In 1998, my wife and I moved to Virginia Beach, Virginia, to plant BridgeChurch. At that time, we were quite inexperienced in church planting. While we had the passion and vision to start a church, we lacked the necessary wisdom. However, God granted us great grace, and now, 28 years later, Bridge has grown into a multi-campus church that reaches thousands each week.

Reflecting on our journey, I realize that we could have benefited from more resources to effectively build our launch team. Focusing on the launch team i s crucial in the early stages of planting a new church or establishing a new campus. Let's explore some best practices for discovering, developing, and deploying the launch team for successful church planting and campus expansion.

When you're planting a church, there's a strong temptation to move fast-find a space, start services, and hope people show up. But the real work of planting begins long before opening Sunday. The foundation of your future church is the core team-the small group of committed people who will share the vision, shoulder the load, and shape the culture from day one.

Clarify the Vision Before You Gather the People

Before building a team, you need something worth joining. Your clarity will attract commitment. Ask yourself:

• Why this church?

• Why now?

• Why here?

These aren't abstract questions-they define your story and mission. Be able to communicate your vision in a few sentences that connect with real people's hopes and needs. If your city doesn't know why you're planting, your team won't either.

Example: Instead of saying, "We're planting a church that loves God and loves people," try "We're starting a neighborhood church in Virginia Beach that helps families find faith, friendship, and purpose in everyday life." Vision clarity beats visionary clichés every time.

Start With Relationships, Not Roles

Your first few team members will probably be people you already know-friends, family, coworkers, or others who share your burden for the city. Don't start by recruiting positions ("We need a worship leader and a kids' director"). Start by inviting people into the story.

Share what God's put on your heart, then listen to what's stirring in theirs. You're not just assembling volunteers; you're building a spiritual family. Early conversations should focus on calling, not job descriptions.

Once trust is built, roles can develop naturally based on gifts and passion. A culture of chemistry and unity is always stronger than a list of assignments.

Define Your Core Team DNA

Before your church ever meets publicly, your core team will define its DNA-the values, attitudes, and spiritual posture others will later imitate. Take time t o shape these rhythms together.

Have regular gatherings focused on:

• Prayer and worship. Pray for your community by name and for one another's needs.

• Vision casting. Revisit the "why" behind the church until everyone can share it with conviction.

• Team meals. Fellowship builds family faster than meetings do.

• Training. Teach the basics of discipleship, servant leadership, and mission.

Think of this stage as your church before the church. How you pray, talk, and serve together now will set the tone for years to come.

Give Ownership Early

People stay committed when they feel trusted. Instead o f doing everything yourself, share ownership of key areas-even when it's messy.

Example: Let one couple lead the hospitality efforts for core team nights. Ask another to coordinate prayer walks. Invite someone else to oversee communications or outreach.

Empowering your team multiplies leadership capacity and transforms "helping you" into "we're doing this together." Ownership turns vision carriers into vision creators.

Communicate Often and With Honesty

Every new work has a mix o f excitement and uncertainty. Keep your team in the loop often-weekly, if possible. Celebrate answered prayers, share challenges openly, and remind everyone of progress made.

When people understand the why behind decisions, trust grows. When they feel heard, loyalty strengthens. Over-communication beats under-communication every time.

A helpful rhythm: end every meeting with three questions:

1. What are we celebrating?

2 . What challenges do we need to pray over?

3. What's next for us this week?

Build Momentum Toward a Launch Date

As your team matures, begin to shift from forming t o mobilizing. Start practicing what you'll soon do publicly-hosting preview services, community events, or service projects. These experiences unite your team and give your community a picture of what's coming.

Keep reinforcing that your church isn't launching to host services-it's launching to serve people. A launch date is not the finish line; it's the starting gun.

Don’t Rush the Process

Every healthy core team takes time. Resist the urge to compare your timeline with others. A strong, Spirit-led group of 25 committed people can accomplish more than 100 loosely connected ones. Depth first, then width.

Remember, Jesus spent three years building His "core team" before sending them out. The strength of their mission rested on the depth of their relationship.

Commit to Learning

If you are interested in church planting or desire to multiply through expanding through the multi-campus model, I want to personally invite you to the 'Church Planting Intensive' that will be held in Virginia Beach, Virginia, May 13th-15. At the 'Intensive', you will be equipped with the tools that you need for a successful campus or church launch. You can register at HERE. Destiny Network is partnering with HGM Churches to expand the Kingdom of God through church planting and campus expansion. I look forward to seeing you there.