What we learned the first six months

• Begin a prayer network as soon as you have a core group.  Encourage each person in your core group to develop a prayer network and share weekly or monthly updates.
• Begin early to envision the type of children's ministry you want.  Getting a quality children's ministry off the ground is a hurculean task and takes months of planning so start early and stay with it.  Develop a comprehensive worker screening program for all volunteers.
• Realize that if you are reaching the unchurched, your church will have a vacuum of leadership and you need to plan for a means to train new believers in the basics of the faith and how to grow in their faith.  Also consider developing a leadership training program so that you constantly have a flow of leaders to assume responsibility for new ministries.
• Do ministries that have contact with the unchurched.  We did several service projects early on that got us in touch with people in the community.  Think about the largest events in your community and come up with creative ways to have a ministry presence there.  We did a diaper changing station at a 4th of July event and had access to thousands of people for free.  Remember when the kids got to go he's got to go and at festivals there is really no good place to take care of this little necessity!