It it like in china where the churches need to be underground, i.e. in peoples homes and not visible to authorities or govt interference.
I dont have any idea of how people go about building or planting churches, where there arent any before but it seems to me for new churches here people just rented out places where people could gather and then eventually bought them and turned them into church spaces or places of worship. Thats why newer churches tend to be in warehouses or industrial places, or held in school halls, even abandoned movie theatres.
When land was cheaper back in the day it was easier to pool money together to buy land and build a church building, but it still took years to pay off the mortgage on that building. However the freedom people have to worship in one place once that is paid off forever is invaluable. That means that community always has somewhere to go. Its just the maintenance costs that need to be borne I guess, so always count the cost before you start. The churches I knkw were built at the time the suburb was being developed. So they are about 60 years old. There might have already been older churches there but as the population grew they needed more.
How would you look for christian leaders though. Isnt everyone who believes a servant and willing to contribute. The church isnt just built by one person and Jesus, who is the head says he will build His church. We just follow him. Has God given you this timeline of ten years, if He has He will provide.
Im trying to think whether the pastors I know grew up in the area they pastor, for us in nz it seems people get trained in bible college etc and get sent to wherever a parish needs a minister. Actually yes one pastor did grow up in the church he now pastors although he pastored elsewhere before. The senior pastor came from another town down south. The other pastor I know in a different church was trained also down south. He grew up in the suburb nearby but he was born overseas. But they came to pastor churches already established. There is a bible college up the road from me. It was foundered by a christian businessman who had the vision to establish one there, he had owned the biggest department store in the country. But those pastors I know didnt study there, however lots of ministers get trained there. Its non denominational, wheras the ones the pastors I know went to are affiliated with established denoms.
So possibly the area needs to be evangelised FIRST before you send out ministers. I dont know, thats how they did it in book of Acts anyway, people just met in homes and they preached in synagogues. I dont know if you would be allowed to preach in hindu temples etc, but maybe the schools that are there already? Or hospitals or orphanages.
