Starting and Shaping Churches
for our Modern World
Transformed Lives
Transformed Neighborhoods
Transformed World
Do you dream of starting a community of faith that loves like Jesus?
There is a place for you here, and help to realize the calling in your life. You may be called to your current neighborhood, or a continent away. With Communitas you are among friends. All around the world we are starting and shaping faith communities doing just that.
We invite you to learn more about our incarnational approach.
Stories from the Field
Incarnational
Coming Crawling on All Fours
Communitas and our partners minister around the world to help people see the love of Jesus. Whether young or old, the message of the gospel breaks chains and provides hope for those who are lost.
Jim and Candy minister in the town of Pizek, Czech Republic, about an hour and a half south of Prague. There, the hope of Christ reached deep into the heart of a 19-year-old teenager who had lost her way… but is now choosing to follow Jesus.
Adriana (name changed) had her first encounter with followers of Jesus at a children’s English camp led by Jim and Candy. Through Candy’s testimony during one of the discussion groups, Adriana realized that there has to be a God.
“Right then, I confessed that I believed in Him, but I did not move forward in my relationship with Him,” she recalls. That fall, she started going to youth group, and she initially went for the people, not for the Lord. “I kept doing bad stuff, smoking cigarettes when I was 13 and 14, drinking underage, and missing school on purpose as I tried so hard to fit in with the cool kids.”
Creative
Lifting Up Ukraine
Communitas International is seeing peoples' lives changed forever by helping churches engage in current events, and by sharing the gospel with people who don’t yet know Jesus.
As we start and shape churches, our missionaries are on the front lines, both spiritually and physically. They are a part of how God is uniting churches globally to display His glory by being His hands and feet to a hurting and broken world.
William and Sheila Whittenberg serve with Communitas in Berlin, Germany. Last spring, in a random encounter at the airport, William and Sheila met a lost, 80-year-old, Ukrainian gentleman who didn’t speak any English or German. God had prepared them for such a time as this as Sheila knows Russian from her work in Siberia many years ago...
Contextual
Five Steps to Engage with Your Community
Living a missionary life is not just for missionaries overseas. It is for all of us who follow Jesus!
Our lives should always be on mission—on mission for the Lord as His ambassadors and representatives in this world. But how do we do that practically? What does it look like to begin wondering about how we are to engage with our community in a relevant and grace-filled way? Brad Smith, one of our missionaries, describes the steps he used when he relocated from Europe to Richmond, VA to continue living on mission…
Step 1: Embed. What are you curious about?
Embed just means to get acquainted with your neighborhood, your city, your environment, new or old. Start by finding out information about the people and the culture (or subculture, or sub-subculture) of the area. Curiosity is at the core of mission and sometimes you have to make your own opportunities to live intentionally ready for any spiritual conversation and discipleship opportunity that comes your way.
Find Your Place
Team Member – SicilyChildren’s Ministry Worker – Proyecto MálagaSports Team Member – Proyecto MálagaDirector of Pre-Deployment MinistriesChildren’s Worker
Director of Mobilization
The Director of Mobilization is primarily tasked with creating and stewarding the process and means to direct people into serving within our global mission. Working in close conjunction with the field ministry team and executive leadership, including the president, you will build a team that will “shepherd God’s people toward their calling” and will coach potential new missional staff considering Communitas. You will create numerous opportunities for engagement with Communitas and our mission, including speaking and other engagement events, short term experiences and internships, and more.
For full details, please download the Job Description on this page, and feel free to reach out to us with any questions at all at HR@gocommunitas.org.
Church Planter
Communitas International seeks a Planting Pastor to start and sustain a missionally-focused community of faith. Communitas has been planting churches worldwide for almost 50 years. The Planting Pastor will follow the proven methodology employed by the Communitas network of churches of embedding, initiating, practicing, maturing, hubbing, and extending to pattern the church and its community life, while also enjoying great flexibility to adapt to the specific cultural contexts of the area. The preferred candidate will have prior church-planting experience or extensive education in the areas of missional theology and practice. The efforts of the Planting Pastor will result in a thriving, self-sustaining, authentic, discipleship-oriented, outward-facing and reproducing community of faith in 3 to 5 years.
