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A Strategy to Plant a Missional, Multiplying Church in Pulaski County, Kentucky

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A Strategy to Plant a Missional, Multiplying Church in Pulaski County, Kentucky LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY A STRATEGY TO PLANT A MISSIONAL, MULTIPLYING CHURCH IN PULASKI COUNTY, KENTUCKY A Thesis Project Submitted to Liberty University Baptist Theological Seminary in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree DOCTOR OF MINISTRY By Daniel R. Basile Lynchburg, Virginia December 1, 2014 Copyright © December 2014 by Daniel R. Basile All rights reserved. LIBERTY UNIVERSITY BAPTIST THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY THESIS PROJECT APPROVAL SHEET ______________________________ GRADE Dr. Charles N. Davidson, Director, Doctor of Ministry Program MENTOR Dr. David W. Hirschman, Assistant Professor of Religion READER ABSTRACT A STRATEGY TO PLANT A MISSIONAL, MULTIPLYING CHURCH IN PULASKI COUNTY, KENTUCKY Daniel R. Basile Liberty Baptist Theological Seminary, 2014 MENTOR: Dr. Charlie Davidson There is a desperate need for church planters to focus efforts on rural, established communities to reverse trends of declining church attendance and influence. Pulaski County, Kentucky is one such community that sees the unchurched population continue to climb despite hundreds of church buildings. The goal of this thesis project is to reach the numerous unchurched inhabitants of Pulaski County by creating a comprehensive, holistic strategy to design and launch a missional church near Somerset, Kentucky, that will intentionally reproduce itself. Through interviews and surveys of at least 100 local residents, a careful analysis of area demographics and psychographics will guide a contextualized stratagem. Current church planting literature will inform the chronological design of gathering a core group, promotion, raising funds, and launching the church. Finally, a strategy to make disciples, and multiply leaders will be explained to aid our team. These efforts are the most effective way to revitalize and revive church effectiveness in this region. Abstract length: 157 words. DEDICATION To Stephanie Ann, Bethany Grace, Avery Danielle, Abigail Joy, and Josiah Philip; For your sacrifice, encouragement, and boundless love, this paper is affectionately dedicated. Special thanks is given to Jeffrey Harris, who selflessly edited the manuscript, provided invaluable insights, and made the final edition far better. CONTENTS ABSTRACT …………………………………………………………………………….……iv DEDICATION …………………………………………………………………………….….v CONTENTS ……………………………………………………………………………….….vi TABLES…………………………………………………………………………………….....viii ILLUSTRATIONS ………………………………………………………………...………….ix CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION ………………………………………………………..…....1 Statement of Problem ……………………………………………………………….…5 Special Terminology Defined …………………………………………………………7 Statement of Limitations .………………………………………………………….…..8 Theoretical Basis ..…………………………………………………………….…….....9 Statement of Methodology ………………………………………………………...…10 Literature Review ………………………………………………………..…………...13 CHAPTER 2 PULASKI COUNTY DEMOGRAPHICS AND PSYCHOGRAPHICS.……23 Pulaski County History ………………………………………………………………26 Pulaski County Demographics ……………………………………………………… 27 Pulaski County Psychographics ……………………………………………………...32 Contextualized Strategy ……………………………………………………………...43 Contextualized Outreach Efforts ……………………………………………………..47 CHAPTER 3 A STRATEGY TO LAUNCH AN OPERATIONAL CHURCH…………....50 A Working Strategy ………………………………………………………………….50 Core Values …………………………….…………………………………………….51 Mission Statement …………………………………….……………………………...53 Vision ………………………………………………….……………………………..56 HFC's Launch Strategy…………………………………………………………...…..60 Community Outreach ……………………………………………………………….. 74 Finances ……………………………………………………………………………...76 vi Setting ………………………………………………………………………………..81 First Service Preparation ……………………………………………………………..82 Launch Date ………………………………………………………………………….83 Stabilizing Systems …………………………………………………………………..85 CHAPTER 4 A STRATEGY TO LAUNCH A MISSIONAL CHURCH……………….…89 Definitions of a Missional Church by Missional Leaders ……………….…………..89 Key Characteristics and Differences of Missional Churches ………………………..92 Merging Nomenclature for Harvest Fellowship Church …………………………….96 Overview of HFC's Great Commissional Ministry ………………………………….99 CHAPTER 5 A STRATEGY TO LAUNCH A MULTIPLYING CHURCH………….. ...106 Multiplication of Leaders …………………………………………………………...108 Multiplication of Churches ………………………………………………………….113 CHAPTER 6 SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS…………………………….....115 Summary …………………………………………………………………………….115 Recommendations …………………………………………………………………...117 Conclusion …………………………………………………………………………..123 APPENDIX A: Sample Survey ……………………………………………………..……....124 APPENDIX B: Definitions of 'Missional Communities'…………………………..…….......126 APPENDIX C: Permission Letter……………………...