Discover Church Planting

Resources for Planters

COVID-19 Resources
Initial Communication from Chris Hansler: This includes links to access CARES act resources and corresponding information.
Regathering after Covid-19: A resource to help pastors consider how best to re-gather the church community after restrictions have been lifted. You can also find this HERE.
Reintegración de las comunidades eclesiales después de Covid-19

Covid Conversations Live video dialogues to help us move forward as leaders through this crisis.
- Self-Care and Soul-Care for Pastors: Find the Webinar HERE Pastors, you are leading others, but we recognize the magnified pressure on you in these unusual days. Please join us for a conversation with Dr. Steven Wexler, a pastor and licensed psychologist and Dr. Isaac Hebden, a pastor and specialist in spiritual formation discuss how to take care of ourselves as we lead others.
- Thriving Through - Interviews with Pastors who are, in the midst of Covid-19, turning the obstacles into opportunities.
- Sharing Strategies Summary: This is a summary of 3 different conversations with 13 pastors who shared their ideas and strategies for moving forward in mission through this Covid-19 crisis.
Helpful Articles & Websites
- Coronovirus and the Church: The purpose of this site is to assist churches and ministry leaders as they prepare for and respond to the effects of the Coronovirus in their congregations and communities.
- Leading Your Church in a Prolonged Crisis: Excellent article by Foursquare minister Jessie Crookshank. Jessie has worked as a first-responder and trained others to lead in challenging times. Here she gives practical advice for leading well during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- "This is not the crisis" - Article from Ed Stetzer
- Coronavirus Resources for the Church - from Ed Stetzer
- Crisis Leadership, Christian Leadership and the Coronavirus Epidemic - Article from Carey Nieuwhof
- Creating Life-Streamed Worship in 3 Days
- Setting up Facebook Live Streaming
Government Resources
- CDC (Center for Disease Control) Updates and FAQs
- CDC Enfermedad de Coronavirus 2019
- US Chamber of Commerce Small Business Guide - This helps small businesses, including churches, navigate the Coronavirus crisis.
- Paycheck Protection Program - Relief offered through the CARES act
Standard DCP Care Practices for DCP church pastors

In addition to a pastor’s personal spiritual disciplines, we offer this model as standard practices for DCP churches and encourage the church to adopt it at the beginning.
RECOMMENDED CARE PRACTICES FOR ALL DCP PASTORS
Church planting guide

This is our detailed step by step guide for planting a church with Discover Church Planting.
DCP informational Videos

These videos will give a glimpse into what the DCP does and how they support the planters. Just click the icon.
Helpful websites & blogs

Bless Every Home - A fantastic online tool to help you and your congregation map out your neighborhoods and pray for your neighbors.
The Exchange: A Blog by Ed Stetzer
Church Planting Supersite - a wealth of church resource links indexed by topic
"My Top Ten Church Planting Tips" by Aaron Damiante
iDisciple - Church resources, articles, videos, sermons from leaders such as Andy Stanley, Ravi Zacharias, Tony Evans, Louie Giglio. Accounts are free for pastors.
Preach2Engage - Free monthly sermon outlines with full media elements.
Relevant Magazine - Life, God, Culture & Current Events
YouVersion - an excellent Bible app which includes reading plans
Bible Gateway - Online Bible with virtually every translation in most languages
Life Journal - an excellent tool by Wayne Cordeiro for daily devotions
Outreach.com - Outreach products, banners, print materials, etc.
The Arda (Association of Religious Data Archives): At your fingertips, a wealth of demographic information about church affiliation and more in your city.
American Values Atlas - Excellent Demographics information
Reconciliation and racial justice

The events around the death of George Floyd and the ensuing protests in May & June of 2020 have been vivid and important reminders that we as a church have work to do to deal with the sin of racism, both personal and systemic, in order to bring Gospel reconciliation and flourishing to every person made in the image of God. Below are resources to consider:
Sermons/Messages:
A Message from my heart on the Racial Issues Facing us as a Nation. Dr. Tony Evans
The Human Race. Pastor Andy Stanley
God Help us Unite. Pastor Craig Groeschel

Articles/Statements:
Statement from Randall Bach, president of Open Bible
Statement from Randy Remington, president of Foursquare
Statement from NAE
"I Can't Breathe" - Leighton Ford Ministries
I Have Only One Hope for Racial Justice: A God Who Conquered Death. Esau McCaulley
church planting proposal guide

How to design a proposal for Discover Church Planting
Administrative Resources
These will help walk the church planter through issues such as incorporation, Federal ID number, 501c3 status and reporting.
- Church Planting Administrative Steps (Simple) - DCP church
- Church Planting Administrative Steps (Simple) - Open Bible Church
- Church Planting Administrative Guide - Open Bible - detailed
- Reimbursement Request Form
- Church Planters' Monthly Report
Articles & training
- Developing Leaders - Tips on identifying & developing leaders
- Designing a Memorial Service
- How to Conduct a Wedding and Rehearsal
- Sample Budget Worksheet - How to draft a budget
- Funnel of Growth - A simple evaluative tool to get a clear picture of the makeup of your congregation and to consider the steps necessary to get to the next level.
- Life Community Training Manual - This is one church's training for transitioning from a quarterly/interest-based small groups model to a relational/missional community model.
- Writing a Leadership Covenant - Questions to consider when helping to define expectations and communicate with church leaders.
- Top Ten Church Planting Mistakes - by Jim Griffith and Bill Easum. These are common mistakes made by church planters. Avoid these and you will avoid a lot of heartache! This is a synopsis of the book that you can find here.
church planting books

Click the book icon for a list of recommended church planting books
Care4pastors

Resources, Sermons, Articles and a free Pastoral Care Line staffed with professional, trained counselors - all designed to support pastors and their families.
monthly church planters' report

This is the required monthly report to be submitted by our church planters to their coaches. This link will take you to an online form.