Project Leader
As Lead Pastor, you give oversight to the staff and missionary team. The Lead Pastor takes the initiating role in providing pastoral oversight and leadership to the health of the community. With the aid of the elder board and missionary team, focus should be shared among the areas of mission/evangelism, discipleship, leadership development and establishing and sustaining essential functions of a growing and maturing church in the areas of worship, community groups, children, operations, and other essential functions. As a natural process of living internationally, embedding in the culture and learning the language well should be an ongoing work in progress.
Intern
Communitas International seeks Interns who will assist Planting Pastors and Team Leaders to start and sustain a missionally – focused community of faith. Communitas has been planting churches worldwide for over 50 years. The Intern will assist the Planting Pastor in the proven methodology employed by the Communitas network of churches of embedding, initiating, practicing, maturing, hubbing, and extending to pattern the church and its community life, while also enjoying great flexibility to adapt to the specific cultural contexts of the area. The preferred candidate will be at least a college Junior or volunteer adult who has a great interest in church-planting as well as missional theology and practice. The efforts of the Intern will result in greater personal and mission effectiveness which will in turn leave the host project more healthy and thriving due to the efforts of the Intern.
What Intern Can Expect from local Communitas Team:
The Intern can expect the following from the leader and local team:
- You will be welcomed into the place of ministry and given opportunities to embed in the culture.
- You will meet with your team leader at least weekly to discuss your progress and the ministry/personal work that needs to be done.
- You will be supported in the transition to the new culture – however, you will also be given the freedom to explore on your own. As an intern, you should expect that the local team will give guidance, but not seek to micromanage your stay there.
- Times of prayer and support as you meet the challenges of living in a new culture.
We sincerely hope that your internship will lead you to a greater understanding of God’s plan and purpose for your life.
Team Member – Sicily
We are looking for missionally-minded teammates who will join us in serving in Sicily, Italy. We desire to build authentic relationships and learn from and with one another as we welcome each other into our homes and lives and invite others to join us as we follow Jesus. If you feel God is leading you to build His kingdom in Italy, this may be for you!
We currently have two projects in Sicily. They are located in Syracuse and in the outskirts of Catania. Although we are open to however God may be calling you, we are specifically looking for help in an established Italian church in Syracuse, which is growing and in a phase of discernment for church planting endeavors. We also need team members outside of Catania who are willing to come with a discerning heart to minister creatively and embed in the lives of locals.
This position is flexible. It can be a part or full-time team member, as well as a short or long-term intern.
Children’s Ministry Worker – Proyecto Málaga
¿Amas a niños, Españoles y Jesús? ¡Pues mira esta oportunidad!
Do you love children, Spaniards, and Jesus? Then check out this opportunity!
The Role
We are looking for people who are mature in their faith and commitment to Jesus and identify with the mission and values of Communitas. This person would have a pastoral and teacher gifting, love kids (age 4-12), and like to use sports if possible. We are looking for someone with semi-fluent Spanish, who could do this program in Spanish or English, and be willing to start this from scratch.
About Proyecto Málaga (Missional Iniciative Málaga)
Málaga is a city where sport is flourishing. We believe that God wants to use sports to reach people who don’t know Him and wouldn’t get to know Him in a traditional church context. There is a lot of religiosity which opens doors to talk about spirituality. The good news is that the people live with spiritual hunger and thirst. We need to create bridges that will bring people to the feet of Jesus so they can be fully restored.
Sports Team Member – Proyecto Málaga
¿Amas a deportistas, Españoles y Jesús? ¡Pues mira esta oportunidad!
Do you love sports people, Spaniards, and Jesus? Then check out this opportunity!
