Planting Space

or for those of you from less populus places, Git-R-Done.

Do you have a list of those really important things that need to get done to launch your church but you just never seem to get to?  Every time you start to think about it the phone rings, an email comes in, you see a twitter about a new blog post you just have to read…

This week I’ve cleared my calendar from nearly every meeting.  I’m working from home, Starbucks, Panera, anywhere but the office.  I’ve shifted most of my regular weekly tasks to other people to do for me.  Why?

I have some very important, but not urgent things to get done for our software project.  I have found if I don’t schedule it, it will simply keep getting pushed off until tomorrow or next week.

Before you launch and face the demands of all the people who are part of your church, you need to get in the habit of scheduling what I call “focused work time” where you turn off the phone, shut down email, your blog reader, and close your chat and twitter clients.

If you want to get the important stuff done, you must learn to schedule it into your week… otherwise it will never happen.  Maybe it’s one hour each morning, maybe it’s a half day.  Whatever works for you.  Just put it on your calendar (just like your date night) and don’t let other things crowd it out.

Oh… and don’t write blog posts during focused work time either.

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I recently paid $4.40 for a gallon of gas in Chicago, IL.  I never dreamed in my lifetime that I would see that price.  I can remember paying $0.89 when I got my license.  That means gas prices have increased 500% in 16 years.  Ouch!  My family of four now thinks about the price of gas when deciding whether or not to get in the car.

Regardless what the media says, the average American household is feeling the pinch.  Rising gas and food prices results in a larger percentage of people living in poverty.  So how does this impact church planting?

1. Increased needs for compassion ministries and service focused churches. Churches that serve are rapidly becoming a trend.  But churches that serve well and make a difference in the community are still hard to find.  For years churches have integrated secular practices of marketing and business.  Now it is time for the church to integrate and even influence principles of the social work world.  Compassion by Design is making it easy for churches to focus on service in a culturally relevant way through a tool called the community needs assessment.  This tool helps the new church identify authentic community needs as well as assisting in setting a true service focused DNA.
2. Green Awareness.  Agree or disagree with global warming you can’t argue with the biblical mandate to care for the earth.  With increased energy costs at the front of most American’s mind, going green is becoming as common as video games.  This presents the church with an incredible opportunity to influence the conversation with a theology of stewardship, restoration and the beauty of God’s creation.
3. Alternative Community.  In a time of war, rumors of war and an every man for himself mentality, the church will stand in stark contrast.  Spend time reading Acts 2 and 4 and wrestle with what it means for the church to live in community.  How will your new church take care of each other’s needs?  It used to be only the poorest among us couldn’t afford a gallon of gas.  Today, you may find a benevolence ministry that helps fill a gas of tank is not only relevant but needed.

How do you see the rising cost of living impacting the church?  What opportunities for ministry does it provide us?

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I recently talked to a planter about making sure that he honored his family by taking his allotted vacation time this year. His initial thought was to postpone any vacation until after launch because of all the business that happens up to launch. I reminded him that it only gets busier after launch because of all the people that need to get followed up with and plugged in.

In case you’re considering just skipping vacation entirely, consider this posted on Monster’s career advice blog:

“[Not taking vacation is] a little like sleep deprivation, according to physicians and psychotherapists. Just as lack of sleep impedes your ability to think clearly and act decisively, lack of playtime keeps you from taking in information effectively and seeing the totality of a situation. Lack of sleep and play both have a negative impact on your reflex time, general resilience and ability to ward off infection. Recreation deprivation also makes you cranky, and often more than a little critical of the people in your organization who do have the good sense to take care of themselves.”

So, what’s was your experience? Did you take vacation time during pre-launch? Did you wait until after? If so, was it right after launch or a significant time later?

Please help this young planter by voicing your opinion and/or sharing your wisdom. We’d love to hear from you.

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Ed’s interview of Craig Groeschel has been one of our most popular. If you missed it, click here.
newchurches news

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Pre-Launch should be a time of dreaming and strategy, vision and planning. Most planters are big on the dream and small on the details and implementation. That is how it should be, as most people who are ‘maintainers’ don’t have big enough dreams, or at least the moxie to go plant a church.

That being said, there is also harm in creating a plan and then not sticking to it, or switching plans every 6 months because you’ve come across a new idea or ministry model. The whole reason for coming up with a plan is to work it and see the fruit of your labor. There will be people in your congregation that need to administrate something or maintain a healthy system. Let them! Imagine the momentum that gets lost when you completely retool the factory just because you get bored with your original plan.

