Caledonia Church Plant Q & A
On Sunday, February 12 a brief question and answer session was held to discuss the church plant effort in Caledonia. Here are a few highlights:Q: How much money is needed for the plant, when is it needed and where will it come from?
A: Typical church plant budgets contain around $200,000 of outside funding to get them up and running in the first three years. The financial support from a sponsoring church in the RCA is usually right around $60,000. In our case, we are anticipating that number may be as high as $100,000 because of the expenses associated with the existing build (which many plants do not have at the beginning). The good news is that once up and running, the new church can anticipate a ‘turbo-boost’ in its adolescent years, as it can avoid the time and financial stress often caused by an initial building campaign.
Fifth’s Caledonia plant has already been approved for a $22,000 grant from the denomination’s Church Multiplication Office, with the first installment slated for June of 2012. Very soon, a financial campaign will be announced at Fifth which will allow everyone an opportunity to partner in the journey financially.
Q: How will we decide on the right candidate for the planter position?
A: The search team is comprised of a number of gifted and discerning individuals who have been charge with the responsibility of seeking God’s leading in making that decision. They have a number of tools available to assist them: interviews, references, planter assessment tests, resumes, and prayer to name a few. In the end, it will be the Spirit’s leading which we are confident will guide the team to selecting the person of God’s choosing.
Q: Is it a requirement of the position to be an ordained minister?
A: The original position posting did not have that as a requirement. The range of credentials for church planters is typically quite broad and includes commissioned pastor candidates in the RCA. As it turns out, all of the remaining candidates in our process do indeed have Master of Divinity degrees.
Q: Is there a need for a church in Caledonia?
A: Several preliminary demographic studies have been obtained which indicate the answer is a resounding “yes”. Perhaps one of the more telling statistics is that approximately one third of those living within a 5 mile radius of the plant location say they have an ongoing church affiliation, about one third say they have little religious affiliation and another third indicate no connection at all to a church.
Q: What can an individual do to help with the plant?
A: The immediate short term answer is PRAY. We have been inviting the congregation to join with the Wednesday night prayer group to lift the entire plant process before God and seek His wisdom and blessing. Pastor Bruce extended an invitation last week to “sign up” as a prayer partner and to commit to regularly praying for the plant and receive periodic updates, containing specific prayer requests. As the planter comes aboard, a number of additional opportunities will also be announced.