Published Oct 23, 2020
The Process
Count the Cost was developed by California Southern Baptist Convention Executive Director Bill Agee to assist healthy churches, churches needing revitalization, and new church plants.
The process is based on Luke 14:28: “For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not sit down first and count the cost, whether he has enough to finish it…”
Benefits to Churches
Count the Cost helps churches get ahead by providing a glimpse into the future, showing potential dangers, and helping map out a plan to achieve the vision. By using Count the Cost, a church will not only know what they are starting with and what they hope to end with, but they also see what the middle looks like, according to Agee. “If you know what the middle looks like, the entire church planting or revitalization process is easier.”
Areas covered by Count the Cost include determining the current reality of the church, dreaming where the church could be in five years, a month-by-month plan to get to that dream, and consulting to address the first rock keeping the congregation from growing.
Three of the greatest deliverables from completing a Count the Cost plan are:
- A month-to-month breakdown of where God can take you on the journey.
- A growth plan, based on projections, detailing how many relationships must be established and when, and how many church leaders need to be trained for service and when.
- A monthly consultant phone call to help you keep on track with your plan
Agee noted Count the Cost is comprehensive so “nothing catches you by surprise; you can see the numbers from start to finish.”
To start the Count the Cost process with your church, apply here. Our team will follow up with you directly.