I think I’m gonna have to divide this next section up into two bite-size chunks. So… this is the first chunk….

A church system is simply a strategic process that:

Saves
You
Stress
Time
Energy
Money

Just as the skeletal system provides a framework for our bodies, initial church systems provide structure for a new church. When it comes to establishing healthy systems, you have an advantage in launching from scratch–you get to build the systems without being tied to any traditional ways of doing things.

Eight First Year Systems

1. The Sunday Service

  • Load In/Load Out System - setting up and tearing down Sunday morning equipment, etc.
  • Service Evaluation System - What was wrong? What was missing? What was confusing?
  • Sunday Staff/Volunteer System
  • Worship Planning/Preaching Calendar System - just keep “launching” with new series (to break a growth barrier); launch in February, at Easter, in September, at Advent, etc.

2. Evangelism and Assimilation 101

Be able to answer these questions:

  • How does someone explore or express a decision to follow Christ at our church?
  • What do we say, share or give to a person who is making a first-time decision to follow Christ?
  • How can we help the new Christian get plugged into our church?
  • How do we move someone from first-time guest to full-time member?
  • How do we know who is a first-time guest each Sunday? How do we collect his or her contact information?
  • Are we making our service easy for a first timer to attend? Does that person know where to enter, check in his or her kids, find the restroom, and so on?
  • How are we following up on first-time guests?

3. Website

  • Most church planters spend too much time on the website
  • Spend less time on the website and more time in the community

That said, here are some tips…

Do include:

  • Where your church meets
  • What time you meet
  • Directions to the church’s location
  • What to expect at the service (how long, style, dress, etc.)
  • A little bit about you and any staff
  • A short history of the church

Don’t include:

  • Too many pictures of the lead pastor
  • Too many pictures of the lead pastor’s spouse
  • Music of any kind (you’ll get people in trouble if they look at your website at work!)
  • “Under Construction” signs–just leave the area out until it’s ready
  • Anything that takes a long time to load on a slower connection
  • Insider language that only seminary grads understand
  • Your personal blog
  • Anything poorly written or of poor quality
  • Outdated content
  • Links to your favorite sites