For a decade now, studies have shown that missional church plants are ideally effective at connecting unchurched-dechurched people to the Savior Jesus and a church home. Here are a few reasons why:
*Missional church plants launch with a very focused mission agenda. From the very beginning, the culture is unashamedly outreach-driven. Those involved in the launch of a new plant are there because they boldly embrace the truth that, “nothing is more important than striving to get sinners like me connected to their needed Savior.” Existing congregations can move toward that Great Commission culture (and wonderfully, many are doing so), but missional plants are blessed with that rescue posture from the start. It’s the only thing they’ve ever known, and it’s powerful.
*Missional church plants don’t have anyone saying, “We’ve never done it that way before.” One of the supreme hindrances to reaching lost souls is the unwillingness to put creative and culturally relevant ministry paradigms into play (without changing God’s pure Word of course!) When an existing congregation yearns to try something new, it can often be like trying to turn a giant cruise liner on a new course – it takes time, and a lot of people just don’t like the change of direction. However, when a missional plant seeks to put creative, outreach-effective ministries into play, it can be more like a speedboat turning on a dime.
*Missional church plants create a lot of excitement and momentum, as does any new adventure. That momentum easily translates into God’s people being more active witnesses in their neighborhoods, workplaces, and other spheres of life. They are so excited about the new plant, they talk about it frequently, and in genuinely passionate ways. That energy turns into constant invitations and new soul connections.
*Missional church plants make immediate use of modern technology, and that technology goes a long way to reach out to the unchurched/dechurched people of 21st century America. As a missional plant utilizes a modern website, audio podcasts, streaming video messages, blogs, twitter, facebook, and so on…the Gospel communication of the new plant reaches hundreds (even thousands) of people instantly. That use of technology also gets the unchurched person thinking, “maybe this community is something up to date, relevant, and maybe just maybe, it understands who I really am and what I’m going through.”