Health Within Each Circle is What Counts

The centrality of the embryonic church needs to be emphasised and protected.  Therefore rather than seeing this ministry design as a rigid and inflexible structure, the level of requirement from each of the expanding circles needs to be measured against the health of the local launch team.

The need and frequency for input from the steering group and
advisory panel should be determined by the health and capacity of
the launch team.

Should the launch team be a highly functioning (theologically
mature and evangelistically engaged) group, then the level and
involvement of either the steering group or advisory panel may not be
very high.

Should the launch team request or the planter deem it necessary,
given the ‘holes’ in the launch team (stretched due to family
circumstances, theologically unskilled and evangelistically
struggling), then the input from both the steering group and
advisory panel may be more intense.

In other words, the launch team determines the level at which
these two other support structures are called upon to deliver
appropriate care, input, support and direction.

At every stage of the life of the church plant, health is what matters. A healthy launch team and core group will not be without its problems. However these problems will be seen as opportunities and judged to be given by God as a means of further growth. A healthy functioning embryonic group will consist of various different gifted people/sub-groups that play to one another’s strengths and self-acknowledge their own specific weaknesses. A healthy functioning launch team will therefore be fluent in applying the gospel to each stage of their growth, have a robust theological vision and philosophy of ministry for its specific context, understand the need and willingly submit to structures which provide accountability in both the theological and organisational aspects of church life, and have a heart-commitment to generously seeking the growth of the kingdom both in its own church and beyond.

In ICM we remain focused in seeking to start, strength and support churches which above all are aiming for levels of health at every stage.