(Before I jump into the article – a huge thanks to everyone for a great Church Planting Webinar yesterday – over 1,000 pastors/church planters on the call.  I hope to do more training for church planters in the future. . . now, on with today’s post)

According to Catholic church teaching, there are seven deadly sins (I once did a Big Day series on all Se7en, click here.  Our people loved it).

However, in church planting there are three deadly sins:

1.      Lack of calling

2.      Lack of strategy

3.      Lack of funds

These three deadly sins will ensure that a church plant fails and fails fast (most likely in a very public way so that even the Moonies will point and laugh). Among evangelical Christians, the statistics for new church failure are overwhelming. It’s the dirty little secret among church types. Jehovah’s Witnesses have a better success rate than we do.

What would you add to the list?  Give me your comments below.

For a jump start on how to overcome these three Church Planting sins, download my free resources for church planters by clicking here.

More on Church Planting tomorrow.

Nelson

P.S. For a complete resource to overcome these deadly sins and all the other landmines in church planting (forgive the mixed metaphor but you know what I mean) check out the CDs from my 2-Day Launch Conference – special ‘church planting week’ pricing available through Friday – CLICK HERE and enter the special code CPWEEK at checkout to Save $200.00 this week only!

© Nelson Searcy. All Rights Reserved.

About Nelson Searcy

Nelson Searcy is an experienced church growth strategist, pastor, church planter and coach, consulting with churches around the world. As founder of Church Leader Insights and the Renegade Pastors Network, he has personally trained more than 3,500 church leaders in over 45 denominations through live events, seminars and monthly coaching. Nelson is also the Founding and Lead Pastor of The Journey Church, with locations across New York City and in Boca Raton, FL. Nelson and his church routinely appear on lists such as “The 50 Most Influential Churches” and “The 25 Most Innovative Leaders.” He is the author of over 100 church growth resources and 18+ books, including The Renegade Pastor: Abandoning Average in Your Life, Ministry and The Difference Maker: Using Your Everyday Life for Eternal Impact, and At the Cross with the People Who Were There. He and his wife, Kelley, have one son, Alexander.