Mike Burns gives us some great insight on his blog into how to keep a strategic plan going and not let it “end up on a shelf collecting dust, beside other well-intentioned initiatives.”

Do the following:

1. Make your planning process inclusive
2. Make sure your plan is realistic, flexible, and complete
3. Make a commitment to evaluation [maintain, maintain, maintain]

Don’t do the following:

1. Do not develop your strategic plan during a crisis
2. Do not set unrealistic objectives
3. Do not assume that everyone knows what is expected of him/her
4. Do not ram a plan down anyone’s throat

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Wow! You’re still reading after the title.  That must mean you need some help with a bulk mail permit.  I’m here to help.

Before getting a bulk mail permit, consider the following:

• You will spend $360 to get the permit.  ($180 for application fee and $180 for annual fee).  Will the money saved having the bulk-mail permit cover these fees?

• Ex.- A first class stamp is $0.42.  Bulk mail rate is roughly $0.17 per piece.  The savings is $0.25 per piece.  Therefore, the break even point is 1,440 pieces over the course of the year.  This would drop to 720 pieces after year one since you will not pay the application fee again.

• If you will be mailing more than 1,440 pieces then consider getting the bulk-mail permit

Step 1: Complete Form 3615, Mailing Permit Application and Customer Profile.

Step 2: Complete From 3624, Application to Mail at Nonprofit Standard Mail Rates.

• At a minimum you will need to complete all questions in Part 1.

• You will also need to complete the top half of the “Checklist for PS Form 3624) by checking the boxes for all the documentation you are able to provide.  It is best to provide as much documentation as you are able demonstrating that you are a legitimate church.  At a minimum include your Articles of Incorporation (or Articles of Association), Bylaws and any pre-printed materials you have such as a business card, brochure, program/bulletin, etc.

Step 3: Take both completed forms to the post office.  Include the following:

• A check for $180:  This is the permit application fee (Form 3615).  It is a one time fee and separate from the annual fee you must pay for mailing
• 2 forms of identification:  One must be a picture ID.  Options include: valid driver’s license; armed forces, government, university or corporate identification card; passport; current lease, mortgage or Deed of Trust; voter or vehicle registration card; home or vehicle insurance policy.
• Evidence the organization is nonprofit: IRS letter of exemption from payment of federal income tax or a complete financial statement from an independent auditor.  As a new church you may not yet have received your 501(c)3 status.  Don’t let this stop you.  By default churches are nonprofit.  It says so in the IRS code.  You may have to persuade your local post office employee, but you can submit the application without it and be approved.  Stand firm.
• Documents describing the organization’s primary purpose: This will most likely be articles of incorporation.
• Documents explaining the organization’s operations: This will most likely be the church’s bylaws.  You can also include bulletins, brochures, financial statements, membership applications, minutes of meetings, newsletters or a listing of activities for past 6-12 months.  If you do include any of these things be sure to check the appropriate boxes on page 3 of the Form 3624

Step 4: Wait

The post office will send the Form 3624 to the national office for processing.  This typically takes 4-6 weeks.  You will receive a permit imprint number and a receipt from Form 3615.  Keep this receipt for documentation.  Once Form 3624 is approved it will be associated with your imprint number and you will be ready send bulk mail at nonprofit rates.  Before your first mailing you will have to pay the $180 annual mailing fee and make a deposit into your account.

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In his recent post on Philanthropy Journal, brand consultant Drew Neisser says about the logo design process:

“Getting the right name and logo are essential in the early stages of brand development.  These will force you to define your mission, values and target audience since without these prerequisites, you’ll just have a cow.”

Don’t pick a logo and a name just because they are cool and will impress your ministry friends. Choose one that actually communicates something of value to your community and has at least something to do with what you are doing there. The church name and logo should flow out of who your community is (demographics) and who you are (mission & personality), and should not be created in a vacuum.

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Round 1 Round 2

Round 3 will focus on how to make a home office work well.

IDEA #1 - Wi-Fi Hotspots

If you have a home office wi-fi hotspots will be your best friend.  Plan at least a couple of hours a day out of the house at a hotspot.  This will help you not go stir crazy being in your house all the time.  Frequent the same hotspot regularly and you will get to know the employees and other regulars.  As a lead pastor, consider budgeting $25 a month for your staff memebers to get them gift cards to their favorite hotspot.  This will show your value of all staff members interacting with the community.

IDEA #2 - iChat

Having iChat can make communication outside of an office setting easy.  If staff members always have it on, it is easy to IM and video chat in order to communicate.  If you don’t have a mac get one.  If you can’t get a mac use a PC alternative like Skype.

