📝 Worksheet 8.5 — Map Possible Locations for Micro Church or Soul Center Development

Purpose of This Worksheet

Topic 8 explored how churches can multiply ministry beyond the main worship service through micro churches, house churches, daughter churches, and Soul Centers. These ministry expressions can help a local church reach homes, neighborhoods, families, unreached communities, and new leaders with prayer, Scripture, hospitality, discipleship, and gospel witness.

This worksheet will help you prayerfully map possible locations, leaders, and first steps for developing a micro church, house church, daughter church, or Soul Center.

The goal is not to launch everything immediately.

The goal is to notice where God may already be opening doors.

Part 1 — Start With Prayerful Discernment

Before filling out the map, take a few moments to pray.

Ask:

Lord, where are you already at work?
Who are you calling us to notice?
Which homes, neighborhoods, families, or communities may be ready for Christian presence?
Who in our church may be ready to host, lead, or support a new ministry expression?

Prayer Notes

Part 2 — Identify Possible Ministry Locations

Check any locations where a micro church, house church, daughter church, or Soul Center could possibly develop.

Homes and Neighborhoods

☐ A church member’s home
☐ A retired couple’s home
☐ A young family’s home
☐ A widow or widower’s home
☐ An apartment complex
☐ A rural neighborhood
☐ A subdivision
☐ A mobile home community
☐ A farm or country property
☐ A neighborhood where several church members live nearby
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Community and Public Settings

☐ Community center
☐ Library meeting room
☐ School-adjacent setting where permitted
☐ Coffee shop or café
☐ Restaurant meeting room
☐ Park or outdoor shelter
☐ Senior center
☐ Workplace break room or meeting space where permitted
☐ College or university-adjacent setting
☐ Clubhouse or association room
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Care and Chaplaincy-Connected Settings

☐ Nursing home
☐ Assisted living community
☐ Hospital-adjacent support gathering
☐ Hospice family support setting
☐ Recovery ministry setting
☐ Grief support gathering
☐ Veterans gathering
☐ First responder support setting
☐ Funeral home relationship
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Digital or Hybrid Settings

☐ Online Bible gathering
☐ Prayer group by video call
☐ Digital discipleship group
☐ Hybrid home and online gathering
☐ Online Soul Center community
☐ Follow-up group for CLI students
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Part 3 — Name the Top Three Opportunities

From the list above, choose the three strongest possibilities.

Opportunity 1

Possible location or setting:

Why this location may be ready:

Who could be served or invited?

Is this more likely to become:

☐ Micro Church
☐ House Church
☐ Daughter Church
☐ Soul Center
☐ Unsure

Opportunity 2

Possible location or setting:

Why this location may be ready:

Who could be served or invited?

Is this more likely to become:

☐ Micro Church
☐ House Church
☐ Daughter Church
☐ Soul Center
☐ Unsure

Opportunity 3

Possible location or setting:

Why this location may be ready:

Who could be served or invited?

Is this more likely to become:

☐ Micro Church
☐ House Church
☐ Daughter Church
☐ Soul Center
☐ Unsure

Part 4 — Map People and Relationships

Most micro churches and Soul Centers begin through relationships.

List people who may be connected to each opportunity.

Look for:

• Hosts

• Natural gatherers

• Prayerful people

• Hospitality-minded people

• Mature believers

• CLI students

• CLA credentialed leaders

• Retired believers

• Young adults

• Families

• Local connectors

• People with a heart for a specific community

Part 5 — Assess Readiness

For each opportunity, mark the current readiness level.

Opportunity 1 Readiness

☐ Clear leader or host already identified
☐ Possible leader, but needs training
☐ People are already gathering informally
☐ Location is available
☐ Oversight is available
☐ Training pathway is clear
☐ More prayer and discernment needed
☐ Not ready yet

Notes:

Opportunity 2 Readiness

☐ Clear leader or host already identified
☐ Possible leader, but needs training
☐ People are already gathering informally
☐ Location is available
☐ Oversight is available
☐ Training pathway is clear
☐ More prayer and discernment needed
☐ Not ready yet

Notes:

Opportunity 3 Readiness

☐ Clear leader or host already identified
☐ Possible leader, but needs training
☐ People are already gathering informally
☐ Location is available
☐ Oversight is available
☐ Training pathway is clear
☐ More prayer and discernment needed
☐ Not ready yet

Notes:

Part 6 — Discern the Best First Step

Choose one opportunity to explore first.

The opportunity we should explore first is:

Why this opportunity seems like the best first step:

The first person or team to speak with is:

The first conversation should focus on:

☐ Calling and desire
☐ Availability
☐ Training needs
☐ Oversight and accountability
☐ Location and schedule
☐ Who could be invited
☐ Prayer and discernment
☐ Boundaries and expectations
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Part 7 — Define the Ministry Expression

Describe the possible ministry expression clearly.

Working name:

Examples:

“Northside Neighborhood Micro Church”
“Smith Home Bible Fellowship”
“Grace Harbor Soul Center”
“Tuesday Night Young Adult House Church”
“Hope and Healing Grief Gathering”

Type of ministry expression:

☐ Micro Church
☐ House Church
☐ Daughter Church
☐ Soul Center
☐ Prayer Gathering
☐ Bible Study
☐ Discipleship Group
☐ Chaplaincy Care Gathering
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Primary purpose:

☐ Worship
☐ Scripture study
☐ Prayer
☐ Fellowship
☐ Evangelism
☐ Discipleship
☐ Community care
☐ Leadership development
☐ Grief support
☐ Family ministry
☐ Young adult ministry
☐ Neighborhood outreach
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Who is this meant to reach or serve?

