If you are planning on starting a new ministry, keep in mind that without the proper resources, it can be time consuming and stressful. Obviously, with all that's at stake, you wouldn't want to do this without good planning and plenty of good information, rather than theory.

What are some of the more common questions you should ask yourself about the new ministry? Should you incorporate or file a 501c3 tax exemption recognition application? Do you subscribe to the notion that doing so creates state run churches, or do you see it as nothing more than a philosophical difference among otherwise good Christian people.

These are important questions when starting a new ministry, because once you do it, it's not something you want to change the following day. At the same time, choosing not to incorporate or file a 501c3 application, for example, may involve consequences you're not willing to face.

Another very important aspect of starting a church is the consideration of religious authority. You will have some decisions to make about legal and religious authority. I'm sure it won't surprise you to learn that many church leaders out there don't know what this means, and therefore, don't implement it to protect their churches.

And then there's the issue of policies and procedures and training, particularly for non-ministry staff, officers, administrators, board members and volunteers. There is much to know when starting a new ministry that you can't afford to leave it to your intuition or secular service providers.

After all, what business do people, whose biblical convictions you know nothing about, have suggesting they should help with starting a new ministry? It's just not something that should be done.

For expert assistance with starting a new church, you can't go wrong with the gold standard currently in use by hundreds of church start-ups throughout he country. It's called Building On Faith: Everything You Need To Know About Starting Your Own Church. And it's written by Abe Hernandez, Esq., a devoted Christian and church law expert.