Church Planting
Nashville: A Growing City with Cultural Vibrancy and Spiritual Opportunity
From Broadway to Franklin to Hendersonville to Bellevue, Nashville is recognized as a hub of culture, famously known as Music City, USA, where country, rock n’ roll, pop, Americana, folk, hip-hop, and various other music genres are created and recorded.
The city is home to vital industries, including 500 healthcare companies, multiple Universities and a growing and vibrant downtown with an ever-changing skyline and burgeoning population. Our city hosts the highest concentration of music industry jobs in the U.S., totaling over 80,000. It is a national and international transportation hub with rail and highway networks and an expanding international airport. The Information and Technology sectors continue to grow with the upcoming relocation of tech giant Oracle to the East Bank development which will be near the new 2.2 billion dollar Tennessee Titans Football Stadium.
The city has 500 healthcare companies, multiple universities, and a vibrant downtown with a ever-changing skyline. It hosts the highest concentration of music industry jobs in the U.S., serves as a national transportation hub, and features extensive rail and highway networks, along with an expanding international airport. The booming information and technology sectors are benefiting from Oracle’s move to East Bank near the new $2.2 billion Titans Stadium.
The greater Nashville area boasts a population exceeding 2 million with census data projecting an increase of 56.1% over the next thirty years. As we grow in size we are also increasing in diversity. Nashville is home to the largest group of Kurdish nationals along with burgeoning Spanish and Pan-Asian populations. We are truly an international city.
While Nashville is a growing, vibrant, and creative metropolitan area research indicates:
- 75% of Nashville’s residents are not currently engaged with any local church.
- The number of residents participating in faith communities has also declined by 10% over the last decade.
- The growing population increasingly consists of individuals with no church background.
Despite all the growth, enthusiasm and energy, our city residents rank 8% below national norms in terms of wellbeing. Many in our city face housing and employment stresses, many of our urban and near urban neighborhoods are transitioning. People are demonstrating true spiritual hunger and a desire for community which is leading to openness in considering an invitation to attend Church.
Together, all of these realities point to a significant need to plant a wide variety of churches in the urban core, neighborhoods and communities throughout greater Nashville.
While Nashville is a growing, vibrant, and creative metropolitan area research indicates:
- 75% of Nashville’s residents are not currently engaged with any local church.
- The number of residents participating in faith communities has also declined by 10% over the last decade.
- The growing population increasingly consists of individuals with no church background.
Despite all the growth, enthusiasm and energy, our city residents rank 8% below national norms in terms of wellbeing. Many in our city face housing and employment stresses, many of our urban and near urban neighborhoods are transitioning. People are demonstrating true spiritual hunger and a desire for community which is leading to openness in considering an invitation to attend Church.
Together, all of these realities point to a significant need to plant a wide variety of churches in the urban core, neighborhoods and communities throughout greater Nashville.
Our Process
Assessment
Our pre-assessment tools and the assessment retreat are valuable in helping a church planter and his family as well as the Sending Church know the best next steps on their church planting journey.
Orientation
This event is an encouraging and culture-building time of networking, inspiration, and fun where you will learn more about the Send Network kingdom values of family, multiplication and restoration.
Training
Learn alongside other new planters in your area in interactive sessions facilitated by an experienced trainer. This training gives you the tools you will need to develop and implement a contextual strategy for making disciples and planting.
Coaching
With extensive ministry experience and wisdom, a coach serves as a personal sounding board in your first years as a church planter. He will walk alongside you to help you determine your next steps in planting a healthy church that multiplies.
Care
Church planting should not be pursued alone. It takes compassion and support to help a planter and his wife establish a healthy church while nurturing family relationships. We come alongside you with resources, events, and gifts to encourage you and your family.