Plant Indy Strategy

It’s overwhelming to try to lift a telephone pole lying on the ground by yourself—but it’s possible with a dozen friends. Likewise, planting or revitalizing a church can be overwhelming if there is only one sponsor church, and this is why Plant Indy begins with partnerships. In conjunction with a network of denominational, associational, and church planting entities, over a dozen like-minded churches pool their resources together to fund church plants and revitalizations. These Partner Churches are also committed to the patient process of raising up pastors who can be sent out to these new churches. It’s from these Partner Churches that officers are chosen to be on the Plant Indy Administrative Team.

The Administrative Team receives applications from prospective church planters/revitalizers and conducts a thorough vetting process regarding an applicant’s character, competence, theology, and ministry philosophy. This process includes detailed questionnaires and an interview with both the applicant and his wife. After approval, the applicant enters a new phase of partnership with Plant Indy, which usually involves a church planting residency. During this stage, the planter or revitalizer begins writing a strategy proposal for the church. Moreover, a representative from the applicant’s sending church comes onto the Administrative Team. The applicant only proceeds to the next phase of partnership with the blessing of his sending church, so that the sending church has the final say.