The Role
We are looking for people who are mature in their faith and commitment to Jesus and identify with the mission and values of Communitas and are available for a minimum of 4 years. This would be a person who loves sport and has experience serving the sports community (coach, trainer, bio mechanic, player, etc.) This person must have a high level of fluency in Spanish, being either Spanish or having adapted to the Spanish culture. Also, it is essential that this person has a passion for the need for new expressions of the church.
About Proyecto Málaga (Missional Iniciative Málaga)
Málaga is a city where sport is flourishing. We believe that God wants to use sports to reach people who don’t know Him and wouldn’t get to know Him in a traditional church context. There is a lot of religiosity which opens doors to talk about spirituality. The good news is that the people live with spiritual hunger and thirst. We need to create bridges that will bring people to the feet of Jesus so they can be fully restored.
Director of Pre-Deployment Ministries
The Director of Pre-Deployment Ministries is primarily responsible for creating and stewarding the process and guiding and inspiring new cross-cultural staff toward full funding and training. Ultimately, these new staff members will then deploy to their place of service and begin “starting and shaping communities of faith that love like Jesus in their neighborhoods.”
Working in close conjunction with the operations team and field leadership, the Director will “shepherd God’s people toward their calling” by inspiring and coaching our new cross-cultural missional staff through required training. You will supervise them as they engage with external training in fundraising and develop their full funding and prayer network of partners. You will regularly communicate with new staff members, including in-person visits when possible, encouraging and inspiring them to do the hard work of fundraising and preparation for the field. You will thrive in a context in which you are their champion and love to help people excel… even when they think they are stuck!
Children’s Worker
This role would involve overseeing the weekly staffing, oversight, and running of children’s ministry at Upper Room. Including nursery/creche and children’s classes. A longer-term hope would be that this person would be able to start a Vacation Bible Study program (VBS).
Some of our Churches & Projects
Communitas News
Keys to the Microchurch Movement
10 Missionary Biographies
5 World-Changing Women Missionaries
Why Should I Plant a Church?
What is Church Planting?
What does a Missionary Do?
Keys to the Microchurch Movement
When you hear the word “church,” what comes to mind? For most people familiar with church in the western world, traditional churches bring to mind…
- Weekly gatherings at a large building
- Worship with a band and worship leader
- Preaching from a seminary-trained pastor
- Professional programs for your kids run by paid adults
- Baptism and Communion
While these gatherings are an important part of the life of the global Church, many people today are looking for and are creating a smaller, more intimate expression of church. This microchurch movement seeks to restore a type of Christian community modeled on the early church.
Communitas International loves all forms of church, and our missional movement includes churches of every type. But as a mission with a prophetic focus on post-Christian areas of the world, we must ask: “What will church look like in the future, without buildings and without paid staff or programs?” That question knocks many current church leaders for a real loop.
If you’re looking for a new way to do church than what you’ve experienced before, consider whether God might be pulling you toward the microchurch movement. This is just ONE type of church being started by Communitas workers around the world.
What are Microchurches?
Microchurches are an expression of church that focuses on community, intimacy and disciple-making. These microchurches are a growing church planting model that enables small groups of believers to be disciple-makers in their own communities. The keys to this model of church is that they are most often small, informal, and volunteer led. Often a group of 5-35 people will meet in a home, maybe share a meal, pray, worship, and read the Word together.
The Keys to the Microchurch Movement
At the heart of any microchurch are 3 things: Incarnational Intimacy, Practicing Gospel Values, and Extending the Discipleship Movement.
Incarnational Intimacy:
A microchurch is healthiest when the people within the church are connected to and trusted by one another, and when they listen to each other. When members of a microchurch practice intimacy and intentionality with one another, they embody Christ in the world. A microchurch should be a welcoming place where people know others and are deeply known.
This posture allows church members to build genuine relationships with people, build trust and open space for questions and conversations.
