When Starting A Church

[Lighthouse]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

 

[IFB X-Files]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

Here in the Phoenix, AZ area, the majority of IFB churches are in the East and West valleys.  Within those areas, churches are just a few miles apart.  There are some exceptions but there is enough people to go around. 

 

[rsc2a]

I personally believe a church shouldn't be so large that each member cannot be responsible to the others and have an active role in their lives. Because of this, where a church is is much less a factor of distance between than size of.

 

[Binaca Chugger]

I personally think a church should service its own local community first.  How small is each community in the city?  Where do the people of that city consider to be "far?" 

I have lived in regions where a 15 minute drive was considered real close and a part of a community.  I have lived in areas where 1.5 miles was considered "way over in the other side of town."  In the first example, there may not be a need for another church within 15 minutes drive, but in the second example, there was a need.

 

[Fresh Air]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

I agree with Binaca above. I would add that I think population density plays a part. Within a mile of my church building (eight blocks) are 200,000 people. I would love for someone to come start another church that close to me. It wouldn't bother me at all. 75k and 20 minutes apart is perfectly reasonable to me.

I would also add that it would be ethical for you to take the pastor out to lunch, explain your plan and your burden so that he realizes you are no threat to him. If he is a good man he will be happy to help you probably.

 

[IFB X-Files]

If he is a good man he will be happy to help you... probably.

LOL!  It ain't always so, is it?

 

[Tarheel Baptist]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

I agree with Binaca above. I would add that I think population density plays a part. Within a mile of my church building (eight blocks) are 200,000 people. I would love for someone to come start another church that close to me. It wouldn't bother me at all. 75k and 20 minutes apart is perfectly reasonable to me.

I would also add that it would be ethical for you to take the pastor out to lunch, explain your plan and your burden so that he realizes you are no threat to him. If he is a good man he will be happy to help you probably.

Good post...I agree with you and Binaca, the answer to the question is relative depending on a number of factors.
Our area hardly has the population density of Chicago, but we are allowing a new church plant in town to meet in buildings on Sunday nights!

 

[HeDied4U]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

I agree with Binaca above. I would add that I think population density plays a part. Within a mile of my church building (eight blocks) are 200,000 people. I would love for someone to come start another church that close to me. It wouldn't bother me at all. 75k and 20 minutes apart is perfectly reasonable to me.

I would also add that it would be ethical for you to take the pastor out to lunch, explain your plan and your burden so that he realizes you are no threat to him. If he is a good man he will be happy to help you probably.

"If" is the key word. I've often wondered about the ego of a pastor who feels threatened whenever another church opens up in "his" territory. You'd think he would welcome the "help" reaching souls for Christ, but no, they get all defensive and like "how dare you come here and steal away 'my' people!!" I've only seen it once, but once was enough and it wasn't pretty. And it's not just IFB or SBC or Baptist pastors in general that can feel that way. No, in my case, it was the pastor of the charismatic church I attended, waaaaay back in the day when I was first saved.

In my opinion, such a man cares more for numbers and the churches reputation than he does for the people themselves.

 

[Ransom]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith?

Check with the city. There are probably by-laws governing how close you can build a structure to the property line or to other existing structures.

 

[The Rogue Tomato]

Put a bumper sicker that says "If You Can Read This, You're Too D*** Close" on the existing church.  Then walk far enough away so you can't read it and put your next church there.

 

[brianb]

When starting a church how much should a distance be between another church of like faith? Lets say a populated area of about 75,000 has one Baptist church 20 minutes apart...is that too close or too far? I am seriously asking your opinion without ANY personal attacks desired.

I don't think it really matters. Many churches have people coming from other towns just because they like the church. Our church is currently on the move and there is a church of like faith and practice (somewhat) closer to me but that doesn't mean I'll go to that one. As similar as it is it's also quite different in personality.