Phase #4: Launch | Ministry Central

Interest Gatherings and Opening Day Expectations 1 Topic

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Narrow down meeting venue options to three and rank them in order of preference

Marketing Part 2 (Branding, Website, Social Media) 12 Topics

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Website goes live

Set up an online giving portal

Social Media promotion of church page

Finalize Launch Marketing Plan

Develop and print Invite Cards for Community Events and promote on social media

Finalize designs and gather resources

Purchase offering envelopes or design and print

Order promotional items for Interest Gatherings and Launch (lanyards for workers, coffee mugs, water bottles, magnets, t-shirts, etc.)

Market blitz for Interest Gathering meetings

Print Information Cards, brochures, prayer cards, etc.

Print/purchase exterior and interior banners and directional signage

Purchase or build “Welcoming” kiosk or center

Community Involvement 4 Topics

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Join Chamber of Commerce and other community involvement opportunities

Host your first community event

Plan, market, and prepare to host first monthly Interest Gathering or Preview Service

Follow up on community event and interest meeting contacts (Core Team members teach Home Bible Studies to contacts)

Launch Team 13 Topics

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Work with pastor(s) to approve an agreement (see below) to recruit, and train an approved Launch Team

Create a blueprint and position descriptions for your desired Launch Team roles, including beginning and end date of commitment (some ministries commitments may need to continue for months after the Launch date), what events they should attend, and when they should be there.

Develop short handbooks with policies, procedures, and expectations for each Launch area of ministry (Children, Youth, Worship, Ushers, Greeters, Prayer Team/Counselors)

Fill remaining key Launch Team roles

Obtain criminal record checks for volunteers that work with children and teens

Host bi-weekly team meetings to train, prepare and pray for the first Interest Gathering meeting

Teach your church’s vision and cultural values to the team

Develop band and begin worship practices

Conduct an Interest Gathering meeting dress rehearsal

Conduct the first Interest Gathering meeting (between 6-5 months) and monthly thereafter

Conduct Interest Gathering meeting evaluation

Conduct Interest Gathering meeting follow-up

Celebrate victories

Health Checks 3 Topics

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Spiritual: daily prayer, Word, and devotion with family (if applicable), and weekly fasting. Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Family and Marriage Health: make sure you spend time daily with your spouse and children and have a date with your spouse monthly (if applicable). Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Physical: Rest and recreation.

Ongoing Items 6 Topics

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Enlist more Prayer Partners

Send list of prayer needs to Prayer Partner Team

Continue to build fundraising relationships/commitments

Stay connected with NAM and District NAM Director

Meet with mentor/coach and Overseer/Advisory Team

Intentionally meet people and invite them into your home or meet for coffee

Finalize Venue 4 Topics

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Sign Contract and logistics (communicate expectations with venue owner)

Walkthrough

Obtain or review Renter’s and Liability Insurance (corporate, event, property, storage)

Begin any remodeling

Core Group 5 Topics

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Begin weekly meetings for fellowship, planning, and leadership development

Accountability/testimony reporting on contacts made and Bible Studies taught

Continue strategic prayer walks and fasting

Continue building relationships with other UPCI/Apostolic Pastors in your city or nearby

Assign a leader to identify and train each ministry team leader that you use. No church startup has a ministry team leader for all the areas listed. Prioritize and add additional ministry leaders as your team and church grows.

Equipment and License Purchases 4 Topics

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Purchase or contract startup equipment: instruments, projection, computers, sound and media systems, video and podcasting, platform, lighting, chairs, furniture, nursery and children’s furniture and equipment, baptismal and robes, storage containers, trailer, and vehicle to pull the trailer

Purchase licenses and software for media

Begin developing a song list and downloading sheet music

Select and purchase all curriculums

Health Checks 3 Topics

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Spiritual: daily prayer, Word, and devotion with family (if applicable), and weekly fasting. Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Family and Marriage Health: make sure you spend time daily with your spouse and children and have a date with your spouse monthly (if applicable). Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Physical: Rest and recreation.

Ongoing Items 8 Topics

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Send list of prayer needs to Prayer Partner Team

Send out support letters and hold Fundraising Meetings

Continue community involvement – host second community event or felt-needs ministry opportunity. Capture contacts and follow-up

Intentionally meet people and invite them into your home or meet for coffee: continue relational and servant evangelism that leads to Home Bible Studies and discipleship

Follow up on contacts

Teach Bible Studies

Prepare for first sermon/series and discipleship course

Meet with mentor/coach and Overseer/Advisory Team

Preview Services 4 Topics

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Continue to hold monthly Interest Gathering meetings

Conduct Interest Gathering meetings evaluation

Conduct Interest Gathering meetings follow-up

Celebrate and share victories

Launch Team 4 Topics

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Prepare and train team for Launch service

Teach your church’s vision and cultural values to the team

Continue worship practices

Implement each strategy as it begins. Evaluate the strategy

Ramp Up Community Outreach 2 Topics

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Hold third community outreach event or felt-needs ministry opportunity

Capture contacts and follow-up

Systems Checklists 3 Topics

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Adopt an accountable offering processing policy

Follow-up system (church management database)

Discipleship Now – discipleshipnow.com

Marketing 6 Topics

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Inventory and reorder, if necessary, promotional items for Interest Gathering/Preview Meetings and Launch (lanyards for workers, coffee mugs, water bottles, magnets, t-shirts, etc.)

Direct mail, social media advertising of Launch (whatever is most effective to reach your target)

Reformat website to reflect Launch phase

Prepare and stock welcoming kiosk/center

Posters (windows of area businesses, community boards, etc.)

Press releases

Health Checks 3 Topics

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Spiritual: daily prayer, Word, and devotion with family (if applicable), and weekly fasting. Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Family and Marriage Health: make sure you spend time daily with your spouse and children and have a date with your spouse monthly (if applicable). Review and realign priorities, as necessary.

Physical: Rest and recreation. (If you need to take a week off, now is the time!)

Ongoing Items 5 Topics

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Continue to keep intercessors apprised of your personal and planting needs

Follow up on contacts

Teach Bible Studies

Continue sermon/series and discipleship course preparation, including PowerPoint

Meet with mentor/coach and Overseer/Advisory Team

Concerted Prayer and Fasting

Assemble All Church Equipment and Signage

Run Through Practice Services Weekly or at Least Twice in Venue 2 Topics

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Create Launch Day Run-Sheet from setup to countdown to security

Debrief after each practice run

Launch and Core Team 3 Topics

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On the job training

Implement Score Cards

Celebrate

Review and Revise all Systems Checklists

Make Last-Minute Small Purchases

Marketing in Full Swing

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