{"id":1033,"date":"2025-07-15T17:51:34","date_gmt":"2025-07-15T17:51:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/teeshin.com\/?p=1033"},"modified":"2025-07-25T14:43:16","modified_gmt":"2025-07-25T14:43:16","slug":"funding-your-church-plant-why-your-financial-model-matters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/teeshin.com\/index.php\/2025\/07\/15\/funding-your-church-plant-why-your-financial-model-matters\/","title":{"rendered":"Funding Your Church Plant: Why Your Financial Model Matters"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Discover why choosing the right financial model is crucial for church planting. This article explores how a missionary support model, focused on long-term sustainability and reaching the unchurched<\/span> can better align with your church’s mission and growth.<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Planting a church is a spiritual endeavor, but it\u2019s also an economic one. The financial model you choose will not only shape the church\u2019s sustainability but also influence its mission and culture.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Many church planters set out with a heart for reaching the lost, but their funding strategy often prioritizes short-term survival over long-term mission. If your model assumes that your church will quickly become self-sustaining through tithes, you may unintentionally focus on reaching already-churched Christians rather than those far from God. Instead, we advocate for a <\/span>missionary model<\/span><\/b> of fundraising\u2014one that better aligns with the missional nature of church planting.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Impact of Your Funding Model<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Your church\u2019s economic system is more than just a financial tool\u2014<\/span>it\u2019s a culture-shaping force<\/span><\/b>. The model you choose will guide the trajectory of your church, often in ways you don\u2019t fully anticipate.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

For example, at Reliant, we\u2019ve worked with church plants on secular college campuses\u2014places where a traditional tithe-based model simply doesn\u2019t work. Churches that embraced <\/span>missionary funding<\/span><\/b> have thrived, while those relying solely on tithes have often shifted into more traditional off-campus community churches, sometimes losing their original missional focus.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Missionary Church Planting vs. Traditional Church Models<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

Traditionally, churches operate on a <\/span>tithe-based model<\/span><\/b>, where funding primarily comes from members’ regular giving. This works well when your congregation consists of established believers who practice biblical giving. However, for <\/span>missional churches<\/span><\/b> focused on reaching those far from faith, this model is less viable.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Missionaries understand that the communities they serve will often not be able to fully support them financially for a long time\u2014if ever. If church planters adopt this missionary mindset, they might realistically expect it to take 7 to 10 years (or more) to develop a self-sustaining local tithe. This approach is in line with a vision for long-term discipleship and transformation in communities with few believers.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Evaluating Church Planting Funding Models & Strategies<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/h3>\n

There are three primary approaches to church planting finances:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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  1. Denominational or Large Church Support<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Some church plants receive significant backing from a denomination or large church. While this is helpful, it\u2019s <\/span>not a multiplication strategy<\/span><\/b>\u2014it\u2019s an addition strategy. Denominations and large churches typically expect plants to become self-sustaining, and this model is unlikely to fuel the exponential growth needed to reach lost communities at scale.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    1. Bi-Vocational Ministry<\/span><\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Some church planters support themselves through outside employment, reducing their financial needs. While this can be a <\/span>viable strategic choice<\/span><\/b>, especially when it aligns with the church’s mission, it\u2019s more of a <\/span>cost-reduction strategy<\/span><\/b> than a <\/span>sustainable funding model<\/span><\/b>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

      Bi-vocational ministry has benefits, like community engagement, but it also presents challenges:<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n