Practicing Gospel Values:
As with any church, all microchurches are committed to maturing in the Gospel. Microchurches will care about gathering together, worshiping, and studying and applying Scripture. Every microchurch will have its own expression of each of these Gospel values, but a deep dependence on the Holy Spirit is central to healthy microchurches. Just like each microchurch is unique to the individuals who make it up, each microchurch will have unique ways of practicing these Gospel principles.
And because each microchurch is unique, everyone involved gets to use their own unique gifting to contribute to the life of the church.
Extending Discipleship:
At the heart of microchurches is the desire to see disciple-makers formed in the way of Jesus. When a church is small, informal, and community oriented, the ability to bring people in and share the Gospel rests on strong community and relationships. And people who are vulnerable and intimate with one another can extend that vulnerability and intimacy to those who need it.
And the flexibility within microchurches means that each congregation can be flexible to the discipleship needs of their community and location.
Microchurch might be a good fit for you if…
- You are disillusioned with western isolation and lack of community
- You are passionate about more intimate relationships within the church
- You are looking for a less “produced” church experience
- You enjoy small group settings that are informal
- You like the idea of knowing everyone in your church
- You want to plant a church in a local community
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Starting a microchurch is an important calling and a beautiful part of God’s mission to grow the Kingdom. And every microchurch loves God, loves people, and engages in deep and intentional relationships wherever they are!
Communitas has a number of partners involved in microchurches across the world. If you're interested in starting or being part of a microchurch with Communitas on your team, let's talk.
At Communitas, many of our missional leaders spend a year or two at an existing project or church to prepare and train to launch their own microchurch in a new city. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact one of our mission coaches for an inspiring conversation here.
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Missionaries serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending the Gospel and sharing the love of Jesus with people no matter where they are. Come join the Adventure!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
10 Missionary Biographies
Being a missionary is hard work, and it can be encouraging to hear stories of faithful men and women of God in the mission field. These missionary biographies tell the stores of men and women in Christian missions. These biographies are great for people looking to enter the mission field, active missionaries, or parents and teachers looking to teach their kids about the lives of missionaries.
Through Gates of Splendor - Elisabeth Elliot
Through Gates of Splendor is about missionary Elisabeth Elliot and the story of Operation Auca: an initiative by five missionaries to reach the Huaorani Tribe of Ecuador, including Elisabeth’s husband Jim Elliot. These missionaries were famously killed and martyred by the people they were ministering to. This biography tells a beautiful story of redemption, restoration, and forgiveness after a terrible tragedy.
Hudson Taylor's Spiritual Secret - Hudson Taylor
Hudson Taylor was a famous missionary who reached people for Jesus in China and founded the China Inland Mission (now called OMF). This biography, written by Hudson Taylor’s son, gives us insight into the spiritual life and practices of his father. This is a must read for anyone considering missions or already engaged in it, and the book will be an encouragement to any follower of Jesus.
The Little Woman - Gladys Aylward
Gladys Aylward left her home in England to answer the call to take the Gospel to China. She left home with no support board and no money to be faithful to God’s call. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Time after time, God triumphed over impossible situations, and drew people to himself.
Bruchko - Bruce Olsen
Bruchko is an autobiography by Bruce Olsen that includes the story of his 1988 kidnapping by communist guerrillas and the nine months of captivity that followed. During his time in captivity, Olsen was able to share the love of Jesus with his captors. This amazing biography shows us that God can bring amazing things out of even the darkest situations.
Mary Slessor: A Life on the Altar for God - Bruce Mclannen
Mary Slessor was a unique woman and missionary whose life story is an amazing inspiration. Mary was called to mission and set sail for West Africa in 1876. Bruce McLennan examines this remarkable story of a woman who shared the gospel, stood up against inequality and impacted all areas of life in Calabar with boldness and conviction.
