1st Edition

Caring Deeply About Church Planting Twelve Keys from the Life of Jesus

By Rich Kao Copyright 2021
182 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

182 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

182 Pages 7 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

Never has the need for church planting been more acute or more necessary. The world around us is beset with problems of every kind—political, social, economic, racial, and moral. The list is endless, and the difficulties are systemic and entrenched. The best minds, institutions, and efforts are being marshaled to address these problems, but are we getting to the root issues? Could it be that the... Read more

1. Church Planting Is an Organizational Initiative

2. Church Planting Is a Breakthrough Initiative

3. Church Planting Is a Prophetic Initiative

PHASE 1 - CONCEPTION (Leader)

4. Caring Deeply: The Call of God

5. Clarity: Caring Deeply Must Have a Compelling, Tangible Goal

6. Capability: Planting Must Be Connected to Skill, Especially Preaching

7. Consecration: The Key to Your Plant

PHASE 2 - CONSTRUCTION (New Plant)

8. Core Team: Finding Those Who Will Plant with Me

9. Culture: How Will This Plant Work, Look, and Feel?

10. Creativity: Planting with Genius

11. Coordination: Infrastructure for This Plant

PHASE 3 - DISRUPTION (Global Impact)

12. Commitment: Having Follow-Through as You Plant

13. Coin: Faith for Finances

14. Constancy: Protecting the Plant from Diversions

15. Continuation: Raising up the New Disruptors

CONCLUSION

16. Canvas: Jesus’ Model of Impact - Church Unleashed

17. Challenge: Paul, Apostle of Love

18. Coda: God’s Glory Rests on the Church

APPENDIX Five Stones Church: Our Start-Up Story and a Little Beyond Free Church Planting Boot Camp References

Biography

Rich Kao has been in pastoral and church planting ministry for nearly thirty years. He was Senior Pastor of City Hill Fellowship in Minneapolis, Minnesota, before founding Five Stones Church in Vancouver, British Columbia. Rich has been involved in a variety of start-ups, humanitarian and leadership ventures, and business concerns. He is a member of the Cabinet of Canadians, and has served the Harper administration and presently the Trudeau administration on issues of religious freedom and human rights. Rich also leads the Five Stones church planting team, with a focus on planting churches in global cities around the world. He is a frequent conference speaker in Asia. Prior to being in ministry Rich worked in the diagnostic and pharmaceutical industries, holding research positions at Kallestad Labs (Hoffman-La Roche) and 3M Co. He is currently a director with Measurement Technology Laboratories in Minneapolis, Minnesota, a high-tech company specializing in air quality measurement. He is also Founder and President of a new green company, Hive City, a design studio that specializes in green event architecture, retail elements, and custom branding by utilizing repurposed paperboard. He has a B.A. in Biology from Carleton College, an M.S. in Immunology from the University of Minnesota, and a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership (D.SL) from Regent University.

This is a massive work. Rich Kao has prepared an education in a box for future church planters. Having planted six church, I truly understand the dynamics behind every detail which Rich has written about. I also believe churches will take their staffs through this book to instil and inspire the apostolic passion contained in this book. This could be a game changer.

  • Jerry Daley, Pastor and Church Planter, JerryDaley.com

It's been a great honor to plant churches and do apostolic work with Rich Kao in some of the most "impossible" places. In each location Rich brought wisdom and innovation to diverse people groups. This book will help both seasoned church planters and first timers. His twelve keys are brilliant, well proven and most likely what you need to unlock your city and region to bring forth "fruit that remains."

  • Ron Lewis, Sr. Leader, Every Nation NYC; Church planter in 20 nations

I have known, respected, and served with Rich Kao for over 20 years. There is not a man I know who is more open to proactively growing in the areas of faith, flexibility, innovation, pioneering, and leadership. These traits, along with his wealth of experience, culminate in this challenging, insightful and impactful book. I would highly recommend this book not only to current church planters and church planters in training, but to anyone called to positions of leadership within Jesus' Church.

  • Ben Goodman, Pastor of Leadership Development, Manna Church; Oversight Team, Truebridge Network