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5-Steps


5-STEPS TO STARTING
AN AFCC COWBOY CHURCH
IN AMERICA



1. What Brand Are You Riding For?
Are you called by God to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ in the western heritage culture?
  • Western Heritage Assessment Tool – Discuss with an AFCC Field Representative the Pastor’s connection to the culture and methodology.
Note: Minimum assessment should reveal prospective church planters are connected to the culture and can embrace the “methodology.”
  • Western Heritage Demographics – Scout the proposed area to determine potential in the western heritage culture. Understand types and patterns of ministry area (30 mile radius).
2. Saddle Up – Preparation
  • Whether you are starting out or joining the drive, getting equipped for the journey ahead is important. Often how a drive starts will have an impact on how it ends.
  • Benefits of Partnership – Review AFCC strategic process with an AFCC Field Representative.
1. Cowboy Church Model
2. AFCC Resource School
3. 9-DVD Album Training
4. Financial Support
5. 12 Months of AFCC Coaching Teams
6. Potential AFCC Cowboy Church Sponsor
7. AFCC Field Staff Support
  • Partnership – AFCC Covenant Agreement – Your AFCC Field Representative will help develop; Purpose Statement, Core Values, Statement of Faith, Six Month Strategic Plan, Three Month Budget and Covenant Agreement.
  • AFCC Coaching Team Agreement – The AFCC will assign a coaching team, consisting of the Field Represntative and an AFCC trained coach. This team will serve as the elder-body of the new church until an AFCC sponsor church is assigned, at which time the sponsor church’s elders will become part of the team.
3. Gather the Hands – Core Group Development
  • Core Group Development – New church pastor will schedule 6-8 weeks of core group development training where a base of leadership will be developed through intentional bibles studies, prayer, fellowship and study of the 9-DVD album.
  • Interest Level Meetings – New church will schedule two interest-level meetings, one secular (in a culturally relevant building) and the other religious (in a church setting). Out of these two meetings, along with pastor’s ability to connect with the culturally relevant people in the area, the existing core group numbers will continue to grow.
  • Begin to Form Ministry Teams – Several teams need to be focused on, in the early stages of development: band, arena, financial/audit, children/youth, and chuck wagon/greeting teams. As the teams begin to function, you will begin to recognize potential elders and lay pastors. It is important not to over-empower folks, especially not new believers.
4. Join the Drive – Launch a high-impact AFCC Cowboy Church
  • Pre-Launch – Set a Sunday morning pre-launch date with no publicity (word-of-mouth advertisements only); gather your band, etc., and have a practice Sunday morning worship service.
  • Launch – The next Sunday, launch first service stirring up all the dust you can. (Advertising this launch event 4 weeks in advance).
  • Team Building – Once cowboy church launches public worship on Sunday morning, the transformation to the AFCC cowboy church model begins (major emphasis on church-wide leadership team meetings, and Core Group ends).
5. Gather the Herd – Continue implementing and growing the AFCC biblical model and the cowboy church’s outreach events.
  • 3-Month Review – Field Rep and Coach do a 3-month review with new cowboy church pastor and at least one member of the church’s leadership team.
  • Empowerment with Accountability – Continue disciplining new church and growing leadership base. The model may take several years to function completely.
  • Look for Opportunities – Church planting is in the DNA of a healthy new church. Begin to look for ways to support a new AFCC works.

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Title Date
5-Steps to Starting an AFCC Cowboy Church in America
10/27/2011
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