Might God be calling our local congregation towards church planting? How do we know if we’re ready to move in that direction? How can we discern where our leadership team stands on the topic? How can we discern if God is leading us in this direction right now? What is our local church’s role in seeing a life-giving church in every community? If you are asking these questions, then you have already begun exploring the discovery process. 

The EFCA Central team is here to serve you as you explore God’s call on your local church to be involved in seeing new life-giving church in every community. Our team is available to facilitate a Spirit-led discussion amongst your church’s leadership team. We start discussion with broad questions such as, “Where is God at work in this local body? What do you love about your local congregation? What are you excited about here?” The discussion then turns towards the future asking, “What have you been sensing that God is leading you towards? In what ways has God been putting these things on your heart and mind? What are the steps of faith you believe God is calling your local body towards?” 

Every time we facilitate discovery workshops, we are amazed by how God works. God’s Spirit speaks powerfully to the pastors and elders. Each team of pastors and elders have felt a unified direction God leading them. Having a leadership team (and sometimes leader’s wives) in the room together discussing how God has been speaking helps bring into clear focus how God is desiring to move at a local church. 

A Discovery Workshops is: 

• An intentional time set aside to discern how God is at work in your body 
• A facilitated discussion discerning “How is God calling our local church to engage in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ?”
• A facilitated discussion discerning “How is God calling our local church to engage in the mission of making disciples of Jesus Christ?” 
• A focused time of prayer 

Sometimes this leads a local congregation in the direction of church planting. Other times, it may lead to the creation of a team of people who boldly engage their community on mission sharing Christ’s love. 

If you would like your leadership team of pastors and elders to experience a Discovery Workshop please reach out to Todd Brooks (tbrooks@efcacentral.org) or Mark Farran (mfarran@efcacentral.org). We would love to walk beside you on your journey of discerning God’s call for your local congregation to be on mission for Him.

It is the responsibility of local church leaders to make sure the church is living out the mission of making disciples who make disciples. This requires an honest evaluation of the church’s ministries and leadership structures. The EFCA Central team is equipped to walk with you in the evaluation process. Instead of generic assessments, we offer relational consulting to help you discern your unique context and practical steps to beginning to live more focused on mission. 

In addition to making sure your church structure is serving the mission, an important step cultivating a passion for making disciples and seeing a Life-Giving Church in every community. Church leadership must embody a gospel boldness and cultivate a bold faith in the congregation. This cultivation process is an intentional process of removing things impeding gospel growth and developing new patterns of life-giving ministry. Being a multiplying church first requires a local body to be on mission multiplying disciples.

Every local congregation is unique. No two church plants are identical. Similarly, the pathway to planting a church is formed by the mother church and new church plant. 

The EFCA Central team is available to help you craft a unique church planting strategy for your church and context. We can walk alongside your leadership team as answer fundamental questions such as: 

1. Prayer – How will we enlist widespread prayer support? 
2. Planter – How will the church planter be selected?
3. Place – Where will the church plant be located? 
4. Partners – Who can we partner with to plant this church? 
5. Provision – What will the mother church provide? (Money & Members)