We are called to “Go!” Sadly, most of the Church today wants to stay! We want to feel comfortable, and we like to be busy, but “busy work” is not always fulfilling the high call of Heaven. Then, some feel the burden of Heaven and seek to press forward and do the high call. We will discuss more on the call and ministry gifts in that appropriate section.

Now, ideally, you want to be part of a good church that sends you forth into the call. Most calls are to build up the local church. Some callings require us to go forth and start a

new work.

“From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

Ephesians 4: 16

We MUST make sure that all we do builds up the Body. We are here to see His kingdom expanded, not our own. If we are focused on His kingdom, then we will not walk with jealousy of other ministries or selfishness. We work for the big picture of seeing the Body built up. When you have this mindset, you will stop looking at numbers and keep your eyes on Jesus.

We must all give an account on that Day before the Lord and the goal is to hear “Well done!” He is not looking at how many, how big, or what great things you did. He is looking for obedience and the fruit that glorifies Him. If you have a small church, then be found faithful and give it everything. Don’t judge yourself by the size or numbers. Our goal is to be found well-pleasing before Him.

We are in an hour where we need pioneers to birth churches in America and the West. For many years we sent missionaries to other countries to start churches over there. Today, sadly, we need missionaries to start works here.

If you feel the burden to start a ministry or church (house church), I pray this helps you. Let’s look at it from different angles to help you prepare and execute your vision more effectively.

Secret Place

Please remember you must be like an iceberg where there is more of you behind the scenes seeking His face than what is seen publicly. Strong effective ministries that produce good fruit come from those who love the Secret Place more than the love of fame from the pulpit. See the pulpit as an honor given for diligently seeking Him in the Secret Place, and as an opportunity to pour into others to build the Body based on what He has poured into you.

Remember the world does not need you or your gift. The world needs Him, and He has honored you by calling you. And if you will be found faithful before Him, He will use you to reach and change lives. Also, know that you will make mistakes. We all do. Repent and learn from them. Also, never forget the gifts and callings are without repentance.

So, let’s look at some practical advice in starting a ministry or church.

Practicals

What is the purpose of the ministry? Please take time and as you fellowship with Him develop the vision. Find promises in the Word that you can stand on and build a strong vision that comes from His heart to yours for the sake of others. Know that when the Lord calls us, He gives us a vision and purpose, That vision must be so clear to you that you can paint it so others can follow.

Take time with Him so that you have a clear understanding of what you are called to do and how He wants you to do it. He may reveal certain information on a need-to-know basis only, but you have to be able to share the vision and purpose of the ministry, and how you are going to do it. Remember in the eyes of the government the ministry or church is a business and a living identity. If you were starting a business you have to develop a clear business plan, and it is the same with ministry.

“For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it- lest, after he has laid the foundation, and is not able to finish, all who see it begin to mock him.”

Luke 14: 28-29

You need to determine what you really need and the cost. Be honest to determine what exactly is needed now and if there is something that can work in the interim. If you are planning to start a church, you can rent space at a church, use a hotel, or school, rent a storefront, or use a house.

Renting space at a church can be cost-effective, but you will be hindered in terms of service times, and it is not a permanent place where people can come during the day for counsel, etc. Secondly, some churches may want to restrict what is preached based on their beliefs. Third, as it is not your property, you must be careful to use the sound system, etc.
Hotel meeting rooms- can be great, and as you are only using it one or two days a week, the cost is moderate. But you may be restricted in terms of sound levels. You may find the room you have changes which makes it hard to build something. One time while renting a hotel meeting room on Mother’s Day, they moved us into a restaurant where they were preparing for people to eat.
Schools- I have rented schools and they were better than hotels. You are restricted by time and often mid-week evening services are not available. Moderate in terms of expense but many school districts are refusing to rent out to churches.
Storefronts- These are great in the sense you have a place that is yours. This means you can do events easily, hold extra meetings, and have a place to meet people. However, it can be expensive. You must pay rent and utilities and you must watch for the clauses in the agreement. We found out that the owner had the right to lease our storefront out to another party if they would pay more money. As a result, investing money into the place was less attractive because, as did happen, someone came and offered more money, and we were given one month to get out. We had another storefront that we did do work in to create rooms, only to find the owner went bankrupt. We turned up one day to find out we had to remove our stuff and we lost our security deposit.
House- housing is the least expensive but remember you will have strangers coming into your house. Some neighbors will complain about the traffic or even the fact that a church is meeting in the house. But done right house churches can be a great way to build a strong core. Many big churches started as house churches.

