Home - Ways to get involved There are two groups of people interested in planting a Harvest Bible Chapel with us in Austin: (1) those who are interested in checking out Harvest once it becomes an established church and (2) those who are interested in hands-on participation in the joyful, painful, exciting, and sacrificial process of planting and establishing a Harvest Bible Chapel in Austin. This letter is written specifically to the second group.

Nothing excites us more than to think about the people God is calling to be a part of the core team of a new Harvest Bible Chapel. They are about to begin one of the greatest adventures of their lives, one filled with hard work, much prayer and great joy.

As you consider being a part of this core group we want you and your family to make a wise decision and to be completely prepared by having accurate expectations. Many will tell you that there is nothing more joyful and nothing harder than planting a church. We want our team to be ready!

In this letter you will find a glimpse of the stages of planting a Harvest Bible Chapel, a broad timeline for launching the church and some clear thinking on expectations.

Seed – Plow to prepare the soil
During this stage we will build the core group, recruit a leadership team, share vision, pray, set up finances, and begin the process of incorporation, recruit, and select additional core group members.

Primary Needs: Prayer, finances, encouragement, preparation, people, patience
Average Time Frame: 2-3 months

Germination – Grow Roots and Shoots
During this stage, the core group will gather and meet together on a weekly basis (Saturday evening or Sunday evening, not Sunday morning) for study of the Word, prayer, worship and planning. A location will be secured, a worship leader found, a worship team formed. Members of the core group will be assigned to areas of service based on gifting and need. Greatest focus will be on the primary ministries of worship, children’s, small groups, assimilation, finance, administration and promotion.

Primary Needs: Prayer, people, finances, worship leader, participation, sacrifice, networking, promotion, location.
Average Time Frame: 4-6 months

Emerging Plant – Going Public
During this stage, the new church emerges publicly for worship services and extended ministry. The core group will go from a launch team to a church. Harvest Bible Fellowship will serve as the elders of the new plant for the first year. All major ministry components will be planned, prepared and ready to go prior to the launch date. These ministries include preaching, worship, children’s, small groups, assimilation, administration and logistics.

Primary Needs: Prayer, sacrifice, finances, participation, set up/break down, follow-up, promotion

Growing and Pruning – Bear Fruit, Expect Pruning, Stick with it!
During this stage the new church begins to grow, bear fruit and multiply. Ministry growth will take place as will the addition of new ministries such as student ministries, mission and compassion, possibly men’s and women’s ministry. Pruning also talks place in this stage. Trials, challenges, disappointments, discipline will cause some to leave but ultimately it will strengthen and bring maturity to the body.

Primary Needs: Prayer, sacrifice, finances, endurance, discipleship, evangelism, courage.

Maturity and Multiplication – Multiply Mature Ministry
During this stage the church is established, strong and autonomous in its ability to thrive on its own. It is a ministry-giving ministry-multiplying body. It has deep roots and a resilient base evidenced by a deep and growing fruitfulness and the church’s ability to endure difficulties. It is a church-planting church.

Primary Needs: Prayer, plurality of godly male leaders, endurance, discipleship, leadership training, evangelism, finances.

Expectations:
Nothing can make a person more miserable than having wrong expectations. We want to have our eyes wide open as we embark upon church planting.

(1) You are fully aligned with our mission, vision, values and distinctives. Harvest is a church built on the 4 Pillars. It is a contemporary church that proclaims the authority of God’s Word without apology, lifts high the name of Jesus Christ in worship, believes firmly in the power of prayer and shares the good news of Jesus with boldness.

Do these values fit you and excite you?

(2) You are willing to submit to the leadership.
Harvest Bible Fellowship along with the senior pastor will serve as the elders of the new plant for the first year. They will strive to lead in a way that is obedient to God’s Word. The reality is that you will not always agree with or understand the decisions that will be made.

Can you follow, support and speak well of the leadership?

(3) You have healthy motives for joining the Launch Team.
You are coming primarily because you sense God calling you to be a part of planting a new church committed to Harvest Bible Chapel’s mission, values and distinctives. You are not coming:
To get more control and responsibility in a church
To run away from difficulties in your current church
Expecting to come on staff at HBC down the road

(4) To the best of your ability, you will make a healthy church transition.
Those leaving a current local church to participate with the HBC plant should “leave well.” Tell the leadership of your current local church what you are going to do. Ask for their blessing and prayer support. Within reason, fulfill your previously made commitments and after leaving, speak well of your former church.

(5) You are prepared for the constant change of church planting (flexibility).
Church planting does not provide the routine, comforts and predictability of a large established church. All will need to be flexible.

(6) You realize sacrifice will be the norm – not the exception.
There is no doubt that it is a sacrifice for you and your family to be a part of a church plant. We will not immediately have first rate facilities, a growing Jr. High/Sr. High ministry or other blessings of an established church. God will honor your sacrifice and abundantly bless you and your family despite the absence of these comforts. It is crucial that you know these things will not be available immediately.

(7) You are aware and committed to prepare for spiritual warfare.
Spiritual warfare is real and church planting is a direct and strategic assault against Satan and the kingdom of darkness. We must be vigilant to put on the full armor of God and cover everything we do in prayer.

(8) You are committed to financially support the vision with your income.
The church is funded by God’s people supporting the work. Giving generously to the work of the church is the New Testament norm. Your heart follows your treasure.

Our great desire is that Christ would be exalted in and through the lives of His people preparing to plant with us in Austin. We hope this letter has been helpful to you. If you have further questions, please feel free to contact us.