ATLANTA -- Churches interested in starting new congregations can get assistance from the North American Mission Board (NAMB), according to the Baptist Press.
NAMB's Church Planting Assist Teams (CPAT) provide one- to three-day orientation sessions for church pastors and staff, said Dennis Mitchell, CPAT's multiplication director.
Church planting is an effective evangelism tool, Mitchell said, but few churches choose to reproduce themselves in an effort to reach out to new communities.
"Perhaps more churches might commit to plant a church if there were experienced church planting specialists available to come alongside and consult with them to successfully start a new church," Mitchell said.
The CPAT consultants will include specialists in leadership, church health, the community and its needs, funding resources, and prayer/mobilization, according to the Baptist Press. All consultants are unpaid volunteers.
The NAMB is developing an implementation guide outlining the CPAT concept, Miller told those gathered at the organization's May 20-24 regional conference for pastors, missionaries and other partners.
