Ed Stetzer recently spent some time in Central and Eastern Europe meeting with church planters there and discussing what American churches could do to partner with them. Standing alongside a busy street in Kraków, Poland, in this brief video clip, Ed mentions some of the things to take into consideration when talking about church planting in Europe. He makes one statement that I think is very important for understanding church planting in Europe:

Church planting in this context is different. It takes churches that are willing to partner with long-term endeavors that don't build buildings—buildings are already built, there are cathedrals up and down the streets where we are here in Kraków—but it means we are going to be planting churches that often meet in homes, that multiply rather than expand.

While he is talking about the European context, I think he has something to say for the Church here as well. A while ago, I mentioned how the face of Christianity in Europe was changing, becoming something that was much more of a grassroots movement. I referenced an article by Philip Jenkins, in which he argued that Christianity in Europe is finding renewed strength and vigor in small communities of authentic believers committed to the Gospel instead of to an institution and organization like the former State churches that have been characteristic of Europe for centuries. Ed here makes a similar point, that this is the context within which we can most effectively work in Europe.

I think this notion that churches should multiply instead of expand is a key thing to remember not just in Europe, but here as well. For one, it seems to be reflective of the strategy Paul employed in his missionary journeys. Also, a 10,000 member mega-church tucked away in the suburbs is not going to function effectively as the center of a local community. Small churches scattered among the various neighborhoods of a city are—locally gathered, authentic communities committed to making known the Gospel of Jesus Christ, carrying out its mission to make known His Kingdom, and working to renew the culture it finds itself in.

There is a statistic that says once churches get to be a certain age and reach a certain size (I want to say fifteen years and about three-hundred members, but I can't remember for sure), they stop growing from outside and only increase in size by gaining members who migrate from other churches. Whatever the exact figures, the point is when churches reach a certain size they cross a line from being other-serving to self-serving. The most effective churches, then, for bringing people into the covenant community are small, local churches, which in turn disciple members and equip them to go out and start new churches and to carry on the mission in other places and contexts.

Just as we are a sent people, so our churches need to be sending churches. By multiplying and forming small, grassroots, authentic, biblical communities scattered throughout our cities and communities, we extend our influence and ability to fulfill our mission tremendously.