The Strategic Value of Saturation Church Planting: by Danie Vermeulen

The Strategic Value of
Saturation Church Planting

By Danie Vermeulen
Show me a denomination in decline and I will show you a denomination without a

church planting vision. Show me a country where the Christian population is
stagnant or in decline and I will show you the denominations within it, with no church
planting vision. It stands to reason. Yet, there are now numerous countries that
show major evangelical growth since the denominations and church groups settled
on a specific national church planting goal. Examples of these are the Philippines,
China, Brazil (in fact most of Latin America) Ghana and Zimbabwe. In every
continent of the world there are church planting movements breaking through the
barriers of evil resistance, bringing the glory of the Lord, the incarnate presence of
Christ into their communities.
Jim Montgomery, Founder and President of Dawn Ministries, is possibly the most
knowledgeable on this subject. He played a major role in developing a strategy in
the Philippines in the early 1970s that would change the face of the Philippine church
forever. IN 1974, when about 75 church and mission leaders committed themselves
toward the goal of a church in every barrio by AD2000, a movement was born called
DAWN an acronym for Discipling a Whole Nation. For the Philippines, this would
mean growing from about 5,000 churches to 50 000 in 26 years!
In February 2001 they will have their celebration 50,000 churches planted in 26
years! It has impacted the nation tremendously. Who did it? Who should get
the credit? The church, the Kingdom of God in the Philippines! They
multiplied themselves over and over. Most denominations showed growth
that outshone the growth of their counterparts elsewhere in the world. Why?
They had a vision to saturate their nation with churches in every barrangay
(neighbourhood).
SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING
Saturation Church planting is a vision that aims at mobilizing the whole body of Christ
within an area, city, province or country to plant a church within easy access of every
person in order to disciple the whole nation. (Matt. 28:19) At this juncture I must
point out that Jesus command to us was not to make disciples in the nations but to
make disciples of all nations. This is a whole nation vision. Therefore, the
mobilization of the whole body of Christ is so essential.
WHY SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING?
There are several reasons other than the Biblical basis why saturation church
planting is the best method of evangelism. Lets look at some of them.
1. New churches grow faster than old churches

Why do newly planted churches grow faster than older churches? Because most
often evangelism is their main activity. They break into new households of
relatives and friends and if there is a building, something new is more noticeable.
Then keep in mind that it is easier to give birth than to raise the dead.
1. Montgomery, Jim: DAWN 2000, 7 million churches to go. Highland Books - p5.
2. Church planting can give life and vitality to your church
A new baby creates great excitement in a household. Kawit Baptist Church in
Kawit, Philippines was planted in 1986 and reached a peak attendance of 50.
When Pastor Arman Dela Merced arrived in 1993 the church was down to only 8
members! Pastor Arman, knowing that it is easier to give birth than to raise the
dead used his dying church to plant a new church. Within 6 months they
succeeded in planting a daughter church in Imus with 60 members! But the
amazing thing is that through giving birth, revival came to the church in Kawit.
Their membership shot up to an incredible 96!
3. More types of churches are needed

Churches are like people and have different personalities. It is often determined
by the pastor himself. Theological persuasions also play a major role and often
determine the liturgy in the services. God, in His infinite wisdom, created such
variety in the expression of church that it actually becomes difficult for someone
to say I cant find a church where I fit in. We just need to continue to plant more
types of churches that cater for all homogeneous groups.
It is also necessary to mention here that we are in desperate need of churches

that will cater for all the needs of our youth. They need an expression where they
will be comfortable with the dress code, music and liturgy. It is a well-known fact
that the last generation style church will not appeal to the new generation.
4. Church planting develops new leadership

Peter Wagner says Many churches have confirmed the fact that the most
important institutional variable for the growth and expansion of the local church is
leadershipFor the most part, existing churches have unconsciously placed a
ceiling on both clergy and lay leadership and, as a result, upward mobility of new
people into positions of ministry is difficult. But new churches open wide the
doors of leadership and ministry challenges and the entire body of Christ
subsequently benefits.
5. Church planting helps denominational survival