Remember :

“For who has despised the day of the small things?

Zechariah 4: 10a

So, develop the vision, the purpose, and how you will get there. Determine the costs and determine how you will move forward.

Timing

“To everything, there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven”

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

Never jump ahead of the Lord and the call. Stay in season. Remember, Jesus waited thirty years before starting His ministry. It is easy to get so excited by the call that we jump ahead of the Lord. Building a solid foundation and obtaining experience can help you be more effective in ministry. There is a season when God calls you but says not yet! This is a difficult season where we die to ourselves and He makes us into the vessel of honor.

If you study successful and unsuccessful ministries, you will see that those who faltered were because of a weakness that was never addressed early. Determine to be a vessel of honor so use this season to press in and know Him. Know that when you do move into ministry there are seasons when your bandwidth is stretched so thin you will struggle to do everything. So take advantage of the opportunity to do things now that you will need in the future. Write up the training manuals, etc.

Give the Lord as much time as He demands to make you. We are always keen to get out and get “doing” when the key is spending the time in the Secret Place and “being.”

Connect

“As iron sharpens irons, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

Proverbs 27: 17

Iron is highly corrodible until it is tempered into steel. We see the gift in us and think we are “it,” and we fail to see our flaws and weaknesses. But we need the right people in our lives. You need those above, those with, and those behind you. What do I mean?

Those above you– Please look at our class on Authority! If you are to walk with authority, you must be under authority. The first authority is Heaven. He is the One who sends and gives the gifts. Not man! You can’t fake it until you make it. Daily present yourself to Him in the Secret Place. You work for Him, and if we walk in submission to Him doing what He has called us to do, then He will supply all we need to do the work.

All ministries must be under authority, so we need to understand how to establish a ministry correctly and legally. In Luke chapter twenty, even Jesus was challenged on authority. We must walk in obedience to the Lord and submit to men. Obedience is absolute, while submission is a heart attitude. If I am asked to do something that violates my obedience to the Lord, I must remain obedient to God but walk with the right heart towards man. We must give respect and honor to those in authority, but absolute obedience belongs only to the Lord.

Remember the lines or limits of authority. A pastor can advise you regarding things in ministry but can’t command you to do something. Now a pastor in their church can demand certain things in terms of the operation of the church. They can’t command the people to do things. They can request or counsel, but they must never override Heaven’s authority. A pastor does not determine the call, Heaven does. A pastor should confirm the call and help develop the call.

A parent can’t tell a child what job to do as a career or who to marry. They can advise and they can help. They can confirm!

The advice, counsel, and confirmation of good pastors and leaders can be invaluable in ministry. They should walk in holy fear before God regarding the call so that they do not in any way have a negative impact.

We are not islands off on our own but part of the Body. We, therefore, must be correctly plugged into the Body. As a believer, we should have a good pastor and spiritual father. A good pastor will also seek to see you fulfill the high call and walk in holy fear of doing anything that would injure that call. They come to a father to advise, correct, and encourage.

Our relationship with our pastor should mature much like a son’s relationship with a father. As we grow into maturity, how the pastor treats us should change. When we are children, we are told what to do and expected to help the family by doing chores. In our season as a child and young adult, we must be servants. Remember, what you sow, you will reap, so sow into another ministry and help your pastor build their ministry so that in due season, you will reap this powerful harvest.

Looking back at my early years, I was asked to do numerous chores, from sound to organizing events to workdays. At the time, I would think and wonder what I was doing had to do with ministry. But now I understand the wealth of experience and knowledge I gained. Plus, it was a work on the heart. In this season, do it with the right heart. Always do your best, give your best, and ask for nothing in return. Do it all out, love.

Invest in developing good relationships with pastors, ministers, and leaders. They will be a blessing to you.

You may also find being part of an organization for further accountability can be a good thing. This can provide cover for areas like finances or an opportunity to develop relationships with people who can help you.

Those who walk with you– These are people who catch your vision and want to be a part of it. They will help form the core of people who will play a critical role in what you do. Treasure the people God sends into your life to walk with you. This will also include friendships of people who you are not submitted to but can turn to and get help. These people can be resources, sounding boards, or sources of great wisdom.