………………………………….....127 BIBLIOGRAPHY ……………………………………………………………..………..…...128 VITA ………………………………………………………………………………...............137 IRB Approval and Waiver Letter ………………..……………………………………..........138 vii TABLES 1. Association of Religion Data Archives for Pulaski County 2000-2010 ………………….2 2. 2014 Population for Pulaski County, Kentucky ………………………………………...28 3. 2014 Race Diversity Indicators of Pulaski County, KY Residents……………………...28 4. 2014 Age Breakdown of Pulaski County Residents……………………………………..29 5. 2014 Income Level of Pulaski County Residents………………………………………..30 6. 2014 Education Level of Pulaski County Residents……………………………………..31 7. 2014 Labor Force Records for Pulaski County, KY……………………………………..32 8. The Six Doctrines of “Main Thing” Theology…………………………………………..46 9. Four Spaces People Need To Connect in Community…………………………………...61 10. HFC's Three Group Sizes and Corresponding Values and Outcomes…………………...62 11. Essential Concepts of a Life Change Group……………………………………………..68 12 Launch Team Selection Criteria…………………………………………………………71 13 HFC Start Up Costs for Phase 3…………………………………………………………77 14. HFC Recurring Operating Expenses……………………………………………………..78 15. Missional Leaders Definitions and Views of Missional Communities………………….90 16. Spiritual Growth Stages and Needs of a Disciple………………………………………100 17. Leadership Progression Plan For Missional Communities……………………………..110 18. Eight Habits of Effective Small Group Leaders………………………………………..110 19. Eight Steps To Develop Small Group Leaders…………………………………………111 20. Five Questions of Bible Storying……………………………………………………….112 viii ILLUSTRATIONS Figures 1. Pulaski County Church Planting Trends 1930-2014 …………………………………..6 2. Education Level Results from Pulaski County Library Survey……………………….31 3. Pastime Activities of Pulaski County Residents………………………………………34 4. Crowd to Core Church Planting Model……………………………………………….63 5. Core to Crowd Church Planting Model……………………………………………….64 6. Launch Team Origin…………………………………………………………………..70 7. County Awareness of the 48,000 Unchurched Residents……………………….…...117 ix CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Why Another Church? Even a cursory glance at the numerous entries in the yellow pages under “Churches” in the 2013/2014 edition of the Lake Cumberland Area Wide Telephone Directory, a phone book covering six counties in Southeastern Kentucky, would lead most to conclude that the planting of another church would be altogether unnecessary. Indeed, while discussing church planting with the writer, one local pastor predictably voiced this very sentiment when he said, “If there are over a hundred churches in Pulaski County, why would we need another church here?”1 Currently in Pulaski County there are 64,457 citizens with easy access to 164 evangelical congregations.2 Shockingly, despite having so many churches from which to choose, over 48,000 Pulaski County residents opt not to frequent any of these churches on a given Sunday.3 In fact, according to the Association of Religion Data Archives for Pulaski County reflected in Table 1 below, the period between the years 2000–2010 showed those claiming no religious affiliation in 1 Interview with a local pastor, Somerset, KY, February 13, 2013. Interviewee’s name withheld by mutual agreement. 2 Population statistics taken from the Scan/US Report, www.scanus.com (accessed March 14, 2014) and the number of congregations derived from The Association of Religion Data Archives, “Pulaski County 2000-2010” http://www.thearda.com/rcms2010/r/c/21/rcms2010_21199_county_name_2010.asp (accessed 12/2/14). 3 Rick Gage, “Where Will You Spend Eternity?” (sermon delivered at the Go Tell Crusade, Somerset, KY, September 24, 2014). It is noteworthy that Gage’s evangelistic ministry worked with multiple pastors from different denominations for one-year studying church attendance trends in Pulaski County and concluded that 83% of Pulaski County residents do not attend church. This amounts to 53,499 residents. The number 48,000 is used throughout this work since the survey of Pulaski County residents, conducted by the author, used this figure in the questions posed. 1 2 Pulaski County rose 51.5% from the figures shown in 2000.4 The projected population increases of 12.2% by the year 2016 indicate an increase of non-adherents at a troubling 39.3%.5 The responsible question then must shift from “how many churches are within reach of the unchurched” to “how many unchurched will the many churches reach?” The research repeatedly indicates, lamentably, that the answer is surprisingly few. Table 1 Association of Religion Data Archives for Pulaski County 2000-2010 6 2000 2010 Actual % Change 2016 Change Projections Total Population 56,217 63,063 6,846 12.2 % 8.9 % Adherents to a Faith Community 39,005 36,986 -2,019 (-5.2%) • % of Population 69.4% 58.7% (-10.8%) Evangelical Protestants 33,914 31,865 - 2,049 (-6.0%) • % Population 60.3% 50.5% (-9.8%) SBC Adherents 39,005 36,986 - 2,019 (-5.2%)
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