Going from launch to “Real” church

Your church plant has made it to the grand opening. Now what? Converge church planting leaders Lee Stephenson and Danny Parmelee discuss how to move forward as you enter into this new phase in the life of your church.

1:35 Danny discusses how the planter and launch team members need to be prepared for the changes that will come after the church’s launch.


4:50 Lee recommends sitting down with your team weeks before the grand opening to provide them with a clear understanding of what it’s going to take to launch the church. For example, “If you’re in the children’s ministry, it may be two or three months before you get into a service.”


5:45 Danny talks about the key leadership teams his church plant had at launch.


6:25 Danny shares that his church plant emphasized small groups during the launch phase and that continued after the church launched.


7:45 Danny says his church’s small group curriculum, which was sermon based, stayed the same after the launch.


9:15 Lee talks about how small groups were a big deal from the beginning at his first church plant and how he’s handling launch/small groups differently at his new church plant.


11:10 Lee shares the ways his church helped new people get to know the church and get involved.


14:30 Lee discusses the four E process he used with people in his church.


16:35 Lee talks about how people with their own agenda and beliefs will show up at the grand opening and how to handle that.


18:30 Lee and Danny discuss their thoughts on allowing non-Christians to serve in the church.


20:25 Lee shares his biggest takeaway in preparing your launch team for the grand opening and post-grand opening.