RECEIVING SUPPORT FROM THE FCA CHURCH PLANTING FUND

The FCA has established a fund toward church planting, for assisting current FCA churches that desire to plant new churches.  These resources are made available by a committee and are distributed in accordance with the following guidelines. 

The process for receiving support is divided in three steps. Finances will be committed to a project following the approval of the committee after review of the application, assessment and two-year plan. Applications will be reviewed three times a year. March, July and November.  The deadlines to receive applications will be posted on the FCA website. FCA support can be spent for any aspect of the church plant project as long as it fits in with the two-year plan the planter submits.

The application for support should take place as these steps below are fully accomplished. 

Step 1 Initial requirements for support.

• The approval and financial backing of a home/sending church and pastor. Commitment letter from the sending church to the FCA as to their involvement and support for the church planter. 
• Take a personal assessment test, a Simmons or Briggs Myers personality test and Spiritual gifts test.
• Interview with the regional Elders and assigned church planting assessor 
• A minimum of two years prior ministry experience in a church (not necessarily a paid position).  

Step 2 Developing a two-year strategic plan. 

• A two-year plan showing a planned strategy to successfully launch and establish a self-sustaining congregation. [See sample two-year plan below.]

• The commitment of a core group to begin a church plant (example: twenty-five adults who have made and commitment to attendance, financial support, and serving.

Step 3 Final requirements for support.

• Confirmed mentor/coach relationship. 
• Reaffirmation of the sending church leadership to support and provide accountability to the new church planter.
• A plan in place for worship leadership and children’s ministry.
• A meeting location with a signed lease/rent contract.
• A basic financial setup, including bank account, deposit and receipting process and appropriate internal controls. The accounts must be in the name of the church (not the pastor) and depositing and spending should be in the responsibility of a trusted member.

• Developing a Two-Year Plan – Sample 

  The failure to adequately prepare and plan has been identified as a primary cause of unsuccessful church plant projects. The objective of a two-year plan is to help think through and resource the many complexities involved in starting new churches. Here are many of the elements to be thought through and documented in a two-year plan:

  
  
  1. The name of the church.
  
  
  2. Motto, theme, statement of purpose of the church.
  
  
  3. Primary method of attracting new attenders (worship, evangelism, children’s ministry, service to the community, etc.) What will make this new church stand out from the existing churches?  What will make people say “I think I’ll show up to that church next week”?
  
  
  4. Legal documentation. This includes incorporation, bylaws, 501(c)3 if applicable. The bylaws should show clearly how the church will operate, who the decision makers are, and how the new attenders relate to the group as a whole.  In many cases the new church plant will operate for a season under the sending churches incorporation.  There will need to be clear documentation that this is approved by the sending church. 
  
  
  5. 5.  Mentors and coaches. This would identify who has been recruited to give advice, support, and counsel to the pastor and the church.
  
  
  6. Strategic goals. Describe the various benchmarks to achieve in the coming two years. These serve as a target to strive for, a reason to celebrate, and a means to identify when the work is off course.
  
  
  7. A plan to make disciples. To succeed, the church must be doing more than gathering crowds—even big crowds. The church is supposed to be a place where people learn to walk faithfully with and serve God. 
  
  
  8. A financial plan. This involves both personal finances for the pastor and church. Where will pastor’s salary come from?  How much project money is needed to be raised before launch date? Where will funds be solicited from? How will the church afford such necessities as meeting space, microphones, advertisements, etc. Also, include the policy for collecting, depositing and spending money.
  
  

  Note:  We can provide some resources for church planting upon your request. 

  Application Form