Church Plant 2025

⁠What is the biblical basis for planting a church?

The Great Commission includes the call to make disciples of Jesus Christ of all nations by baptising believers and teaching them to obey all He taught (Matt 28:19-20) - these activities that cannot be separated from local churches according to the pattern of New Testament (Rom 10:14-15). Thus we should aim to plant and strengthen churches and church leaders as the apostle Paul did. When fierce persecution fell upon the early Jerusalem church, believers scattered throughout the Roman Empire planting churches as they went about still trying to fulfil the Great Commission (Acts 8:4-5, 11:19). The New Testament describes the growth of local churches which partnered one another by strengthening each other and growing the Gospel.

What will the process be for planting a church?

We begin first with praying and seeking God to provide a planter. With a man to lead this effort, he will be introduced widely and given time to get to know members and vice versa. With time, we hope members will discern with prayer whether they are called to go with the church plant. Throughout this process, the elders are committed to: regular listening sessions, transparent communication, and prayer-saturated discernment processes.

What are other alternatives to growth apart from planting a church?

We are certainly open to revitalisation, hosting another onsite church plant, overseas mission, non-English language church efforts, and strengthening outreach in the Macpherson area. These need not be mutually exclusive.

What are some lessons we can learn from other churches who have planted churches?

We have learnt many things from others' and our own experiences, including:

• The need for strong Biblical preaching to ensure the plant's viability;

• The critical mass and culture of a plant as important factors for stability and growth;

• The inherent weaknesses and challenges of multi-site, multi-congregational churches especially in sustaining unity;

• The importance of supporting the plant to become financially and organisationally independent;

• The necessity of sending and sent leaders to have alignment of mission and philosophy of ministry as well as godly relationships;

• The need to teach and encourage healthy congregationalism;

• The technical aspects of owning/renting property.

We should pray that God allow us to plant a church of like faith and practice, which is why we seek a church planter whose philosophy of ministry is like GBC's. That would be a key requirement.

Who will be going from GBC to this church plant? Are there specific elders we’re sending?

Church planting involves willing hearts, not compulsion. 2 Corinthians 9:7 reminds us God loves a "cheerful giver" - this applies to ministry commitment. With transparent pathways for discernment, we hope members will prayerfully consider their calling without institutional pressure.

As we trust God to work in peoples’ hearts and honoring the freedom of conscience, the planter will need to gather a team of godly leaders who will lead the plant through a plurality of elders. As pastors and elders, we too will have to seek the Lord's guidance.

How many people are we looking to send out, and what happens to those left behind?

Lord-willing, we are hoping that a group between 50-100 will be formed so that the plant can begin with some critical mass. Church planting is not subtraction, but multiplication. We pray that God would move hearts of potential leaders and members so we send out our best for the Gospel and multiply witness. But we also trust God to raise up new leaders and volunteers for GBC and meet our needs as He done for so many years.