The greatest ministry need in Canada is more churches. Overall church attendance has dropped from 60% of the population after World War II to less than 20% today. The Mayor of Mississauga, Hazel McCallion, said at a community prayer breakfast this year, "A community without a church is not a community." She is right! The major cities of Canada have far less than one half the churches per capita than exist in the smaller communities, population 30,000 or less.

Myth #1: Large churches grow fastest.

New small churches outgrow big established churches by a four to one margin. There is nothing wrong with big churches. Every small church should aspire to be bigger. However, if we are going to claim Canada for Christ, the growing edge will be the smaller newer churches.

Myth #2: Immigration creates the primary need for more churches.

In many immigrant populations, Canada is a net gainer of evangelicals. There is a great need and responsiveness in some immigrant populations. However, immigrants from the last ten years make up less than 10% of the Canadian population. After ten years, immigrants are normally assimilated into the main stream and no longer wish to maintain their ethnic focus in church attendance.

Myth #3: New churches are only needed where the population is growing.

Because we have fallen behind, many new churches are needed in every medium to large city. Other communities need new churches as well.

Myth #4: Since the existing churches have empty space we should fill them first.

There is nothing wrong with trying to fill empty church buildings. However, newcomers resist attending half-empty existing church buildings. The main issue is not filling empty buildings; it is filling empty people. This often happens best in a vibrant new church which usually doesn’t even have a building.

Myth #5: It takes a multi-gifted evangelist to plant a church.

Most successful church planters do not claim to have a strong gift of evangelism. If we are to plant enough churches we will do so under the leadership of the people who make themselves available. We do not have enough superstars! We must compensate with exceptional support, training and systems.

Myth #6: It takes a long time to get a church started.

If enough people are contacted systematically it is possible to have a self-supporting church in less than a year. In many church start ups, 60% of participants were unchurched at the time they started attending the new church.

Myth #7: Most denominations have church planting under control.

Denominational resources are scarce. Few denominations have a staff focus on church planting nor sufficient ready funds. 85% of Canadian churches are on a plateau or in decline. Most Canadian denominations are growing at less than 1% per year. Few pastors will consider the possibility of church planting. They don’t know it can be done quickly.

Myth #8: Church planting is someone else’s responsibility.

We cannot fulfill the Great Commission without starting new churches. The Great Commission applies to all Christians. We must all do our part or Canada will continue to see a diminished Christian influence.

If not us, who?

If not here, where?

If not now, when?