Are Church Planting Movements Bad?

About this episode

This episode explores the debate around Church Planting Movements and their implications for missions.

Can church planting be done wrong? This episode of The Missions Show explores the debate around Church Planting Movements (CPMs), interacting with a Lausanne article that presents them as a highly effective missions strategy. Alex Kocman and Scott Dunford explain what CPMs are and why they generate both enthusiasm and concern, especially regarding their emphasis on rapid multiplication and minimal training. Alex and Scott raise key theological and practical questions about doctrine, discipleship, and the definition of the church. While affirming the desire for gospel growth, they caution against prioritizing speed and numbers over biblical faithfulness, urging listeners to focus on sound doctrine and trust God for lasting fruit. Key Topics: What Church Planting Movements (CPMs) are Why CPMs are controversial in missions Speed vs. depth in discipleship and church growth The importance of doctrinal accountability Evaluating success beyond numbers We recently made some upgrades to our studio and we needed a table that didn't just look good on camera, but could handle the demands of a production studio. That's why we partnered with Oak Park Tables. Oak Park Tables, located right near…

People in this episode

Hosts: Alex Kocman, Scott Dunford

Topics covered

• Church Planting Movements
• missions strategy
• theological questions
• discipleship
• doctrinal accountability
• church growth

Keywords

• Church Planting Movements
• CPMs
• gospel growth
• discipleship
• doctrine
• church definition
• multiplication
• biblical faithfulness

Sponsors

Oak Park Tables

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Lausanne

More episodes of The Missions Show

• What 40 Years of Church Planting Can Teach Us · June 7, 2026 · 29 min
• Listener Letter – When Spouses Disagree on Missional Calling · May 31, 2026 · 29 min
• Bringing Masculinity Back to Missions With Chase Davis · May 24, 2026 · 29 min
• Crisis Response and First Responder Ministry · May 17, 2026 · 29 min
• How Missionaries Transform Cultures · May 10, 2026 · 29 min
• Engaging Islam with the Truth of the Trinity With Dr. Imad Shehadeh · May 3, 2026 · 29 min