I just want you to know how much I respect Dave Ferguson the pastor of Community Christian Church in Naperville, IL.  I’m an aspiring church planter and I am doing as much research as I can to prepare for the future.  I thought it would be smart to talk to the guys who are planting and learn from their experience (thanks @kevinrapp for pushing me over the edge).  I hit Dave up on Twitter asking him if he would discuss church planting with him and he immediately responded.  I sent him some questions and here are his responses:

1.  If you had to plant all over again what would you do different?

First, if your vision is to be a reproducing church (and I hope that is the case!) than the one thing I would do over was have 2-3 apprentice church planters/campus pastors on my team.  I would have them raise their own money to do a leadership residency with the plan that within 12-24 months we would either reproduce a new church or site.

Second, we should have raised more money.  It was very tight for us from the beginning.  I think God used that – but it was tight.

(I’m answering this question with the assumption that a reproducing infrastructure of small groups is essential to becoming a reproducing church)  I think one of the great challenges is getting second generation reproduction from your small groups.  If your staff team all starts small groups it is a challenge to get the small groups to believe that they will do great under the new leadership of a lay person.  Once you break threw that second generation of small group reproduction you will see real momentum.

Both.  I believe that with a close proximity that multi-site will give you a bigger return but requires greater leadership.  If you can’t do both – do church planting.

Make sure you hear from God everyday. If you hear from God everyday and obey him and teach your people to hear from God everyday and obey him – you will plant a church that will give birth to a missional movement.

Once again, thanks Dave!  I hope this interview helps you as much has it will help me.  I am going to continue to interview guys that are swinging away in the field.  If you have any questions you would like me to ask or people I should interview hit me up here.

If you are interested in planting you should read this post.

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