Where would it meet?

How often would it meet?

☐ Weekly
☐ Twice per month
☐ Monthly
☐ Seasonally
☐ Pilot gathering only
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Part 8 — Leadership and Training Plan

Potential leader or host:

Potential support team:

What training is needed before launch?

☐ Bible basics
☐ Discipleship
☐ Micro church planting
☐ Church leadership
☐ Hospitality ministry
☐ Prayer ministry
☐ Evangelism
☐ Pastoral care basics
☐ Chaplaincy foundations
☐ Life coach ministry
☐ Officiant ministry
☐ Ministry ethics and boundaries
☐ Referral awareness
☐ Safeguarding children and vulnerable adults
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Recommended CLI course or training pathway:

Mentor or oversight leader:

Part 9 — Oversight and Accountability Plan

A micro church, house church, daughter church, or Soul Center should not operate in isolation.

Oversight will come from:

☐ Pastor
☐ Elder board
☐ Deacon team
☐ Ministry director
☐ Soul Center mentor
☐ Church planting team
☐ CLA credentialed leader
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Oversight person or team:

Check-in rhythm:

☐ Weekly during launch
☐ Twice per month during launch
☐ Monthly
☐ Quarterly
☐ After each pilot gathering
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

What should be discussed during check-ins?

☐ Attendance and participation
☐ Spiritual fruit
☐ Prayer needs
☐ Teaching content
☐ Leadership challenges
☐ Boundary questions
☐ Referral concerns
☐ Conflict or relational strain
☐ Opportunities for evangelism
☐ Leader’s spiritual health
☐ Training progress
☐ Next steps

Part 10 — Boundaries and Safeguards

What is this ministry expression allowed to do?

Examples: gather for Bible study, pray by permission, host meals, invite neighbors, provide fellowship, support discipleship, encourage service, connect people to church life.

What is this ministry expression not allowed to do without further approval?

Examples: present itself as a fully independent church, handle finances, appoint leaders, teach outside the church’s doctrine, provide counseling beyond role, work with minors without safeguards, use church name publicly, perform ceremonies, start public advertising.

When should the leader contact church leadership?

What safety or safeguarding concerns must be addressed?

Part 11 — Simple Gathering Plan

Create a simple plan for the first gathering or pilot season.

First gathering date or target month:

Location:

Who will be invited first?

Simple gathering rhythm:

☐ Welcome and refreshments
☐ Meal
☐ Opening prayer
☐ Scripture reading
☐ Guided discussion
☐ Testimony or life updates
☐ Prayer requests
☐ Prayer by permission
☐ Worship song or hymn
☐ Fellowship
☐ Invitation to next gathering
☐ Connection to Sunday worship or church life
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Scripture passage for first gathering:

Main discussion question:

Closing prayer focus:

Part 12 — First 90-Day Development Plan

Days 1–30 — Pray, Discern, and Invite

☐ Pray with church leadership.
☐ Identify the first opportunity.
☐ Speak with the possible leader or host.
☐ Clarify purpose and setting.
☐ Begin recommended CLI training.
☐ Identify oversight person or team.
☐ Draft a simple gathering plan.
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Notes:

Days 31–60 — Train, Prepare, and Pilot

☐ Continue training.
☐ Review boundaries and safeguards.
☐ Invite a small group of people.
☐ Hold one pilot gathering.
☐ Debrief with oversight leader.
☐ Adjust the gathering plan.
☐ Pray for people being invited.
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Notes:

Days 61–90 — Evaluate and Decide Next Steps

☐ Hold one or two additional gatherings.
☐ Review spiritual fruit and challenges.
☐ Check leader health and readiness.
☐ Clarify whether this should continue.
☐ Decide if more training is needed.
☐ Consider future commissioning.
☐ Explore Soul Center or daughter church pathway if appropriate.
☐ Other: ___________________________________________

Notes:

Part 13 — Final Ministry Map Summary

Complete the summary.

Ministry expression we may develop:

Location:

People to reach or serve:

Potential leader or host:

Training needed:

Oversight person or team:

First gathering or pilot step:

90-day goal:

Closing Prayer

Lord Jesus,

You are the head of the church and the Lord of the harvest. Thank you for gathering your people and sending your people.

Open our eyes to homes, neighborhoods, families, communities, and leaders we may have overlooked. Help us see where your Spirit may already be preparing a new ministry expression.

Give us courage to multiply and wisdom to do it with order. Protect us from control that buries calling. Protect us from carelessness that harms people. Teach us to train, endorse, commission, and oversee leaders with humility and faithfulness.

May our homes become places of prayer.
May our neighborhoods hear the gospel.
May our church become a sending center.
May more Christian leaders be raised up.
May micro churches, house churches, daughter churches, and Soul Centers develop only where they can honor you and serve people well.

Use our church to spread Christianity through faithful, trained, accountable leaders.

In Jesus’ name, amen.