Church Planting Manual of the
International Bible Baptist Ministry
Part VII

 

By Dr. Hernes M. Abante
IBBC, San Leandro California
jhabante@aol.com

 

Independent Congregation

When the MC has 20 or more families saved and baptized locally, is financially stable, and has developed a full program for all the members such as adult, children, music, soul-winning, discipleship, youth, ushering, it can then become an Independent Local IBBC Church upon the decision of, and recommendation of the Senior Pastor to the Mother Church. An assessment has to be done and the conditions given must be met within two years. There must also be a Mission Pastor who is qualified to handle the congregation, called and ordained by the Mother Church.

IBBC does not intend to overlook the importance of the Church Ministerial Standard. The MC must provide proof or evidence of stability to the Senior Pastor who will give the recommendation to the Mother Church. A local Pastor must then be called and installed with the recommendation from the Senior Pastor and jointly approved by the main church and the Mission Congregation. When this happens, the Independent Congregation (IC) will be totally independent from the main church and from the Senior Pastor.

The IC can still consider the Senior Pastor as Pastor Emeritus, a symbolic, non-controlling position. The IC can also choose to select their name that is unique to them but it is the recommendation of the IBBC to retain the name “International Bible Baptist Church” to maintain the identity and uniqueness.

It is also recommended, as a sign of courtesy to the church that has helped them and to the Senior Pastor that the IC continues to support the Church Planting ministry regularly and also support other IBBC congregations, affiliates, and missionaries. The IC must bear in mind the goal of the local church given by the founder, the Lord Jesus Christ – to go and plant more churches for His glory.

Organizational Structure of an Independent Church
1. Pastor
2. Assistant Pastor
3. Pastoral Assistants
4. Board of Deacons
5. Board of Trustees
6. Church Historian
7. Finance Officer
8. Music Director
9. Sunday School Director
10. Soul Winning Director
11. Discipleship Director
12. Facility Coordinator

Chapter IV - Requirements for Church Planters

In any vocation or profession, there are requirements and tools needed. A church planter is no different. He needs to be equipped with tools of trade and resources to do the job right. No person, no matter how spiritual he is, can presume that he can start a church without these important tools to make the work better secured and established. I say this because I have heard some spiritually-minded people claim that what they need is only the power of the Spirit of God. Successful and experienced church planters had been there to make it easier for the next generation. Let us learn from them.
(To be continued)