A Chance to Die : Amy Carmichael - Elisabeth Elliot
A Chance to Die is a vibrant portrayal of Amy Carmichael, an Irish missionary and writer who spent 53 years in South India without furlough. There she became known as "Amma", or "mother", as she founded the Dohnavur Fellowship, a refuge for underprivileged children. Amy's life of obedience and courage stands as a model for all who claim the name of Christ.
Something Beautiful for God - Malcom Muggeridge
This is the work that introduced Mother Teresa of Calcutta to the Western world. Malcolm Muggeridge tells us the moving story of a lady whose love for Christ and the needy has deeply impacted many lives.
Christian Heros: Then and Now - Janet and Geoff Benge
The Christian Heroes: Then and Now series by YWAM is a series of biographies about some of the most famous and successful missionaries. Learn about Nate Saint, Corrie Ten Boom, George Muller, and more! These biographies give us opportunities to see how God works through the lives of those who follow him.
The Heavenly Man - Brother Yun
The Heavenly Man is an autobiography of how God took a boy from a poor village in Henan, China and placed him on the front line for Jesus. Brother Yun is a house church leader in China, where Christianity is heavily monitored by the government, and he was imprisoned for many years because of his faith. This biography shows us how God can use people against the odds, to share the gospel where it is needed most.
Eric Liddell: Pure Gold - David McCasland
Pure Gold tells the story of the Scottish Olympian turned missionary to China. Eric Liddell risked becoming a national disgrace at the 1924 Paris Olympics when he refused to run on a Sunday because it was the Sabbath. With his faith on full display at the international Olympic Games, Liddell demonstrated great faith. That faith took him to China, where he became a missionary.
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The call to missions is a mighty one. If you want to explore the ins and outs of missionary work, Communitas International wants to equip you to plant churches and make disciples.
At Communitas, many of our partners spend a year or two at an existing project or church plant to prepare and train to launch their own project in a new city. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact one of our mission coaches for an inspiring conversation here.
A missionary’s ministry is incredibly important and cannot be categorized by just one thing. Every person has unique gifts and talents when it comes to missionary work and living out God’s special calling on their lives. But all partners love God, love people, and engage in deep and intentional relationships wherever they go!
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Church planters and missionaries serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending their reach and sharing the love of Jesus to people no matter where they are, whether that’s in America, Europe, South America, and beyond!
Join us today on this dynamic adventure! Let's go!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
5 World-Changing Women Missionaries
Sharing the Gospel and joining the mission field is work for all believers, and there have been many strong and faithful Christian women who serve the Lord on the mission field. These 5 women missionaries have shared the good news of Jesus and made history by serving Him faithfully.
Gladys Aylward
Gladys Aylward left her home in England in 1930 to follow God's call to China, on the other side of the world. She left home with no support system and no money to be obedient to God’s call. With the Sino-Japanese War waging around her, she struggled to bring the basics of life and the fullness of God to orphaned children. Read more about the way she loved the people of China and Taiwan over a 40 year spread.
Amy Carmichael
Amy Carmichael was an Irish missionary who served in India for over 50 years. She founded orphanages, rescued young children from sex trafficking and forced prostitution, and shared the Gospel in a country that was hostile to Christ. She worked tirelessly for decades and wrote over 35 books about her time serving in India and South Asia. Read more about her life and missionary service.
Lottie Moon
Lottie Moon was a female missionary who was raised in the United States and in the Southern Baptist tradition, but only came to know Jesus at the age of 18. After she became a Christian she felt called to join the mission field in China and become a teacher. She taught for years in China and also founded the Women’s Missionary Society. Lottie was a huge advocate for women in the mission field and spoke out on behalf of women who felt called to support the local church through mission work. Read more about how Lottie Moon spoke up for female missionaries.