Those who walk behind you- You will need people who support you. You will need prayer support. Period. Build prayer partners. The bigger you want to grow the more you need prayer partners. These may be financial partners. Take time to thank and acknowledge these people and let them know the value they play in the ministry.

Partners, Leeches, Helpers, and Manipulators

As you start your ministry, and it begins to grow you will find a variety of people that will begin to run beside you. It is essential to walk with wisdom and be slow about major decisions regarding other people. Many will want to help, and you will need help. But be careful what you delegate and to whom. Trust is built over time, and you need to know a person over time and under a variety of situations.

Those who catch the vision and stay with you from the early days of the small beginning can be precious. You have seen their heart and their commitment. But as you start to see success others will join. Some will be what I call leeches, or they are simply using your success to launch themselves. They will begin posting their stuff on your social media sites without permission. This makes them appear as if you have validated them and those who follow you, should follow them.

Then there are symbiotic relationships, in which the person will help you to the degree it benefits them. They will support you and help you, but their focus is always their ministry. Just be aware of this and take it into consideration when using them in the ministry.

Then there are flakes who put on a great show and offer to help, but as soon as they gain any power become extremely flaky. Always watch for red flags and understand trust is built. Be prepared to make people sign agreements such as confidentiality before giving them access to critical information.

Manipulators are worse than flakes because manipulators come in with an agenda and if they are not stopped, they can destroy your ministry. They may be witches or people who need to have control. But the result is they cause destruction. One major red flag is that they always point out the flaws in others and want to be seen as a leader even when they are not.

Read the list of character qualities Paul tells us to expect in leaders. We will discuss this more in our Leadership Class.

Legal Requirements

Let’s start by looking at the legal side. If you are establishing in the U.S. a ministry, it is important to understand that churches and ministries are different. Firstly, ministries are considered non-for-profit charity organizations, while churches are classified as a church. A church organization in the U.S. that is registered with the IRS as a church is allowed to receive donations and give tax credits. Non-profits must obtain a 501 C to receive donations so that people can claim tax credits. Note that there are different types of non-for-profits and therefore different types of 501 C’s. A ministry is looking for a charity 501 C. Churches do not need to have a 501 C! However, many organizations will not recognize a church’s right to collect donations without a 501 C. If you do get a 501 C, you may be required to comply with certain government regulations. Always confirm with the IRS to make sure you are set up legally. You must also register as a non-profit with each state, which must be renewed annually.

Having said all that, it is possible that soon, people will not be able to claim tax credits. Hopefully, most don’t give for a tax credit. Also, don’t allow people to use their giving to get things from you or make you do something. You will find that often, key givers will blatantly or subtly demand you do something to secure their donation. During an election, I have had many people demand I vote for a certain person, or they would refuse to give any money. You can’t allow people to use money or anything else to gain authority over you.

So, it is important to determine if you are establishing a church or a para ministry.

Incorporating

To establish a ministry as a recognized organization, you must incorporate. A nonprofit is an ORGANIZATION, so it is required to be incorporated as an organization. This means you need a charter of incorporation that explains the purpose of the ministry, how the ministry works, and the rules of operation.

An organization requires a board, and the number and requirements of a board may vary by state, so clarify by the state the requirements for the board. In Illinois, you must have three members on the board. You must hold an annual board meeting, and any changes to the constitution or by-laws must be approved by the board.

Ordination

First, ordination is merely the public confirmation of the call God has placed on a person. Being ordained as a pastor doesn’t make you a pastor. There are many behind the pulpit who are not pastors but claim the title because they were ordained.

Ministers are made over time. First, they must be called by the Lord, and then they must be discipled and mentored. Ideally, you are in a good church that will develop the gift and strengthen the call. When we are called into ministry, the danger is we become consumed in building our ministry when the key is to build the local church.

Setting Up a Bank Account

Before you can set up a bank account as a nonprofit, you need to first be incorporated, obtain an EIN number here in the U.S., and be recognized as a church by the IRS or you must have a 501 C.

Receiving Donations

There are various software programs and apps that allow you to receive donations. You will need the same information as for setting up a bank account, and you will need a bank account to send the funds to. Of course, you can use things like PayPal, but not everyone has PayPal. Once you have consist of donations coming in there are sites like Tith.ly or Aplos that will help take donations and build a database of donors. Software like Aplos provides account software.

Accounting

Regardless of the size of the ministry, if it receives donations, you need to keep an account of money coming in and expenses. You will be expected to produce an annual report showing what came in and what happened to those funds. Tools like Aplos can really help simplify this especially as you grow.

