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Start a Church
Today, people are able to build airplanes that fly because, a hundred years ago, the Wright brothers discovered the pivotal design that put the “flying” into “flying machine.” Those who want to create such a machine simply have to decide to build one, study the design, assemble the parts, and send the craft skyward.
Building a “soaring” church requires the same process. The Pivotal Design has been discovered, and now it is up to a gifted and committed team of leaders to implement that design to create a prevailing church. Each new Mission Catalyst (MC) project follows a three-phase process.
Phase 1 - Research
During this phase, you determine whether your vision is compatible with the vision of MC. Actions include:
- Pray. Seek clarity about God’s call. Check your heart to be certain that your highest motive is to win people to Christ.
- Talk with MC staff and pastors.
- Review the MC website.
- Read The Pivotal Design.
- Review the MC membership commitments.
When you’re ready to request affiliation with MC and advance to Phase 2, take the following steps:
Step 1 - Complete the Planting Team Assessment. Team members of funded projects complete the full assessment process. We strongly recommend the full process. However, team members of unfunded projects may consider the abbreviated assessment process.
Step 2 - If the assessment is satisfactorily completed, team members attend the LaunchTicket two-day workshop. In most cases, the workshop is conducted in the team’s city.
After the workshop, if both parties agree to proceed, MC announces that a new project is entering the Assembly phase.
Phase 2 - Assembly
During this phase, which takes between three and 23 months, you are not “doing church” as much as you are “building church.” The project begins in earnest, and concrete steps are taken to bring together the Pivotal Design components. Weekend gatherings begin during this phase. Actions include:
- Begin to hold weekly staff (planting team) meetings.
- Participate in weekly coaching calls with MC staff or LaunchTicket coach.
- Begin weekly communication with the launch team.
- Begin the 3 & 1 weekend format.
- Identify and/or recruit staff (planting team) members.
- Begin to receive tithe and offering and pay forward 10% to the MC support office.
- Read the book Launch by Nelson Searcy.
- Take several field trips to prevailing churches in the area.
- Choose a mission project at least 100 miles away.
- Establish a professional web presence.
During this phase, MC (in consultation with the planting team) sets benchmarks for the project and gauges its progress, ensuring that the Pivotal Design components are coming together and that the project is on the path to becoming a prevailing church. When all benchmarks are met satisfactorily, MC announces that a new church is entering the Flight phase.
Phase 3 - Flight
The project is announced as an MC church when:
- The group has experienced numerical growth.
- The group has established healthy DNA and a next-person focus.
- All other Pivotal Design components are in place.
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