Mary Slessor
Mary Slessor was a unique woman and missionary whose life story is an amazing inspiration for all believers and missionaries. She was called to mission and set sail for West Africa in 1876. There she worked to end infanticide in Nigeria and share the good news of Jesus. Slessor learned the language of the Nigerian people and gained their trust, which allowed her to fight for women’s rights, fight infanticide, and spread the name of Jesus. Read more about Mary Slessor’s amazing work in West Africa.
Elisabeth Elliot
Elisabeth Elliot was one of the most famous woman missionaries. She is known for sharing the Gospel with the tribe of people who killed her husband. After a tragedy where her husband, Jim Elliot, and his partners were killed by the people of the Huaorani Tribe, she learned the language, and returned to live with the tribe. Over time she befriended many of the Huaorani, even those who were involved in the killing of her husband. She has written many books including her own story, called Through Gates of Splendor. Read more about Elisabeth Elliot and her amazing forgiveness and faithfulness.
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The call to missions is a mighty one. If you want to explore the ins and outs of missionary work, Communitas International wants to equip you to plant churches and make disciples.
With Communitas, we affirm that women can serve in all aspects of ministry. We have many women who serve as pastors and missionaries with us. While there are many differing opinions on this issue, we don’t believe that Scripture precludes any women from becoming pastors or missionaries, but instead gifts and affirms them in these callings. Click here for our Statement on Gender Equality.
A missionary’s ministry is incredibly important and cannot be categorized by just one thing. Every person has unique gifts and talents when it comes to missionary work and living out God’s special calling on their lives. But all partners love God, love people, and engage in deep and intentional relationships wherever they go!
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Church planters and missionaries serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending their reach and sharing the love of Jesus to people no matter where they are, whether that’s in America, Europe, South America, and beyond!
Join us today on this dynamic adventure! Let's go!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
Why Should I Plant a Church?
We, as Christians, are called to carry out the Great Commission and carry the good news of Jesus to all the ends of the earth. But there are lots of ways to do that.
One of the most important and historic methods of sharing the Gospel is through church planting. If you are passionate about joining the mission field, consider these reasons why you might be called to plant a church.
What is a Church Plant?
A church plant is a new christian community in its most early stage - usually supported by an existing organization or church.
You may be thinking to yourself “why do we need new churches?” or “don’t we have enough churches? Why not just encourage people to attend existing churches?”
But the act of church planting is vital to the spread of the gospel and integral to the growth of the Kingdom of God.
Further, we live in a time where people are seeking authentic expressions of faith where looking outward and serving a community are more important than entertainment or just another Sunday experience. So why should you consider planting a church?
Church Planting is Biblical
Church planting is incredibly Biblical. Throughout the Bible (Old and New Testament), the name of God was spread by God's people. Church planting is also a direct expression of the ways the early church was spread in the book of Acts by the Apostle Paul and other believers: new churches growing across the world and bringing many people into the life and love of Jesus. The original disciples and apostles planted churches all around the world in the name of Jesus.
Church Planting Follows the Great Commission
Church planting is deeply rooted in Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations, tribes, and tongues, as found in Matthew 28. The Great Commission is the foundation of all mission work. In it, Jesus commands His followers to teach His commands, to baptize in His name, and to make disciples. This work (teaching, making disciples, and baptizing) is the essential work of the church.
In John 20:21, the resurrected Jesus offers his disciples an everlasting covenant of shalom and then says, “As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” So, every follower of Jesus is sent…where is He sending you?
Church Planting Works
Church planting is the most effective way to bring new men and women to Jesus. According to a Lifeway study, local church plants are more effective than established churches at reaching new people and unchurched people. Church plants are also a strategic way to spread the Gospel because church planters have the support and backing of their sending church or organization. Healthy church leaders come out of healthy organizations. And churches that can support them during the difficult yet rewarding work of church planting.
And church plants, when done well, will result in thriving, self-sustaining, authentic, discipleship-oriented, outward-facing and reproducing communities of faith.
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Church planting is vitally important to the Great Commission. When a healthy church is planted, new people come to know Jesus and are welcomed into a community where they can be nurtured and cared for. The Kingdom of God grows and people find life with Jesus when churches are planted.
