He currently serves as senior managing partner of Easum, Bandy, and Associates. During his 24 years at Colonial Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio, Texas, the church grew from 35 to more than 1,000 in worship. In this article, he shares his perspectives on a new successful method of church planting. The new successful method of planting churches has seven basics. New church starts meet in rented facilities instead of purchasing land.
Land is purchased years later.
Buildings and property make architectural and psychological statements. By putting off the purchase until the church has 300 to 400 in worship, the church already knows that it is not a small church and the building and property reflect that reality. It also keeps the church building from becoming an idol that drains people's time, energy, and money. A target audience is selected instead of shooting a generic shotgun and hoping to reach some people. Demographic studies help in this selection, which is almost always either unchurched Baby Boomers or Baby Busters.