Download the Church planter guide: 12 proven tips for success
Fill out the form below to schedule a demo or call our sales team at
469-564-3922
Planting a church is an exciting endeavor, often involving uncertainty and struggle. As a church planter, you have the vision and passion to reach the community along with a to-do list that’s a mile long. From finding a place to meet to spreading the word about your new church, a lot goes into launching a new church.
Thankfully, you’re not alone. Many groups and organizations like Subsplash have years of experience helping church planters succeed and can offer insights.
So, if you’re already a church planting pastor or dreaming of starting a new ministry, here are time-tested tips to help you along your journey.
Planting a church is an amazing call from God, yet one that often involves uncertainty and struggle. As a church planter, you have the vision and passion to reach the community— along with a to-do list that’s a mile long! From finding a place to meet to spreading the word about your new church, a lot goes into planting a church.
Thankfully, you’re not alone. Many groups and organizations like Subsplash have years of experience helping church planters succeed and can offer helpful insights.
With the right tools and guidance up front, you can learn how to plant a church and avoid common pitfalls and mistakes. Let’s dive into exactly what a church plant is and how you can launch a new church.
Church planting is at the heart of Christianity. Jesus commanded his disciples to “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 15:16), and the Church has taken up that call with vigor and passion ever since.
So, what is a church planter? A church planter is someone who embarks on the exciting journey of launching a new church and faith community—bringing people together, finding a home, and creating ministries that serve both the congregation and the wider neighborhood.
Planting a church often stems from one of two places. With one approach, a qualified church leader is commissioned by their church and pastor to plant a church. This new church plant acts as a “satellite church,”—maintaining affiliation with the parent church in some form. In this scenario, the church planting pastor often receives the parent church’s blessing, financial support, and even members to plant a church together.
Another way is by partnering with church planting networks like ARC (Association of Related Churches) or the Acts 29 Network. Organizations like these offer new plant churches valuable resources like in-person and online training, a launch coach, and even dollar-for-dollar fundraising matches to give your church the best chance at success.
Whether being sent out by a home church or partnering with a church planting network, support, accountability, and shared vision are key in starting a new church.
No matter the path, the goal remains the same: to make disciples, build community, and glorify God by establishing a local church. If you’re already a church planting pastor or dreaming of starting a new ministry, here are time-tested tips to help you along your journey.
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. —Galatians 6:9
Starting a new church is often challenging, slow work. If you lose sight of why God called you to start this church in the first place, you’re more likely to lose heart and become discouraged. Take some time to reflect and write down the “why” driving you to plant this church.
Write these down and read over them frequently. This can breathe new life into you when you’re not seeing the progress you’d hoped for.
“Effectively casting vision never comes to an end. It is a discipline.” —Derwin Gray
The vision of your church should be clear and compelling—it’s the reason behind everything you do. Spend time refining and articulating it. Write it down and read it out loud to hear how it sounds. Discuss it with trusted mentors, family members, and friends. Make sure it’s something you can clearly articulate and easily share with anyone.
Surround yourself with a team that complements your strengths and weaknesses. A healthy, diverse leadership team isn’t a room full of “yes men” who will carry out your vision without question or pushback. It’s wise to have people on the team who will, with respect, challenge you and hold you accountable as needed. Remember, even Peter faced accountability from Paul. “When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned” (Galatians 2:11).
You might think your vision is evident to all. However, you’re the one who sought God’s direction to develop that vision. You’re the one who has the passion and drive to set out on this journey. But it’s also important to make sure your vision is shared and confirmed by other leaders and partners in ministry.
Putting your vision statement on the church’s website, in the bulletin, in email newsletters, and on the church’s social media pages creates a level of public expectation and increases internal accountability. Discuss how your new church’s vision is impacting your community during volunteer or staff meetings. Present it during visitor orientation meetings or new member classes. Keep repeating it until you’re tired of hearing it, and then repeat it some more.
“Coming together is a beginning. Keeping together is progress. Working together is success.” —Henry Ford
Church planting is not a solo endeavor. Every church planter needs a strong and committed church planting team to survive, especially the first few years.
Your calling as a church planting pastor is both unique and essential—but you can’t do it alone. To thrive in ministry, you’ll need to surround yourself with a team of gifted individuals whose strengths and leadership complement your own.
If you’re a big-picture visionary who doesn’t like to-do lists or details, you need a couple of planners on your team. If you are passionate about preaching but can’t carry a tune, you’ll want at least one musician to lead everything related to worship and music.
Don’t be afraid of people who are better equipped than you on a particular topic or who have more experience. Choose your team wisely and balance it out with people of various backgrounds, ethnicities, skill sets, and more.
“What, after all, is Apollos? And what is Paul? Only servants, through whom you came to believe—as the Lord has assigned to each his task. I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow. So neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.” —1 Corinthians 3:5–7
Managing expectations is a crucial part of church planting. Studies show that if you’re aware of common challenges, your church plant has a better chance at surviving and thriving in the years ahead.
Approaching church planting with realistic expectations allows you to navigate challenging seasons without taking setbacks personally.
Don’t automatically assume you’re the reason groups of people are coming or leaving the church. Get feedback if possible, but trust God to be the key driver of who attends or not. If people go, be sure to release them just as graciously as you received them in the first place.