Church Planting with Communitas
At Communitas, many of our partners spend a year or two at an existing project or church plant to prepare and train to launch their own project in a new city. Joining a church planting organization is one of the best ways to get involved. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact one of our mission coaches for an inspiring conversation here.
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Church planters serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending their reach and sharing the love of Jesus to people no matter where they are, whether that’s in America, West Africa, East Asia, and beyond!
A church planter’s job is incredibly important and can not be categorized by just one thing. Every church planter has unique gifts and talents when it comes to living out God’s special calling on their lives. But all planters love God, love people, and engage in deep and intentional relationships wherever they go! Join us today on this dynamic adventure!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
What is Church Planting?
As followers of Jesus, we are called to carry out the Great Commission and to take the good news of Jesus to all the ends of the earth. And there are lots of ways to do that.
If you are a Christian with an interest in church or missions work, the words “church plant” or “church planting” might be familiar to you.
What is a Church Plant?
A church plant is a new Christian community in its most early stage - usually supported by an existing organization or church.
Church planting is deeply rooted in Jesus’ command to make disciples of all nations, as found in Matthew 28. It is also a direct expression of the ways the early church was spread in the book of Acts by the Apostle Paul and other believers. It is new churches growing across the world and bringing many people into the life and love of Jesus.
Church planting looks different all over the world. Understanding the context of a neighborhood in which we’re starting a new church is critical to knowing what the church should look like, and how it can meet the needs of that neighborhood. And usually, church planting does not include a new building--at least, until much later in the process. So there are many unique expressions of church here at Communitas.
Why Church Planting?
Church planting is vitally important to the Great Commission. When we start a healthy church, new people come to know Jesus and are welcomed into a community where they can be nurtured and cared for. As we plant churches the Kingdom of God grows and people find new life with Jesus.
Local church plants are also a strategic way to take the Gospel to the world because church planters have the support and backing of their sending church or organization. Healthy church leaders come out of healthy organizations and sending churches that can support them during the difficult yet rewarding work of church planting.
Finally, church plants, when done well, will result in thriving, self-sustaining, authentic, discipleship-oriented, outward-facing and reproducing communities of faith.
How to be a Church Planter
The responsibilities and qualifications of a church planter are founded in Scripture and are lived out by faithful men and women and people groups around the world. Ask yourself these questions to see if church planting is the right fit for you:
- Do I have a passion for people who don't yet know Jesus?
- Do I have a desire to share life with others in an incarnational way? Can I live and deeply embed in a new place?
- How do I practice my faith and convictions with people? What does "sharing the Gospel" mean for me?
- Am I committed to maturing and growing myself?
- Do I understand the issues, needs, and worldviews of people living in the postmodern world?
- How has God equipped me to fulfill the Great Commission?
- What previous experiences might support church planting? (seminary, church work, pastoral counseling, spiritual direction, etc.)
- What about church planting appeals to me?
The call to church planting is a mighty one. If you want to explore the ins and outs of church planting more, Communitas International wants to equip you to plant churches and make disciples.
Church Planting with Communitas
At Communitas, many of our partners spend a year or two at an existing project or church plant to prepare and train to launch their own project in a new city. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact one of our mission coaches for an inspiring conversation here.
A church planter’s ministry is incredibly important and cannot be categorized by just one thing. Every church planter has unique gifts and talents when it comes to missionary work and living out God’s special calling on their lives. But all planters love God, love people, and engage in deep and intentional relationships wherever they go!
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Church planters serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending their reach and sharing the love of Jesus to people no matter where they are, whether that’s in America, Europe, South America, and beyond!
Join us today on this dynamic adventure! Let's go!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
What does a Missionary Do?
What comes to mind when you think of a missionary?
