Church planting is an exhilarating calling that Alex Harris knows well. The Regional Minister Pioneering & Church Planting of the Yorkshire Baptist Association knows the unique challenges that come with starting a new church from scratch. He shares his insights into how to thrive in the pressures of pioneering ministry.
By Alex HarrisApril 2025
I have learnt from remarkably committed church planters and pioneers in our Baptist Family and beyond. I have quoted some of them below. I wanted to share a few of lessons we’ve collectively learnt and offer a healthy way to manage the pressures of this particular calling as a pioneer or church planter. Hopefully it will encourage pioneers and planters; inspire and attract potential new ones, and speak to the pastors and leaders of our established churches too. Health and life for all of us is vital.
The Pressures of church planting
All church leadership is hard. Starting a new church has some of its own particular challenges.
Church planting often means uprooting our families and stepping into a completely new community. The loneliness can be real. We have to learn the culture, build relationships, and establish credibility – often with no safety net.
“When we first arrived, we didn’t know a single person. I remember standing in a coffee shop thinking, ‘How do I even begin?’ But I kept reminding myself that God had gone ahead of us.”
Failure isn’t an option – or at least, that’s how it can feel. There’s an unspoken expectation that the church must grow, and quickly. The weight of this can be crushing.
“I had to learn to surrender my need for results. I planted, others watered, but God gives the growth.” (1 Corinthians 3:6)
JD Greear is wise to remind us, “Success is measured in obedience, not in numbers.” But that is hard to do when expectations are high.
Church planters can feel like outsiders among other pastors. We’re seen as innovators – or sometimes, as disruptors. Traditional ministers don’t always understand the pioneer’s journey.
“At times, I felt like I was leading in isolation. Other pastors were polite but didn’t quite know what to do with me. I had to intentionally seek out relationships with other planters who understood the struggle.”
Many planters and pioneers are bi-vocational out of necessity, working another job while leading a fledgling congregation. The financial burden can be overwhelming, especially when there’s little external support. Often pioneers and planters are at an age and stage of little financial agility and increasing family costs.
“There were months we weren’t sure we’d make rent and sometimes we didn’t.”
Many planters are squeezed through a pastoral model for training while church planting requires an entrepreneurial spirit. They’re trained but not always trained in all the right things.
“I thought I was ready because I had pastored before – but planting a church was a completely different game. I had to learn to build from nothing, and that meant constantly growing as a leader.”
Tim Keller is right that “The call to plant a church is a call to be a missionary, not just a pastor.” There are different skills needed to start a church versus to lead an established church, but we haven’t always invited planters to that sort of training.
Success brings new challenges. As our churches grow, we quickly outgrow our original leadership model. Many of us start as solo pioneers or with small, relational teams, but soon need to become team-builders, vision-casters, and strategic leaders.
“The skills that got us through the first year were not the same skills we needed for year three. I had to evolve quickly, or we would have stalled.”
“What got you here won’t get you there” is wisdom from Marshall Goldsmith.
Early church planting teams are often filled with passionate pioneers and/or people disillusioned with their previous church experiences. It’s a strange mix! Managing a team of strong-willed visionaries can be both a gift and a challenge.
“I had to learn that passion without direction can lead to chaos. The same people who helped start the church weren’t always the ones to lead it long-term.”
A biblical model for healthy church leadership: prophet, priest & king
One framework that has helped sustain health is the biblical model of prophet, priest, and king. In the Old Testament, Israel needed all three to thrive:
Jesus is the perfect fulfilment of all three: He spoke God’s truth (John 12:49), intercedes for us (Hebrews 4:14-16), and reigns as King (Revelation 19:16). As church planters, we need these three roles reflected in our support networks.
These are the voices that see what no one else sees and says what no one else dares to say. They challenge us, hold us accountable, and prevent mission drift.
“I needed mentors who would ask me the hard questions. ‘Are you making time for your family? Are you leading with integrity? Are you choosing what’s easy or what’s right?’”
We all need people who care for our souls. These are the relationships that remind us we are loved not for what we do, but for who we are.
“One pastor in my life would call me just to ask, ‘How’s your heart?’ That simple question kept me grounded when everything felt overwhelming.”
“Pastors who plant churches must not only be shepherds of others but also be shepherded themselves,” encourages Ed Stetzer.
Structure and strategy matter. We need wise leadership to help us navigate growth, provide financial sustainability, and ensure long-term stability and credibility.
This material was originally shared by Revd Dr Alex Harris at a gathering of the Baptist Union of Scotland Church Planters Conference 2025
