Harvestlab

church planting

Planting a church is bold.Doing it alone is risky.

Church planting isn’t just about passion—it’s about preparation. From building your core team to finding financial footing, from spiritual burnout to strategic clarity, the early years of a church plant can feel like holy chaos. As you take up the challnege and begin blazing a trail forward, remember... you weren’t meant to walk this road alone.

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who we are

What Is HarvestLab?

In its simplest terms, it is what I wish I had 3 years ago when I first started as a church planter. When I started, I was chomping at the bit to get going, but as time marched on in that first year, I started feeling:• Isolation
• Decision fatigue
• Duty overwhelm
• Relational strain
• Insecurity due to lack of consistent mentorship
• A creeping fear: “Am I the only one struggling like this?”

That’s why I’m building HarvestLab—because no one should plant a church alone.
This is more than a resource hub; it’s a movement of like-minded planters and sending churches, locking arms to pursue the Great Commission together. HarvestLab equips you with the tools, training, and tribe you need to thrive—not just survive—in the trenches of church planting.Whether you’re in the dreaming phase, preparing to launch, or knee-deep in your third building campaign, HarvestLab is your equipping community that will help you build wisely, lead confidently, and avoid common pitfalls that derail new church plants.

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church planting

Why It Matters

Church planting is rewarding—but it’s also hard. Consider:• Over 60% of church plants close their doors within the first four years.
• Isolation, financial stress, and unclear mission are top reasons for burnout.Consider the following stats...

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Planting & Closure Trends

• New Church Plants: Approximately 4,000 churches are planted annually in the U.S.• Church Closures: Each year, about 3,700 churches close, resulting in a net gain of only 300 churches per year, which is insufficient to keep up with population growth and spiritual needs.• Projected Needs: To meet future demands, it’s estimated that 8,000 to 12,000 new churches need to be planted annually.

• see the stats

Common Challenges

• Startup Costs: The average church plant launches with around $135,000 in funding, correlating with initial attendance figures.• Financial Insecurity: Many church planters experience financial stress, with a significant number reporting feelings of financial insecurity during the startup phase.• Leadership Issues: Moral failures or deficiencies in character among church planters have led to the closure of some church plants.• Contextual Misalignment: A mismatch between the church’s strategy or the planter’s approach and the local culture can hinder growth and sustainability.• Resource Limitations: Insufficient time, funding, or support can prevent a church plant from reaching critical mass or achieving financial sustainability.

• see common pitfalls

Fermentum et

Tools

Many pastors launch with a heart full of vision but a toolbox that’s half empty.HarvestLab was born to change that.Tools To Share:
• Video Series that teaches you everything from Clarifying Your Calling and Foundation Setting to Training Volunteers and Raising up Leaders.• Access to dozens of standard document templates that you can download and customize for your church. Never start from scratch again!• Yearly Roadmaps to keep you on course.• Mastermind videos from leading experts to guide and inspire.• Access to automations so you can focus on what is most important... preaching the Word and shepherding the flock.• Review of various software systems so you can make the best selection for your unique situation.• + much more!

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effective

Community

Having access to high-quality teaching videos, templates, and tools is invaluable—but the real power of HarvestLab goes far deeper. What truly sets it apart is the vibrant community of like-minded trailblazers, pioneers, and church planters who are walking the same road. This isn’t just a platform—it’s a people. You won’t have to navigate the challenges of church planting in isolation. Instead, you’ll be surrounded by others who share your heart, understand your obstacles, and are ready to encourage, collaborate, and build alongside you. At HarvestLab, the tools equip you—but the community carries you.

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the online tribe

SKOOL

Get ready—because this isn’t just another online platform. HarvestLab is hosted on Skool, an innovative, gamified ecosystem designed to make collaboration exciting, rewarding, fun, and effective.Here, every time you help a fellow church planter, share insight, or ask a great question, you earn points that unlock exclusive content, status badges, custom avatar backgrounds, and early access to new tools.And here’s the kicker: the most engaged and generous collaborators can unlock a free lifetime membership!This is more than access—it’s belonging in a one-of-a-kind community where the contributions actually shape the experience. Skool makes HarvestLab come alive—and you’ve never been part of anything quite like it.

• How to access