2. Welcome to the “Barista Tithe.”
Imagine a world where resources are plentiful in church planting. Keep imagining.
Sorry, that world doesn’t exist.
Finances are one of the greatest challenges in a church plant. In a church planting partnership, it is common for both men to raise outside support so that each can work full-time at planting the church. The goal in this arrangement is that after three to four years the church will have grown to the point where both partners can be supported by internal giving.
The problem with this plan is that financial giving in in a church plant is normally much lower than a comparably sized established church. Church plants are usually populated by young people, new Christians and lost people — none of whom walk into a church writing large checks. New Christians have often not learned to give. Young people are still working at Starbucks.
In a church plant, it often takes several years to completely support the salary of even one full-time pastor. Pressure to pay two full-time pastors can be crippling and create conflict. Planting a church and planning to pay two full-time pastors in three to four years is a mistake.
Three Recommendations for Church Planters:
