Church Planting
Dr. Jim Feeney

Course Overview
This course covers various aspects of Church Planting, emphasizing its biblical basis and the effectiveness of the team approach. It encourages ministry training within local churches, utilizing on-the-job training and comprehensive teaching. The importance of vocational counseling for future ministers is discussed, highlighting the need for church leaders’ guidance in identifying God’s calling, timing, and appropriate geographical place for service. Additionally, the text outlines the process of identifying church-planting teams, focusing on qualified team leaders and members, followed by support and follow-up from mature ministers. The ultimate goal is to multiply churches effectively and reach the unsaved worldwide.
What You’ll Learn
- Why you should plant churches
- Models of church planting
- Methods of church planting
- Essentials of church planting
- History of the church planting movement
- The local church as a ministry training center
- Vocational counseling
Sessions
1. An Overview of Church Planting
This session discusses the importance of church planting and its biblical basis for fulfilling the Great Commission. It explores various methods of church planting, highlighting the team approach as an effective and proven method, using Abbott Loop Community Church’s (now Unite Church) ministry as an example.
2. The Local Church as a Ministry Training Center
This session emphasizes the biblical basis and practical reasons for ministry training within the local church, highlighting the benefits of on-the-job training and comprehensive teaching. It encourages pastors to establish dynamic ministry-training programs in their churches, using the diverse ministries within the church to equip and prepare believers for effective service in fulfilling their callings.
3. Vocational Ministers in the Local Church
In this session, Jim Feeney discusses the importance of vocational counseling in local churches, focusing on helping future ministers identify their calling, the right timing for ministry, and the appropriate geographical place for their service. He emphasizes the role of church leaders in guiding individuals to discern God’s specific grace and gifts in their lives, as well as the significance of recognizing the right timing for ministry while considering cultural familiarity and language for effective outreach.
4. Identifying Church-Planting Teams
In this session, Jim Feeney discusses the process of identifying church-planting teams in a local church. He highlights the importance of having a called and qualified pastor/team leader who is dedicated to pioneering a new church. Additionally, he emphasizes the need for team members who are called by God, possess strong character traits, and have received training and equipping from their sending church.
5. Preparing and Sending the Church-Planting Team
Jim Feeney outlines the process of church planting by teams, starting from a strong local church with an outreach vision, training and counseling potential team members, ensuring unity and harmony, conducting scouting trips, and providing follow-up support from mature ministers. The ultimate aim is to effectively multiply churches and reach the unsaved worldwide.
Trimester 3
Details
Beginner
5 Sessions
1 hr 50 min
Recorded: August 11, 1995
Prerequisites
Course Preview
Church Planting
Brad Andrews sits down with Dr. Berin Gilfillan to discuss the methods of church planting.
About the Instructor

Dr. Jim Feeney
Dr. James (“Jim”) H. Feeney has more than 45 years’ experience in Pentecostal ministry. He has served as a church planter, pastor, and Bible College teacher and Dean in Alaska, New York, and Oregon. After serving as an Air Force officer and an FAA radar Air Traffic Controller, Jim followed the Lord’s call into full-time ministry in 1975. For six years, he served as the Dean of Charismatic Bible College of Anchorage, AK. Jim has led two church plants, one in New York, where he pastored for nearly five years, and one in Oregon, where he pastored church 17 years before retiring in 2006 from full-time pastoral ministry. He earned his B.A. in English from Boston College (Honors Program), began graduate study at the University of Pittsburgh, then earned an MBA from Santa Clara University and a Ph.D. in Church Administration from Trinity Theological Seminary.