HELPING YOU LAUNCH STRATEGICALLY

A digital guide to our church planting journey from start to launch day and beyond.

When we planted, it felt like we had to start from scratch and custom-build every doc, form, and team training resource from zero. To help you start ahead of the curve and anticipate admin headaches, our team has created this page featuring every church planting resource VC has developed. From our first sermon series to admin forms to job descriptions to team training outlines, it's all available to download for free.

The content below is divided into eight progressive units, each with group exercises to facilitate team discussion and strategic planning. If you are starting a church planting journey, we encourage you to begin with Unit 1.

Each image below represents a digital file you must “click” to download.

Founding Documents

VC Branding Kit

There are many great graphic designers willing to help church startups create branding kits. If you need help with this, ask your friends for recommendations.

San Marcos Demographics Study

If you, or the members of your launch team, are moving into a new area or city to plant a church, then you should study its demographics in detail to better understand its industry, culture, and defining characteristics. A source to help you with this is www.city-data.com.

Church Constitution & Bylaws

If you intend to register your church as an official 501(c)(3), which we recommend, then you will have to draft your own founding documents. To download a Word doc of ours, click here.

UNIT 1 - STRATEGIC PLANNING

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

Potential Outline of a Strategic Launch Plan

As you work to create your own Strategic Launch Plan, here is an outline to help you get started.

VC Strategic Launch Plan

This is the Strategic Launch Plan VC developed and used in preparation of launching in the Spring of 2019.

UNIT 2 - THINKING STRATEGICALLY ABOUT LAUNCH DAY

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

As you consider when to launch, remember this: There is no such thing as the "perfect" launch date. When considering the date of your launch, don't get stuck comparing yourself with outside church launches and unwisely attempt to replicate the exact model of others. Lean into your unique context, borrow best practices, and do your best to be strategic and spirit-led.

Though there are dates/seasons throughout the year that may be more beneficial to utilize, it is better to identify a series of benchmarks and then launch when those benchmarks are attained.

Adding New Launch Team Members from Other Churches

As you work to build a launch team, there may be opportunities to draft a few family units from other larger churches. This should always be done ethically and through open communication with their sending pastor.

  • To view a “Transition Form” we used to help facilitate the transition of a couple from another church, click here.

Launch Team Discussion Guides

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

As you anticipate your launch day, think strategically about each of the items in this checklist. Discuss them with your team. Write down a “Vision Map” together with your team that outlines what you hope to accomplish. Pray over this checklist. Expect God to show up and bless your efforts!

Links to Resources to Utilize in Launch Team Development

  • Planting with Strategy - A handout we created for our launch team members to help communicate our philosophy about the launch process.

  • The VC Launch Team “Getting Started” Handbook - A short booklet we printed for all new launch team members.

  • The Dream Team 101 - A 4-part video series developed to onboard new launch team members. In the early days, we called our launch team “the dream team.”

  • Launch Strong ebook - A free digital resource from an organization called Exponential that was helpful to us in cultivating vision about church planting.

Books we recommend for launch team development

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

As a member of a church planting team, you must be fully invested in reaching new people in your city. You must cultivate a vision, a strategy, and a plan to win others to God.

Links to Sermons/Lessons on Personal Evangelism

Books we recommend for evangelism/disciple-making training

Our Pre-Launch Promo Video

One of our pre-launch interest meetings

Early VC Small Groups Before Launch

After a year of interest meetings, Bible studies, small groups, and monthly worship services Victory Chapel launched on April 21, 2019 at the San Marcos Rec Hall in the heart of San Marcos.

After a 5,000-piece Egg Hunt Celebration in the park, we gathered in the Rec Hall to worship, pray, and cast vision for the future.

VC Launch Day Docs

VC Launch Day: April 21, 2019

UNIT 3 - GETTING REAL ABOUT LIFE AFTER LAUNCH

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

Turning Your Launch Plan into a 3-5 Year Strategic Growth Plan

Planning, vision-casting, and goal-setting do not end on Launch Day. Download this discussion guide and learn how to develop a future growth plan for your church after launch.

VC Strategic Growth Plan

This is one of the many Strategic Growth plans VC used to help guide and navigate its future.

Sunday evening church in the first facility we rented after launch

UNIT 4 - STRATEGIC PRAYER

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

Prayer is the lifeblood of spiritual leadership, and you will not grow a powerful church without it. As a team, strive to cultivate a culture of prayer and emphasize your personal devotion over achieving public results.

Early Lessons Taught on Prayer

Our Motto: Victory Begins Here

UNIT 5 - STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

Strategic Planning Reference Guides

An outline of two strategic planning reference guides: SECURE Your Strategy and SMART goals.

UNIT 6 - THE PEOPLE FACTOR

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

In church planting, success and vision fulfillment hinges primarily on the people involved. People can make church planting an exciting and wonderful process, but they can also make it a very heavy and laborious ordeal. If you are involved on a church planting team in any capacity, you must be willing to improve your people skills.

Resources to help cultivate emotional/relational intelligence & self-awareness

UNIT 7 - STAYING HEALTHY

Team Discussion Guide

Download and use to spark discussion with your launch team.

No matter what results you do or don’t have, you must determine to stay healthy on a personal level. You must keep a close eye on how you are doing personally, spiritually, and emotionally. Don’t be afraid to step away every once in a while and recharge. Cultivate health and well-being in your marriage and family. Prioritize your role as a parent over your role as a church leader. As you reach for short-term goals, keep long-term targets in mind.

  • Next Level Leadership - An online video course we filmed to teach our team principles of leadership longevity.

Resources we recommend on personal health & well-being

3 Things we would do differently

Remodel of our first facility lease downtown

Our 2-Year Anniversary Video

UNIT 8 - MISC ADMIN DOCS