Planting a church is much more than launching a Sunday service, finding a building, or gathering a group of people. It begins with a genuine calling from God, a biblical vision for reaching the lost, and a commitment to making disciples of Jesus Christ. During a recent leadership conference, I had the opportunity to sit down with a fellow pastor to discuss the church planting process through Send Network and what it truly takes to establish a healthy, biblical, and thriving local church. We explored why church planting is one of the most important ways we can advance the Great Commission and reach communities with the hope of the gospel. One of the central themes of our conversation was the importance of assessing, preparing, and equipping those who believe God has called them to plant a church. Not everyone who desires to plant a church is necessarily ready to do so, which is why a thoughtful assessment process is so valuable. Through Send Network, prospective church planters have the opportunity to evaluate their calling, character, theological convictions, leadership capabilities, and readiness for the challenges of pastoral ministry. The goal is not simply to determine whether someone can launch a church, but whether they are spiritually and practically prepared to shepherd God’s people faithfully. We also discussed the importance of healthy leadership, accountability, discipleship, and intentional preparation throughout the church planting journey. Planting a church requires more than passion and good intentions; it demands spiritual maturity, biblical qualifications, a clear understanding of the gospel, and the ability to develop and lead a healthy ministry team. From the initial assessment to ongoing training, coaching, and support, the church planting process is designed to help future pastors build strong biblical foundations before stepping into the responsibilities of leading a new congregation. Our desire is not merely to see more churches planted, but to see healthy churches established that will make disciples, develop leaders, and eventually plant other churches. Ultimately, church planting is about fulfilling the Great Commission and making the name of Jesus known in communities that desperately need the gospel. Jesus commanded His followers in Matthew 28:19–20 to go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them and teaching them to observe everything He commanded. Every healthy church plant represents an opportunity for new believers to come to faith, families to be transformed, and communities to experience the life-changing power of the gospel. My prayer is that this conversation will encourage pastors, ministry leaders, and anyone considering church planting to seek God’s calling seriously, embrace the preparation process humbly, and pursue the mission of establishing churches that faithfully proclaim Christ for generations to come. Bogdan Kipko on Instagram: https://kipko.us/4uQGXKL Ten Year Anniversary Forward Church Irvine: https://kipko.us/3QbJwYH Fuel For Pastors Podcast: https://kipko.us/2D9eLOE Why I Decided To Plant A Church Podcast: https://kipko.us/3NEv1Yv Send Network: https://kipko.us/4ajcU65 Church Planter Interest Form: https://kipko.us/43F9cQy NAMB: https://kipko.us/435Vypr IMB: https://kipko.us/4dSe2i1 SBC Annual Meeting: https://kipko.us/3KBnCYp Follow Pastor Kipko on Instagram: www.instagram.com/kipko Watch all sermons from Forward Church on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@kipkoTo get in touch with Forward Church or to request Pastor Bogdan Kipko to speak at your church or event, please send an email to: admin@forward.fm If you are visiting Southern California, we would love to have you come and enjoy the Sunday Service at Forward Church!
