Religious Organization Startup Advice
How to Start a Brethren in Christ Church
Opening a Brethren In Christ church can get you on the path to a spiritually rewarding future if you have the creativity and tenacity necessary to be a successful religious entrepreneur. This article contains tips and advice to develop your church successfully.
Thinking about opening a Brethren In Christ church? We tell you what you need to know to get started.
Becoming a BIC Church Planter
The Brethren in Christ (sometimes called "River Brethren" or "River Mennonites") fall into the Anabaptist stream of Protestant churches and denominations. Though small in comparison to other denominations (295 churches and approximately 20,000 members), the Brethren in Christ is an established presence in certain regions, most notably Pennsylvania.
For religious entrepreneurs, the good news is that the Brethren in Christ denomination has a very positive view toward church planting. In many cases, church planting teams already exist and are looking for someone to bring visionary leadership, ministry skills and limitless energy to their efforts. In fact, the Brethren in Christ website lists several job opportunities, some of which are bi-vocational positions for church plants already in progress.
Entering the World of Full-Time Ministry
First-time BIC pastors are sometimes unprepared for the rigors of church leadership, not to mention the demands of a church plant. Bi-vocational ministry is typical for church planters, meaning that you will need to work a full-time job to support your family in addition to your church responsibilities, at least until the church is able to support a full-time pastor.
After you make the transition to full-time ministry, you will quickly discover that being a pastor is very different from being a secular employee. In some ways, ministry is just as demanding as business ownership. Before you make the leap, you need to know why being your own boss isn't always plain sailing.
Related Articles on Starting a Religious Organization
These additional resources regarding getting started as a religious entrepreneur may be of interest to you.
Strategic Planning for a Religious Organization Startup
Signage Tips for New Religious Organizations
Hiring and HR Considerations for a Religious Startup
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