Maybe it’s:
Someone who starts a church in another country
Someone who is translating the Bible into a new language
Someone who shares the gospel across cultural borders
Someone who is caring for sick people in very poor parts of the world
So maybe you’ve wondered: what’s their job description? What does a missionary actually do?
The basic definition of a Christian missionary is a disciple of Jesus who has taken up the Great Commission to preach the gospel of Jesus Christ and make disciples for Him across unreached people groups and to all tribes, nations, and tongues.
“But wait,” you are hopefully asking, “shouldn’t all Christians be doing that?”
If that is your thought, you’re right. In fact, that's a main reason we don’t like to use the word missionary at all. We prefer to talk about the people we partner with as people who are living missionally in a culture that isn’t their own. Missionaries can be doctors, teachers, lawyers, builders, pastors, church planters, or more. YOU can be a missionary, right in your context!
But no matter the occupation, language, or culture a missionary has, there are some common elements of the job and life of a missionary.
Here’s what it means to be a “missionary” here at Communitas:
Job Description #1: Get Plugged Into the Local Culture
When a missional worker is sent to a foreign country or culture, it is vital that they get connected to the culture they will be living in. These believers living on mission tune into the work that the Holy Spirit is already doing around them.
They effectively share the Gospel when they are connected to, trusted by, and listening to the cultures where they live. This might look like enrolling in a school to take language classes, or opening a business, or starting a Bible study in a local coffee shop. It may look like being integrated in an existing local church to see how God is moving, with the plan to launch a new church plant in a new neighborhood.
This posture allows missional workers to build genuine relationships with people, building trust and opening space for questions about their lifestyles, as well as the ability to share the good news of Jesus Christ in their neighborhoods.
Job Description #2: Build on Local Context and Life
Communitas missional workers believe God is already at work in the communities in which they live, and they’re on the lookout to find and encourage Kingdom practices that are already happening.
There’s no “one size fits all” way of being a missionary--or to starting churches. For our teams in Brazil, church looks very different than for our teams in Poland because the “style” of a new church plant follows the look and needs of its neighborhood.
We don’t evaluate our team members by conversions or church size, but we do care that they are creating relationships with people who do not yet know Jesus and inviting them to belong in community. As these relationships deepen and opportunities for faith arise, missional workers develop discipleship patterns and help people mature and grow in their faith.
Communitas staff always practice going deep in their discipling relationships by praying, studying Scripture, and having intentional conversations with those around them. Mature and intentional missionaries go deep with the people they serve and practice their faith in real, tangible ways, right in their own neighborhoods.
Job Description #3: Multiply
The call to missions comes from Matthew 28, the Great Commission. Jesus tells His disciples to go and make disciples of all nations, tribes, and tongues, “teaching them to obey” everything Jesus has taught them. Missionaries do this in the communities, neighborhoods, and churches God has called them to.
But because the call to mission is so grand, it pushes missionaries to spread out and take the gospel outside the walls of churches they (and most of us) feel comfortable in. Maybe a missionary is called to start another church plant, or maybe they start an initiative in their city to reach out to homeless or incarcerated people. Creativity and context are critical to understanding where God is calling us next.
At Communitas, many of our partners spend a year or two at an existing project to prepare and train to launch their own project in a new city. If this sounds like a good fit for you, contact one of our mission coaches for an inspiring conversation here.
The call of the Great Commission is that EVERYONE should hear the good news of Jesus! And that is God’s calling for YOU and for ME. Missionaries serve in churches and communities, and they are passionate about extending their reach and sharing the love of Jesus to people no matter where they are, whether that’s in America, West Africa, East Asia, and beyond!
A missionary’s job is incredibly important and can not be categorized by just one thing. Every missionary has unique gifts and talents when it comes to missionary work and living out God’s special calling on their lives. But all missionaries love God, love people, and engage in deep and intentional relationships wherever they go!
Written in partnership with Reach The Lost.
32
Churches
73
Church Plants
200
Team Members
27
Countries