“There is no growth without change, no change without fear or loss, and no loss without pain.” —Rick Warren
Church planters must be willing to adapt and change course when necessary. For example, one method for inviting and attracting people to a service might not be as fruitful as you’d hoped, while another open house or community event might go better than expected.
Learn from each event and church service. Host a retrospective session with your core team after the first few months or after a big event. Find out what lessons can be learned by listening to what went well and where there’s room for improvement.
Don’t let your pride or ego get in the way of hearing (and accepting) difficult feedback. The long-term success of your church depends on your willingness to be humble and adjust when needed.
“He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?)” —1 Timothy 3:4–5
Ministry can be all-consuming. However, your family is your first ministry responsibility. You can’t preach with integrity about marriage, parenting, and a healthy home if you aren’t giving your best effort to those closest to you.
What does this look like?
While it might be hard to accept, anyone could replace you as the church planting pastor. However, no one can truly replace you as a parent and spouse.
“Discipleship is not an option. Jesus says that if anyone would come after me, he must follow me.” —Tim Keller
The Great Commission makes it clear that your primary goal is to make disciples. Ensure that every aspect of your church, from programs to preaching, is designed to help people grow in their faith along their discipleship journey.
Develop clear paths for new attendees. The discipleship journey could start with someone’s initial visit to the following steps:
“By wisdom a house is built, and by understanding it is established; by knowledge the rooms are filled with all precious and pleasant riches.” —Proverbs 24:3-4
“Location, location, location.” When planting a church, carefully consider your location. Will you build from the ground up? Occupy an empty building? Partner with a dwindling church for a win-win?
Other considerations are crucial. Are you looking to plant a church in rural or suburban areas? How many congregants will your church building hold? Are you expecting a trajectory of future growth, or simply a smaller number to attend in a rural area?
As in any church, people are going to come and go. Some will stay, some will leave, and some will return. Church-planting pastors in migratory communities, such as college or military towns, must keep these factors in mind when making decisions.
Considering these types of questions helps you to manage your expectations better and be mindful of the community’s needs, your long-term vision, and the practical realities of sustaining a healthy, growing church in your area.
“I am amazed at the wonders of technology and am grateful for the ways in which we are able to use it to share the Gospel around the world.” —Billy Graham
In today’s world, an online presence is essential. You probably don’t have a big budget for creating a new website, church logos, and other online marketing materials–and that’s okay! You can easily get started with Subsplash’s products for church plants, including a drag-and-drop template for church websites, an online giving platform, and a mobile app.
Find some team members or volunteers who can handle social media for the church. You’ll want to establish a social media plan to use the most frequented platforms for your community and start posting information about the church.
Developing a strong digital footprint is a key part of how to plant a church effectively for modern-day ministry, helping you reach more people and build community even before your doors open.
“Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.” —Philippians 2:3-5
Building a church culture is one of the most important–and often overlooked–aspects of planting a healthy church.
Culture is more than your mission statement or Sunday service—it’s the lived-out values, behaviors, and atmosphere that shape how people experience your church beyond the pulpit.
From the way leaders communicate behind closed doors to how newcomers are welcomed, every interaction reinforces what your church truly values. Being intentional about culture means aligning your vision with consistent actions that reflect Christ-centered community, humility, authenticity, and a heart for others.
“We want to avoid any criticism of the way we administer this liberal gift. For we are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of man.” —1 Corinthians 8:20–21
Financial problems can quickly destroy a new church startup. From raising money, developing a budget, and applying for 501(c)(3) status, there are so many tasks that require careful attention and strong financial oversight.
Do not unquestioningly trust any single individual to handle the church finances. Too many churches have become victims of financial fraud by relying on a single person to balance the books, record offerings, make bank deposits, pay bills, open accounts, and more. Check out these best practices for church finances that can help keep your church safe from fraud and money trouble.
Run background checks on potential staff or volunteers who will handle church finances. Establish documented financial policies and strictly-followed procedures to maintain accountability. Managing your finances wisely is an essential part of how to plant a church successfully and sustainably, helping to reduce stress and build trust within your congregation.
“If Satan cannot distract you with worldliness, he will overwhelm you with weariness. Indeed, how easy it is to wear ourselves out; even good works done without recharging ourselves in God can drain us of life and energy.” —Francis Frangipane
Planting a church can be tough, and you’ll likely face many challenges. Pastor burnout is a real problem that can sneak up on you if you’re not paying attention. Persevere, seek support from other leaders, and remember that God is with you on this journey.
Here are some practical steps that will enable you to last for the long haul that is church planting:
Remember, launching a new church requires vision, planning, and patience. Trust God for wisdom and seek counsel from experienced church planters. Make plans and be willing to adapt as needed. Church planting is a marathon, not a sprint, so manage your energy and expectations accordingly.
As God leads more people to your church, take that stewardship responsibility seriously—whether that means two new people this week or two hundred. Successful church planting requires both practical wisdom and spiritual depth in leadership, so keep these principles in mind as you embark on this exciting journey.
Our team is also here to support your new startup church as you begin to use technology. By partnering with Subsplash, you’ll have someone to walk you through each step of setting up important tools such as your online giving, church website, mobile church app, live streaming, and more.
To learn more, [.blog-contact-cta]connect with one of our ministry consultants today! [.blog-contact-cta]
Church planters and their teams need lots of resources to succeed. While we might not be able to volunteer or play the drums at your services, we have created some helpful church planting resources for you, such as:
.webp)
© 2025 Subsplash
