Customer Reviews

Starting a New Church: The Church Planter's Guide to Success

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This book is not a theoretical book. It is a book from experience and years of success. This is a practical book that asks seemingly simple questions but that ultimately leads you to a deeper understanding of what you are attempting to accomplish.

All but 2 chapters are entitled as questions. The purpose is to get the potential planter to look deep into themselves, answer some very real life questions, and get moving with your dream of planting a church.

I found the best chapter had to do with budgeting. Chapter 8 makes the reader to look not only at money but to look at money as a vehicle to being effective. The budget can simply be divided into 2 sections: Opportunity Budget and Operational Budget. This chapter alone is worth buying the book.

This book is a breathe of fresh air!

Written by an experienced church planter, this book seeks to motivate and equip others to do the same. The author believes that planting new churches is the best way to evangelize the lost. He has lived this out: the two churches he founded are responsible for planting more than 200 congregations around the world. The author's methodology is marred in places by a man-centered, "seeker sensitive" approach, and the theology is fairly thin. There is scarce mention of the glory of God, the power of the Holy Spirit, the salvation of the lost or the centrality of the Word. A cult using these same strategies would probably grow. Nevertheless, the author provides many points of practical wisdom that, used critically and grounded in a more robust theology, could prove valuable to prospective church planters

I have been studying everything I can get my hands on about church planting. This book is by far the best I have read to date. It offers the practical how-to's instead of endless pages of philosophies, etc..

I recommend this book as a must-have for any church planter, trust me you will not be disappointed!

If you like this book, check out the sequel, How to Multiply Your Church: The Most Effective Way to Grow God's Kingdom

Ralph Moore, associated with the Foursquare denomination, is one of the United States' most prominent church planters. While his work is concentrated in Hawaii and California, he has assisted in numerous church plants throughout the world. "Starting a New Church" is a collection of Moore's methodology, advice, and rationale. It includes anecdotal evidence of both his successes and failures.

"Starting a New Church" is certainly an easy read. The book is divided into 20 chapters; and each chapter is subdivided significantly. There are no long paragraphs and the book provides frequent "stopping places" so that one does not have to purposefully block out time to read it. It lends itself well to those who pick up a book to kill time in between other appointments. Chapter topics include discussions on why to plant a church, how to begin planting, developing value and mission statements, raising funds, governmental structure, stewardship, and how your new church should go about planting a daughter church.

While the book is simple in its structure and its prose, it is certainly not simplistic. Moore's thoughts are arranged topically, and there is little purposeful connection between the various sections, but they are all sound advice and worth considering (even if one does ultimately reject it). While it took this reader a little time to "catch on to" Moore's comparatively unstructured prose, I did come to appreciate the matter-of-fact presentation of Moore's advice. He simply barrages the reader with "this was my issue, I considered these approaches, I decided on this one for these reasons, this is the result."

I recommend this book for those who are considering planting a church, congregational leaders who are considering planting a daughter church, and those who need to revitalize a stagnant ministry. You probably won't adopt Moore's approach in total, but you will appreciate his experienced voice when making your own decisions.

Ralph Moore writes from over 20 years of successful church multiplication. This is not a book of theory. It's valuable insights come from wisdom forged in the crucible of real experience. If you are a church planter, a parent church pastor or a denominational supervisor of church planters this book is a must read!

The proof is in Pastor Ralph's success as leader of a movement with 700+ church plants around the world, that is neither traditional or contemporary but Biblically based on early church growth as described in the book of Acts. His vision is simple and allows the Holy Spirit to control it's growth rather than allowing man to try to manage something that can only be hindered by getting in the way or trying to harness the spirit.

I'll admit, not being a Christian, that I'm probably not the target audience for this book. However, as I'd had a positive experience with another book in this genre, I thought that this would be good research for my own spiritual project. Sadly, not all books are created equal. I'll admit the target audience is probably well-grounded Christians; however, I think even they would find this book too over-the-top preachy. The perils of Satan are not probably practical advice to warn new church builders about, and honestly, they turned me off of this title. It was a did not finish (DNF) for me, and I think most people looking to build a church, or other spiritual project, would probably prefer something more practical and less preachy.

Even if you started a dozen churches or so and they were successful, you can stand out as an expert on the subject. He Pastor Moore shares his expertise from vast experience. He writes about some sorrows and some mishaps in his early years as a pastor. I was amazed that his church had no dress code--come as you are violated so many other church's requirements. So he tells the story of some motorcycle guy who walks into church one Sunday wearing his motor cycle gang's colors---the whole outfit. Later, that same guy accepts Christ and becomes an outstanding church member.
Now at 74, and making a living as an outdoor survival writer, I doubt I will get into church work, but I can see how many others might, and Moore's books are indispensable. Some pastors have started churches without success, but many will do well if they follow the advice of a guy I call: "the pope of hope." Outstanding books! If you even think you MIGHT someday preach God's Word from some pulpit, start here.

In short words, the most practical and relevant book I've read on planting churches. A book that challenges you to think on some church planting basics and gives you some suggestions.

What I most enjoy about this book is that it comes from one of the world leaders in planting churches and raising church planters. This book was not born in the mind of a theorist, but in the mind and heart of a proven practitioner.

You'll enjoy this book as I did because of its simplicity and relevancy. Enjoy your read, especially if you are considering planting a church or coaching emerging church planters.