bite-size chunks. So... this is the first chunk....

A church system is simply a strategic process that:

Saves
You
Stress
Time
Energy
Money

Just as the skeletal system provides a framework for our bodies, initial church systems provide structure for a new church. When it comes to establishing healthy systems, you have an advantage in launching from scratch--you get to build the systems without being tied to any traditional ways of doing things.


Eight First Year Systems

1. The Sunday Service

• Load In/Load Out System - setting up and tearing down Sunday morning equipment, etc.
• Service Evaluation System - What was wrong? What was missing? What was confusing?
• Sunday Staff/Volunteer System
• Worship Planning/Preaching Calendar System - just keep "launching" with new series (to break a growth barrier); launch in February, at Easter, in September, at Advent, etc.

2. Evangelism and Assimilation 101

Be able to answer these questions:

• How does someone explore or express a decision to follow Christ at our church?
• What do we say, share or give to a person who is making a first-time decision to follow Christ?
• How can we help the new Christian get plugged into our church?
• How do we move someone from first-time guest to full-time member?
• How do we know who is a first-time guest each Sunday? How do we collect his or her contact information?
• Are we making our service easy for a first timer to attend? Does that person know where to enter, check in his or her kids, find the restroom, and so on?
• How are we following up on first-time guests?

3. Website

• Most church planters spend too much time on the website
• Spend less time on the website and more time in the community

That said, here are some tips...

Do include:

• Where your church meets
• What time you meet
• Directions to the church's location
• What to expect at the service (how long, style, dress, etc.)
• A little bit about you and any staff
• A short history of the church

Don't include:

• Too many pictures of the lead pastor
• Too many pictures of the lead pastor's spouse
• Music of any kind (you'll get people in trouble if they look at your website at work!)
• "Under Construction" signs--just leave the area out until it's ready
• Anything that takes a long time to load on a slower connection
• Insider language that only seminary grads understand
• Your personal blog
• Anything poorly written or of poor quality
• Outdated content
• Links to your favorite sites