Frequently Asked Questions--Church Start

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WORLD CHANGERS
GLORIFYING GOD...REACHING PEOPLE...MAKING DISCIPLES
“And Great Grace Was Upon Them All”—Acts 4:33

With the heart-felt calling of God’s direction, the Church Council and Staff recommend that First B establish a new church start in the metro-Sioux Falls area and that the start date be Palm Sunday, April 1, 2007. We believe mothering a church start to be an exhilarating and obedient step of faith—and a step based on our commitment to honor God through reaching people for Christ and making disciples. This is not the first time that First B has been the mother church starting a new church in Sioux Falls. Our Church Council and Staff believe that now is the time for our first vital church start in the new century.

Below are a few questions and answers that provide additional information:

What is a church start?
Why do we want to do a church start?
Who will function as leaders of this church start?
What are the anticipated staff changes at First B?
How do the Church Council and Staff stand on this proposal?
What about other support?
Where will this church be located?
How will the church start's congregation worship?
What will First Baptist's mission look like after the start?
How would the two churches work together in the future?
How will First B's budget be affected?
Will I have a time and a place to hear more about this and ask questions?
What about congregational approval of this matter?

What is a church start? A church start begins with a good core of persons and programs that can attract additional persons. Growth in a church start is accomplished through nurture, outreach and quality programming from the beginning—and is encouraged and blessed by its mother congregation.

Why do we want to do a church start? A church start is a way of putting feet to our purpose statement, especially in the area of reaching people we might never reach otherwise. On a given Sunday, the majority of our city’s population is not in any church—and with Sioux Falls’ growing population those numbers will increase. Statistically, new churches reach more people more quickly than do established churches. The most powerful single step we can take as an evangelizing congregation is to start a new church in our city. At the same time, we will continue our evangelizing and discipling work at 22nd and Covell. Living out this purpose completely will glorify God and his name will be blessed.
The process of a church start is not new and is biblically sound. The story of the early church in Acts is a fine example of the church’s unhindered growth in different cities, countries and continents. Our proud history of 130+ years began with a denomination’s and a pastor’s obedient response to God’s call to reach more people for Christ. Now we take up that mantle and seek to be obedient.

Who will function as the leaders of this church start? Allen Kjesbo will serve as the start’s pastor in partnership with his wife, Denise. With the church’s approval of the church start, a “Church Start Leadership Development Team” will be formed to provide initial guidance and prayerful support. The Kjesbos recently returned from a church plant assessment seminar where they both received exceptional marks concerning their skills, temperament and vision to develop and maintain a church start.
For sixteen years, Allen has guided our youth ministry with unparalleled success in reaching the youth of our city and has developed a number of students into passionate and devoted youth workers. Denise has provided the Glimpse of Glory service with visionary leadership, loving stability, quality musicianship, and a desire to train others for worship leadership. Her organizational skills have produced a significant point of entry for many seeking a new type of church experience or for those returning to church after years away.
Through education, inclination, and experience, God has prepared these two for such an exceptional time as this.

What are the anticipated staff changes at First B? A vital, thriving, growing ministry at 22nd and Covell requires the finest in program leadership. First B is blessed with quality staff ministers. Our other two pastors, Susan Omanson (Pastor for Caring Ministries) and Tracy Folkerts (Pastor for Children’s Ministries), will continue in their present positions.
With the church’s approval of the church start proposal, the youth pastor position will be filled in January by an interim youth pastor. During the coming months, a search process would be conducted in order to call on staff a full-time youth pastor.
In addition, the Staff, including Ted Faszer, the Church Council, and the Personnel Team have affirmed the need for a full-time Worship and Music Pastor who will oversee all the worship services of First Baptist Church. The hope is that a search will begin soon and culminate in this person coming on staff in early 2007.

How do the Church Council and Staff stand on this proposal? The Church Council and Staff are unanimous in making this proposal, seeing this initiative as the God-directed and biblically based model for us as an evangelistic church. Our Senior Pastor has encouraged us to become a “church starting” congregation; that is, this need not be our last such church start. In a growing city with an increasing population, need will arise in future years for more good and strong American Baptist congregations. The council sees a church start as a logical implementation of our purpose statement. In addition, the pastoral and administrative staff has energetically and positively discussed this proposal and fully supports the development of a church start.

What about other support? We are in conversation with the American Baptist Churches, USA (ABC-USA) and the American Baptist Churches of the Dakotas (ABCD) regarding initial funding and other support. The early indications show the new church should receive assistance from these entities according to their procedures.

Where will this church start be located? There is not an exact location selected as yet, but we will be seeking a location in an existing building.

How will the church start congregation worship? While the exact style of worship will be impacted by place and numbers of worshippers, the worship will reflect the style of leadership that Allen and Denise have given to the Glimpse of Glory service. Three “preview days” are planned to introduce the neighborhood and interested persons from First Baptist to the new church’s style of worship. These days will occur once a month in early 2007.

What will First Baptist’s mission look like after the start? First Baptist is in a unique location to continue to provide significant community ministries as we have for more than 130 years. In some ways, the mission never changes: our purpose statement is the same. The stated intention to be about the work of reaching people and making disciples is still foundational. Our very fine caring ministry will continue on—as will the exciting new directions in children’s ministries.
In more specific ways, changes could occur. One option is to reduce the number of worship services each week from three to two, one of which would likely be something akin to our current contemporary service, though not identical to it. Times and styles of those services would be suggested by our Worship Ministry Team. Bringing on staff a full-time worship pastor will bring a new vitality to worship services—and offer expanded opportunities for music and worship leadership for all ages. Youth ministry, with the addition of a new youth pastor, would have a new beginning.

How would the two churches work together in the future? The new church would be a distinctive, self-governing church with its own budget. And we would be partnering churches, sister American Baptist congregations, for the work of the Kingdom. Specifically, we would work in a complementary relationship of shared ministry. We envision opportunities to share events like mission trips, Vacation Bible School, and caring ministries.

How will First B’s budget be affected? The Property and Finance Team and Personnel Team are in discussion regarding the potential changes. One possibility is to prepare a 2007 budget with built-in flexibility that makes room for some of the “unknowns.” As these “unknowns” become more “known” during the early weeks of 2007, the budget would be adjusted to meet the changes. Another possibility would be to extend the 2006 Budget through the first quarter of 2007 (with required changes such as increased utility rates, insurance coverage, etc.). Our Property and Finance Team and the Personnel Team believe we must enter this new endeavor with the sure sense of God’s direction in the decisions made—and with the assurance of adequate resources that God will provide. We believe these decisions will ask of us a renewed commitment to joyful and sacrificial financial stewardship.

Will I have a time and a place to hear more about this and ask questions?
What about congregational approval of this matter? Three Question and Answer forums are scheduled already: (1) Tuesday, September 19, 4 p.m., in the Church Parlor; (2) Saturday, September 23, 9:30 a.m. (in conjunction with this month’s Renaissance gathering); and (3) Tuesday, September 26, 7 p.m., in the Church Parlor. Additional forums and locations will be scheduled in October. The council has set the date for the vote to be Sunday, October 22, in each of the three worship services. Notice that discussion times will be held prior to the day of the vote—and that there will be no discussion on the morning of the actual vote.

We ask that you begin praying today for your part in this grand undertaking. Two churches in Sioux Falls with a shared purpose to reach more people for Jesus Christ and make disciples will make an eternal impact for the Kingdom of God in this community.

“And Great Grace Was Upon Them All.”—Acts 4:33

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