Expanding Fellowship of Churches
The Bible Fellowship Church accomplishes their vision of being an expanding fellowship of churches by prioritizing evangelistic church planting. Church Extension Ministries of the Bible Fellowship Church was formed over 75 years ago and remains active in intentionally creating new churches through a variety of means.
Team Planting Method
In the Team Church Planting method, Church Extension or a church planter identifies a geographic location which needs a gospel presence through a church plant. Through much prayer and planning, a Core Group Launch Team is formed and sent out to begin church planting. The church planter is focused on starting a church by sharing the gospel with unbelievers in the community. As people become saved, they become part of the church plant, are discipled, and grow in their faith.
The church planter does not plant alone. Not only does the Core Group Launch Team connect with the community and participate in weekly worship gatherings, but a Transitional Leadership Team consisting of current pastors and elders from other Bible Fellowship Churches provides feedback and support during weekly meetings. Church Extension also provides a coach and a mentor that meets with the planter monthly to help the church planter stay on track with the church planting plan and make adjustments as needed. When possible, a pair of church planters is sent out together.
Multiplication and Daughter Church Planting
Other Bible Fellowship Church church plants begin when an existing church or a region of churches identifies a target site close by which needs the gospel. In these cases, Church Extension Ministries walks alongside the mother church or group of churches by assisting with the church planting plan as needed. Evangelism is prioritized in these daughter church plants as the existing churches notice that their community or a neighboring community needs Jesus Christ.
Connection
In some cases the Bible Fellowship Church expands when they welcome an existing church who desires to become a part of the denomination. One church who joined recently noted they felt there was more they could do in sharing the gospel when being part of a fellowship of churches as opposed to remaining independent. The Bible Fellowship Church structure has a unique blend of autonomy and connectedness that allows each congregation the freedom to make decisions for the local church that will maximize their ability to share the gospel in their unique cultural context.
Better Together
The Bible Fellowship Church is an expanding fellowship of churches united to make disciples of Jesus Christ. They take this call from the Lord seriously by emphasizing evangelistic church planting through which the gospel is shared, people are saved, and people grow in their faith in the Lord.