Multiplication Pathway Quiz
Is your church a Cooperating, Supporting, Sending, or Multiplying Church? Take this self-assessment to determine how your church is investing in church planting.
Church Mobilization Pathway
Learn more about each type of church and how your church can be engaged in church planting.
Church Planter Pathway
An overview of the process for a potential church planter seeking Send Network endorsement.
A residency is an intentional process for training qualified leaders to be church planters. Click below for a practical guide to develop and deploy church planters.
Supporting Church Toolkit
Supporting churches partner with a church plant by praying, participating and/or providing for their needs. In doing so, they play a crucial role in helping church plant succeed! Download a toolkit to help you lead your church to support church planting.
Resources for New Church Planters
Congratulations on planting a church!
You’re passionate about the Gospel and reaching your community.
You are not alone as you plant.
Six Steps after Endorsement
A comprehensive guide has been assembled to help walk you through the next steps in administration and funding.
Step 1: Complete the New Church Planter Info Form
You are required to attend Send Network Virginia Church Plant Training after assessment. Before attending, please complete the New Church Planter Information Form. This form helps us:
- Request your SBC ID# from Lifeway
- Update the SBC of Virginia website and internal database.
Step 2: Receive and Save Your SBC ID#
Your SBC ID# is important. Save it in a safe place. You will need this number for:
- Annual SBC meeting registration
- Annual Church Profile (ACP) reports
- Accessing benefits from Send Network
Step 3: Planter Training and Support
You will attend a 2-day training at the SBC of Virginia Ministry Support Center in Glen Allen, VA (May or December). After training, funding normally begins within 1–2 months.
Step 4: How Church Planter Support Works
There are two sources of support:
- Monthly Support from the North American Mission Board
- Annual Grant from SBC of Virginia
Support goes to your sending church, not directly to you and the amounts vary based on your situation (location, full-time/bi-vocational, etc.) Your church planting strategist will can provide the amount.
Step 5: Complete MSC Training
Complete the training provided at namb.net/msc-resources.
Step 6: Set Up Benefits and Administration
Each vendor must be contacted directly in order to access your benefits.
Bookkeeping & Payroll: Innovative Faith Resources (IFR)
Before contacting IFR gather and confirm:
- SBC ID#, Church name, church mailing address
- First support was received by Sending Church
- The sending church confirms that the new church plant is prepared to open its own bank account. NOTE: In some cases, new church planters may continue to be employed by their sending church. During this time, the sending church may also continue to receive and manage designated financial contributions on behalf of the church plant. This arrangement can remain in place until the church plant becomes more fully established and capable of managing its own finances independently.
- Have an administrative contact (not the planter) – Must be responsible with email and able to communicate regularly with IFR.
- Non-family signer(s) for the church account (2 people preferred, other than planter and wife)
Once information is gathered, complete the IFR Financial Services Interest Form
IFR can help:
- Obtain an EIN# for your church. (Employer Identification Number)
- Coordinate 501(c)(3) letter
- Set up payroll via ADP (W2, housing allowance, tax setup)
- Provide monthly financial reports.
- Housing Allowance / Tax suggestions
- Provide financial reports to assist church plant in monitoring its expense plan.
IFR does not do:
- Giving statements
- Set up Retirement or Health Insurance accounts (see Guidestone)
- Personal taxes
- Incorporation
Contact Guidestone for Information about Medical & Retirement Accounts
- Complete required forms on Guidestone.org