IDEA #3 - Defined Boundaries

There is nothing worse than being in the middle of an important call when your two year old strolls in to ask you to play.  If you have to work in the house and you family will be there, establish well defined boundaries that protect your work environment.  Be realistic.  Plan a couple of ten minute power play breaks to spend time during the day with the kids.  Plan at least once a week to have lunch “at home” with the family.

IDEA #4 - Office Hours

A home office can be a workaholic’s spouse’s worst nightmare.  Because your home is your workplace, the tendency will be to overwork.  This is really part of the boundaries questions, but deserves noting.  Avoid overworking like the plague.  Turn off the computer and “come home” from work.

IDEA #5 - Separate Phone Line

Don’t set yourself up for failure by having one phone.  Get a VOIP or dedicated work cell to use as a work phone.  Turn it off when you are not “at work.”

IDEA #6 - Dedicated Work Space

If possible, have an office at the house.  Don’t temp yourself by working on the coach in front of the television or at the kitchen table with easy access to the fridge.  Its hard to preach on health with a big belly.  If space is a premium, consider getting a computer armoire for your bedroom.  This will hide your work clutter and provide you with your needed space.

IDEA #7 - Never Meet Alone

Have someone on call in case a need arises for you to counsel or meet with someone.  Never meet alone with someone of the opposite sex, even in public.

IDEA #8 - Get a Smartphone

While expensive data plans are a pain, smartphones can extend your ability to work almost anywhere.  With the ability to send email via phone and in some case browse the web, the smartphone will enable you to work in the park, the library or just about anywhere with a signal.  This added flexibility will keep you out in the community and will allow you needed time out of the house.

What are your ideas for making a home office work?

Its a Round 3 knockout for the home office.  With some careful planning, you can save a lot of money that can go towards more staff or ministries to serve your community.

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I just never get tired of top 10 lists.

Here’s a great one with some insight into church leadership. Of course they don’t all apply, but the top 3 really struck me:

1. [New Leaders] persist in still doing their old jobs, rather than their new ones. As a result, they don’t delegate; they burn themselves out while the people who report to them can’t grow and thus feel unmotivated.
2. Out of a sense of insecurity, they sometimes view smart new people as competition, rather than assets. As a result, this de-motivates the people who could well represent their best hope for making the team a success.
3. They can be so afraid of making a mistake that they make no decision at all. By their indecisiveness, they lose the respect of their people – and with the loss of respect comes the loss of any chance to motivate people.

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In Round 1, I highlighted some of the benefits of both home offices and rented offices.  Round 2 will focus on ideas to making a rented office work.  Do you have any additional ideas.  Post a comment.

IDEA #1 - Fundraise and then Fundraise some more.

One option is to fundraise the needed money for office space.  If having a public office is part of the strategy of the new church than funds must be raised to support that strategy.  My experience is that a cheap office is going to cost $1500 a month.  That’s $54,000 over the course of the first three years.

IDEA #2 - Business Partnerships

Consider partnering with another business or non-profit to reduce costs.  For example, have a counselor pay rent to run his/her practice out of your office.

IDEA #3 - Make your space pay for itself.

Consider how your space can generate funds to pay for itself.  Many church planters have attempted to start businesses in their office space, such as a coffee shop, to generate funds for rent and get the community to their location.  While this sounds like a great idea, proceed cautiously.  You are already starting a new church.  Starting a new business might just push you over the edge of insanity.  Consider partnerships first and do your homework.

IDEA #4 - Serve the Community

Start a separate non-profit organization that functions as the service arm of the church.  Many church plants have a renewed interest in community service.  Not the kind of community service that makes guilty Christians feel better, but the kind that actually benefits their community.  There is an emerging model for planting churches out of non-profit organizations.  There are many private and government grants available for organizations that legitimately serve the community.  Consider planting with this approach and you may find God opens doors of revenue and service opportunities you never imagined.

IDEA #5  Get it donated

As you connect with people in the community and network with business leaders, ask them to consider donating an office or to provide access to their conference room.  Many offices are vacant in the evening and can be used for meetings and events without disturbing the business.  You don’t get what you don’t ask for.

Round 2 clearly goes to the rented office.  There are multiple ways to rent office space without negatively impacting the church budget.  Just be sure to count the cost before signing on the dotted line.  We always recommend as short a lease as possible.  Budgets change and even it it looks like you can afford an office on paper three years from now, you might not.  If you are locked into a lease, you might be firing staff or cutting ministry in order to pay the bills.

Round 3 will focus on ideas for making a home office work.

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