How are churches planted?

     There is no one method to planting a new church. Some specialists claim there are as many as 30 methods. These range from a parent church "hiving" off a large group of members to a planter arriving in a town an knocking on doors. There is one method with gathers a crowd then builds a core, and another which builds a core before gathering a crowd. The exact method used will depend on many factors, and should be chosen only after careful consideration of the planters gifts, theology, philosophy of ministry, and more. The planter should seek much wise counsel and prayer support.

Who can be a church planter?

One assessment expert, Dr. Charles Ridley, lists 13 qualities necessary for effective church planters. They are,

1)   Visioning capacity

2)   Intrinsically motivated

3)   Creates ownership of ministry

4)   Relates to the unchurched                   

5)   Spousal cooperation,

    6) Effectively builds relationships,

    7) Committed to church growth,

    8) Responsive to the community,

    9) Utilizes giftedness of others,

  10) Flexible  and adaptable,

  11) Builds group cohesiveness,

  12) Resilience,

  13) Exercises faith.

     The Church Planting Office of the EFCA suggests that ten leading indicators of a church planter are

1)   A clear sense of God's call,

2)   A visionary leader,

3)   A starter/gatherer,

4)   Communication skills,

5)   Evangelistic Skills

6)   People Skills,

7)   Team Building Skills,

8)   Church planting skills ..namely, you have learned                    and understand the basic principles and processes of church planting&

9)   Emotional maturity, and

10)Right chemistry&in the case of the EFCA, you fit with the doctrine and distinctives.

What steps should I take?

As a potential church planter in the Pacific Northwest District, we will have you undergo a series of assessment interviews after the church-planters boot camp to help us in

1)   determining if God has called you to be a church planter, and

2)   commissioning you into a plant project with adequate training, coaching support, and resources.

3)   We will connect you up with the Regional Overseer in the area where you fill God is leading you to plant. We strongly desire the EFCA churches in the Region where the church will be planted to be a supportive and resource giving part of the plant.

We ask for your help in the following ways:

*Establish a personal file at http://ministerconnection.net/

(see instructions under Placement). Whether you are interested in planting or more conventional ministry placement, this tool is essential as a first step in assessment.

*Pursue a broad spectrum of assessment to assist you and us in determining if God is in fact calling you to plant a church. In addition to the attending a church planting boot camp and working through the church planters toolkit. The Ministry Match and Counse laid assessments need to be taken (see placement page). You might also consider such tools as MBTI, Myers-Brigg, DiSC, etc. For additional suggestions, feel free to contact our church planting consultant Steve Elliott at steve@westerndistrict.org or the national Church Planting director, George Klippenes at churchplanting@efca.org

*Develop a Church Planting Proposal. The most effective tool in this process has proven to be The Church Planters Toolkit by Robert Logan. It can be obtained at Next Step Resources at 1-800-444-2665 or online at http://www.nsresources.com/

How can the Pacific Northwest District help?

     The primary role of the Pacific Northwest District is one of facilitation, assessment, and resourcing and coaching. As you move forward in establishing a personal file, obtaining assessment, and developing a church planting proposal, we are ready to work with you in finalizing details, choosing a target community, partnering with existing churches, and securing the adequate resource network.

Church planting boot camp:

The Midwest District joins with other districts in the EFCA in offering the Church Planter's Bootcamp, a première training event several times a year in select locations around the country.

The four-day intensive Bootcamp experience is led by experienced church planters who serve as instructors and coaches. Spouses of church planters are encouraged to attend.

The curriculum, which includes hands-on learning activities, is designed to provide practical instruction in subjects covering the essential skills and knowledge needed in the first two crucial years of a new church.

Day one covers preparation issues including an apologetic for church planting, the essential skills needed in a planter, spiritual preparation including building a prayer team, family preparation, and emotional preparation.

Day two covers conception issues including clarifying your values, targeting your ministry focus group, defining your mission, focusing vision, designing your ministry flow chart, and building a shared vision.

Day three covers prenatal issues including building your launch team, building through evangelism, building through preview services, building through small groups, assimilation, and a panel discussion with experienced church planters.

Day four covers birth and launching issues including creating good first impressions, money and ministry foundations, developing inspiring worship services, church health foundations, and developing a ministry action plan.

In addition to the above subjects, focus groups are utilized, as are times of corporate worship, fellowship and prayer. The participant will also benefit from coaching during the Bootcamp experience. Bootcamp is most beneficial to the planter who has completed the EFCA Church Planter Assessment process and who has also completed a draft church planting proposal. Seminary credit is available to those interested.

The EFCA also offers Spanish language Bootcamps twice a year.

Scholarship money is available for Pacific Northwest District planters who need help in covering the costs of Bootcamp. Please contact the Steve Elliot at steve@westerndistrict.org if you are interested in attending the next EFCA Church Planter's Bootcamp.

www.CoachNet.org

This web site edited by Bob Logan is the most complete church planting resource available. It provides on-line access to worksheets and church planting tools on church planting and church health available elsewhere in hardcopy. This is a subscription-based Internet resource.

Churches Planting Churches by Robert Logan and Steve Ogne (Carol Stream, IL: ChurchSmart Resources , 1995)

This training tool and notebook is the best resource available for guiding a parent church through the steps it takes to plant daughter churches.

Church Planters Toolkit by Robert Logan and Steve Ogne (Carol Stream, IL: ChurchSmart Resources , 1995)

This is the standard training and equipping resource for the church planter. It includes cassette training tapes and worksheets and covers the first two years of new church development. Every church planter should own it and use it.

Developing a Vision for Ministry in the 21st Century by Aubrey Malphurs ,(Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1992) provides principles, guidelines and worksheets for developing a compelling vision for the church. 

The Purpose-Driven Church by Rick Warren (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1995)

Rick Warren has written a principle-based story of a purpose-driven church that provides great practical help for the church planter and new church. This is a great book to read and discuss with new church leadership.

Releasing Your Church's Potential by Robert Logan and Thomas Clegg (Carol Stream, IL: ChurchSmart Resources , 1998)

This companion resource to the Church Planters Toolkit focuses on church health based on the paradigm found in Christian Schwarz's Natural Church Development . It features cassette training tapes, worksheets and application guides for each of NCD's measures of church health.

Values-Driven Leadership by Aubrey Malphurs (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1996)

Malphurs guides the reader through the process of crafting core values for the local church. This is a practical, hands-on resource for the church planter and his leadership team.