In his book, Church planting for a greater harvest, Peter Wagner makes this
observation, Without exception, the growing denominations have been those
that stress church planting. Many denominations talk about church growth and
has intensions to plant churches, but that is as far as it goes. They have neither
a plan nor strategy and are often too proud to ask for help.
In South Africa, noticeable events have taken place, which I believe will impact
this nation greatly. Dr. Isak Burger, Moderator of the Apostolic Faith Mission, is
busy mobilizing his denomination to formulate a growth plan through church
planting and they are by no means a declining denomination! A recent case
study on this denomination is included in this publication.
The Baptist Union also has a definite vision. The Cell Church Movement in South
Africa, led by Pastor Harold Weitsz, is now writing church planting into their
materials and has asked DAWN Africa to help them in this regard. But these are
growing groups. What about those in decline? You can do what the Church of
England in the UK did. They embarked on a DAWN project and after a 20-year
decline they are now showing tremendous growth.
6. Church planting is the best method of evangelism in a nation
A 1. Wagner, C. Peter: Planting churches for a greater harvest, Regal Books p.20
study of the church growth in Peru shows a startling discovery. They have set a
goal of 50,000 churches by the year 2003. That meant 6 new churches every
day! But look at this: In 1989 they had 5,574 churches and it grew to 12,915 by
1995 an Average Annual Growth Rate of 15.03%. In 1989 they had 750,000
members in their churches, and this figure grew to 2,189,345 by 1995 an
Average Annual Growth Rate of 19.55%! The conclusion derived from this is that
membership growth rate is faster when planting churches.
I know of no other method of evangelism that can show such an impact on a

nation! If the Philippine church did not embark on a DAWN project, they would
have planted only 17,778 churches (projected) by the year 2000 instead of
50,000!
THE PRACTICAL PROCESS

If a nation is going to embark in saturation church planting, then a DAWN-type
strategy is necessary. Jim Montgomery outlines 12 ingredients to a DAWN strategy.
He says: It is a strategy that:
1. Is Christ-centered in its emphasis on seeing Him made incarnate in every

cluster of 500 to 1,000 people in the world;
2. Is built on the comprehensive plan of God who is not willing that any should
perish;
3. Focuses on the systematic occupation of the land;
4. Takes advantage of the practical and emotional values of a whole-country

approach;
5. Releases the incredible power of information;
6. Delivers a prophetic message to the Church;
7. Harnesses the vast energies inherent in working towards a measurable, time-

bound goal;
8. Emphasizes the best method under heaven;
9. Helps the body of Christ function effectively as a body;
10. Releases the great potential of denominations;
11. Encourages parachurch organizations to function truly alongside the

Church;
12. Provides a frame of reference for national and worldwide strategy for the
discipling of the nations
Each of these 12 ingredients of DAWN is powerful in itself. When they are put
together in symbiotic relationship, their potential is enormous.
1. Montgomery, Jim: DAWN 2000, 7 million churches to go. Highland Books - p5.
Dr. Murry Moerman2, gleaning from Montgomery makes the observation that the
details of how a saturation church planting project works, varies from country to
country and situation to situation yet some ingredients are necessary:
A person or group of persons earnest for the reaching of their country, as was the
reformer, John Knox of Scotland, who cried out to God, Give me Scotland or I
die!
A national representative working committee that shares the vision and is willing
to give of personal and organizational resources to guide this relatively simple
process.
The gathering and updating of relevant information regarding the current harvest
force and harvest field in the country. From this can be gleaned a prophetic
message, how God sees His Church in the nation and what He is saying to His
people.
Periodic national and regional gatherings of the leadership of the Church to

consider what God may be saying and how each denomination may best respond
for Gods purposes to be accomplished. These gatherings are frequently called
congresses, to emphasize the decision-making element of response. Goals will
be set and reviewed, progress celebrated, prayer for revival renewed and fresh
commitments made.
The commitment to continue the process until Jesus returns: mobilizing prayer,
monitoring of harvest force and harvest field progress, dissemination of
information in publications and congresses and sharing church planting models
and resources.
In the chapter The Way Forward we give some suggestions of how we could
practically apply it in South Africa.

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The Strategic Value of

Saturation Church Planting

Show me a denomination in decline and I will show you a denomination without a

SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING

WHY SATURATION CHURCH PLANTING?

1. New churches grow faster than old churches

3. More types of churches are needed

It is also necessary to mention here that we are in desperate need of churches

4. Church planting develops new leadership

5. Church planting helps denominational survival

I know of no other method of evangelism that can show such an impact on a

THE PRACTICAL PROCESS

1. Is Christ-centered in its emphasis on seeing Him made incarnate in every

3. Focuses on the systematic occupation of the land;

4. Takes advantage of the practical and emotional values of a whole-country

5. Releases the incredible power of information;

6. Delivers a prophetic message to the Church;

7. Harnesses the vast energies inherent in working towards a measurable, time-

8. Emphasizes the best method under heaven;

9. Helps the body of Christ function effectively as a body;

10. Releases the great potential of denominations;

11. Encourages parachurch organizations to function truly alongside the

Periodic national and regional gatherings of the leadership of the Church to

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