We as Southern Baptists have started so many churches that NAMB does not have enough funds to fully support the hundreds of church plants that are launched each year.  That is why partners are so important to the process. 

   A church plant that is made up of brand new Christians takes much longer to become self supporting because all those new Christians have to be taught to become tithers, and in our experience, that takes about five years.  Therefore, outside funding is required for at least that long for a church to be self sufficient with a full time pastor.  We would ask that you or your church be willing to partner for one to three years at least.  Three to five years would really get the new church on solid footing.