Donation Letters

In the U.S. you are required to provide a letter detailing donations received by an individual and provide to that person for tax purposes. This letter I believe must be sent out before January 31^st.

Building The Ministry

Core

If you are starting a church or building a ministry, you need a core of people who stand with you. This core needs to carry your vision and be of the same spirit. If you are to grow the church, the core is critical as they will help by stepping up to the plate and doing whatever it takes to see the ministry succeed. Invest time to get to know those who join you and listen to your spirit. If you discern a red flag, then take time to investigate the red flag.

“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.”

1 Thessalonians 5: 12, 13

You need to know the heart and character of your core members so that in due season, you promote into leadership the right people. Find ways to fellowship so you know where they stand. Watch them from a distance. A true leader walks with a servant’s heart when no one is looking. You don’t need people who put on a show for you, but behind the scenes, they create problems.

Look for stability, especially when they are in challenging seasons. Look at their commitment, and don’t overlook something that your spirit declares a red flag. It is better to wait and go slow then to rush and have a massive problem to clean up.

Remember that Jesus sent them out in twos; we also see that in the Book of Acts and in Paul’s ministry, they had teams.

‘According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Christ Jesus. Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward.”

1 Corinthians 3: 10-14

Make Your Vision and Purpose Clear

We must build upon the foundation of the Word. The vision must align with the Word and must be backed by the Word. Then, make the vision clear so you can effectively share the vision and defend it with the Word to your Core.

‘Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.”

Habakkuk 2: 2

Your core should understand your vision and purpose and be able to share it with others. Also, make sure you establish a statement of belief so that all those who want to join your church, know exactly what you believe and where you stand on things. In your statement of belief, make it simple and make it clear.

Be Committed

One of the greatest lessons I have learned is commitment. We need people committed to us and our vision yet in the early days we often make excuses for taking breaks, etc. If you start a church and you establish service times, be committed to them and if no one turns up continue on. Don’t become weary by the results but keep looking to Him. If He tells you to change the days or times, then do it, otherwise be committed, and stick to the plan. You must have a clear plan of how you will do, then do the plan.

Be Slow to Declare Someone as a Leader

“I charge you before God and the Lord Jesus Christ and the elect angels that you observe these things without prejudice, doing nothing with partiality. Do not lay hands on anyone hastily, nor share in other’s sins; keep yourself pure.”

1 Timothy 5: 21

Several key points in what Paul is explaining to Timothy. First, walk with integrity and without partiality. Do what is right and be seen doing right. In our leadership class we will talk about things like a halo effect, but for now, it is important that you walk with the highest integrity and expect the same from the core.

Next, in an early work, it is easy to want to appoint leaders and many people will expect to be declared a leader. You will have some join you who will make people believe they are leaders. But be slow to make someone a leader. You need time to see how the leaders work and their heart. Real leaders are servants and they are not there to build their kingdoms, but are fully committed to building the work at hand.

Never let the need or emotion to guide you, listen to the Holy Spirit. You will find if you give enough time, the right person will come forth. If you make the wrong person a leader you will create a future problem. One of the greatest lessons to learn is to say “No” first and not “yes!” We all like to say “Yes,” but the problem is it is very difficult to make a yes a no, but it is easy to make a no a yes.

Pruned and Purged

“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in Me.”

John 15: 4

First, let me say that when you start up a church not every person wants to be a part of a start-up. They may join later when you are more established, so never burn a bridge. When people visit acknowledge them and follow up. If it is not for them, that is fine. You are pioneering and you need pioneers to come along with you. The wrong people will become weights and problems.

The verse above is a powerful verse but as you seek to grow your ministry this verse at times hurts. Because you will be in a season of growth, and then, all of a sudden the Lord prunes it.

“For first of all, when you come together as a church, I hear that there are divisions among you, and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, that those who are approved may be recognized among you.”

1 Corinthians 11: 18, 19

You will find at times, factions and strife occur. If you spend time with the core and impart the code of behavior you expect and the dangers of strife, you can help reduce this. Further, when strife happens, act with wisdom and act quickly. Understand that many will join you out of selfish ambition. They see an opportunity for themselves and have a wrong spirit. You will also find that people will join a different flow and will disagree with everything you do which will cause many problems. Hence, be slow to promote people.

So, understand there will be seasons where you will be pruned. Keep moving forward.