The impetus for church planting comes from the instructions that the risen Lord Jesus gave to his disciples before he ascended into heaven. The words may be familiar to us, but they remain the marching orders for every church:

And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18–20 ESV)

It is significant that Jesus’ disciples responded to his command, not by setting up schools or hospitals or soup kitchens (though those can all be good things to do), but rather by planting new churches.