Church Planter Training

Project Details

In places where there are no local churches, and for growing churches eager to share the Good News of the gift of salvation, we provide Bibles and training for new Church Planters. Bible League trains local believers who are eager to lead others to a life of faithfulness in God’s Church. Through Church Planter Training, they learn to spread the Gospel to their neighbours and care for the spiritual needs of their communities. They are motivated, mobile, and equipped to share the Gospel, grow the local church, and disciple new believers.

New local churches

It is vital that Church Planters be part of their communities and understand the people, languages, and culture. With passion for those who need to hear the Gospel, they share and help people to understand the Word of God. They lead others to faith in Jesus Christ, answer difficult and important questions, and show others the love of God.

Trained to change lives

Over the course of training, we take new Church Planters through the essential steps to begin and sustain a new local church. They learn how to communicate the Gospel in ways that are understandable and relevant to their culture. Church Planters are trained in conducting evangelistic Bible studies. They also learn practical ways to encourage spiritual growth and faithful service in the local church, as well as develop the gifts of new believers.

5 steps to planting a church

Step 1—Evangelism

Wherever they live, Church Planters learn how to communicate the Gospel naturally and appropriately for their culture. For example, in the Philippines, Church Planters go door-to-door to make contacts, get to know people, and invite them to a small group Bible study

(Project Philip). In predominantly Muslim countries, friend-to-friend relationship-based evangelism works best.

Step 2—Discipleship

The church planter invites interested people to a home where they study God’s Word. Relationships develop, people gain a deeper understanding of who God is, with many deciding to follow Christ. The Church Planter nurtures their newfound faith. Lives change.

Step 3—Membership

New Christians make their public profession of faith and identify with their local church. Soon, people outside the original group see the difference in the lives of the new believers and join their Bible studies. The cycle is renewed.

Step 4—Leadership

The church planter identifies those with leadership gifts among the new Christians and trains them to disciple and help lead the growing group of believers.

Step 5—Worship and Service

A spiritually mature group then establishes a church that is self-sufficient and meets for public worship. In most cases, each new church has 30 – 50 adult members who worship regularly, conduct community outreach, and support the pastor through tithes and offerings.

Bible League, through its field partners, monitors the newly planted churches a year after their start to see whether the Church Planter Training has resulted in a self-sustaining church.

In places where there are no local churches, and for growing churches eager to share the Gospel with those who have never heard of the gift of salvation, we provide biblical resources and training for Church Planters. We help local believers become Church Planters by providing pastoral training as they spread the Gospel in their own community and country. They are motivated, mobile, and equipped to share the Gospel, grow the church, and disciple new believers.

PASTOR HAYFORD Says, "You're changing many lives'

Pastor Ernest Hayford leads a church that meets under a tree in Tamale, one of the poorest regions in Ghana – and people walk for miles to attend.

“Most of the people were previously idol‐worshippers and today they’re in church, fellowshipping,” says Pastor Hayford. “Some were drug addicts or alcoholics. I just saw two of them and they are changed.”

He admits that he didn’t know how to start a church, so he organised a crusade. “In no time they all went away,” he says. A fellow minister advised him to get educated on how to plant a strong church.

“I decided to enrol in Bible League’s Church Planter Training,” he explains. “I learned how to mobilise people and begin fellowships. Then I started Sunday services. There’s a whole lot of difference since I received training. I can now teach my members, and the biblical resources have been of great benefit to us.”

Pastor Hayford started a sustainability project of rearing pigs to help generate income for families and provided fertiliser to enrich their land. He is also identifying potential leaders to enrol in Church Planter Training.

“I’m starting with raising up two people to plant churches because there are so many villages here. But I desire to raise about 50 people who can plant churches all over. “Islam is dominating this community – about 98% are Muslim in the north – and it’s growing very fast. That’s why I urge you to continue your work in northern Ghana, to send more biblical resources, and equip believers to plant churches. You’re changing many lives!”