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9 Essentials for Church Planters
The “9 Essentials of a Faithful and Effective Church Planter” is a framework for assessment, training, coaching, and resourcing church planters. Here is a quick overview.
The “9 Essentials of a Faithful and Effective Church Planter” is a framework for assessment, training, coaching, and resourcing church planters. Here is a quick overview.
Every sport has metrics for what makes an ideal athlete. Speed, wingspan, IQ, mechanics, and so forth contribute to an athlete’s effectiveness. These metrics also serve as areas for growth in an athlete’s journey. Everyone needs development. No one expects a rookie to play like an all-star on day one; players undergo training and development. For example, if a basketball player excels in shooting but cannot dribble under pressure, the trainers create a plan for his development. Trainers help every athlete reach their potential.
Brothers, as church planters, we want you to be faithful and effective. The “9 Essentials of a Faithful and Effective Church Planter” is a framework for assessment, training, coaching, and resourcing church planters. Here is a quick overview of the 9 Essentials, with a few application questions.
1) Character. Your life must embody the pastoral qualifications found in the New Testament (1 Tim 3, Titus 1). Personal holiness, a Christ-honoring home life, godly relationships, and a respectable and hospitable social life mark a qualified planter’s character.
- How are you pursuing Christlikeness?
- Are you humble and peaceable in your relationships? If applicable, is your marriage healthy, and do you manage your home well?
- Do you have an exemplary social life marked by love, kindness, and holiness?
2) Calling. We want to make sure you are confident in your calling to serve in church planting. Starting a new church from the ground up is one of the most challenging tasks in ministry. Confidence in God’s call on your life is crucial to endure the difficult seasons.
- How would you describe the internal call to plant?
- How have others confirmed the call to plant a church?
- What are your spiritual gifts?
3) Prayer. Planters should reveal a dependence on God that is manifested in both personal and corporate times of fervent prayer. May God raise a generation of planters who see prayer as more than a time for opening, closing, or changing the stage on Sundays.
- Do you have a vibrant devotional life?
- Do you ask others to pray for you and for the work of planting?
- Do you frequently and fervently pray for conversions? Lead others to do the same?
- How will you lead the church to pray for the welfare of the community, God’s kingdom advancement within it, and for God’s redemptive work around the world?
4) Mission. Church planting is not service-starting. We want you to “do the work of an evangelist” (2 Timothy 4:5) and to disciple and pastor “God’s flock” (1 Peter 5:2). Send Network Training covers how planters can engage the city, make disciples, and plant the church. We want you to foster a prayer-filled, conversion-seeing church culture.
- In what areas of mission are you gifted and excelling?
- Where do you need development?
- Are you praying for the conversion of the lost?
- Are you evangelizing now?
5) Theology. Planters need to be theologically grounded and centered on the gospel. Since you will be a public theologian in your community, you need to know your Bible and doctrine. We want planters to be humble teachers, defenders of sound doctrine, and zealous in prayer.
- Why does theology matter for planters?
- How does theology connect to the life of the church?
- Does your theology ignite your prayers?
6) Teaching. According to God, pastors must be able to teach (1 Timothy 3:2). No matter the setting or audience, planters must be skilled in explaining and applying the Scriptures in light of the person and work of Christ. Planters must faithfully stand on God’s Word, no matter what’s going on in the surrounding culture. Helpful teaching is fueled by dependent prayer.
- How would you define preaching and teaching?
- Where do you need to grow in your teaching?
- In what contexts will you form people with the Word of God?
- Does prayer fill your prep and preaching?
7) The Church. Planters must know what they are planting. By the end of Send Network Training, a planter should understand essential matters of ecclesiology, leadership, pastoral care, and leading a church to pray.
- What areas of ecclesiology are essential for a healthy church?
- How will you foster community in your plant?
- In which areas of ecclesiology are you excited to receive training?
- How will you lead the church in praying together regularly and fervently?
8) The Nations. What is your vision for your church plant to engage the nations with the gospel? Planters who seek first the kingdom of God will also look toward global partnerships. Don’t lose the forest (the nations) for the trees (the neighborhood). Pray for the nations and the expansion of the Kingdom.
- What is your experience with ministry in the nations?
- How will your plant embody the global call of the church?
9) Practical Leadership. Planters need to be faithful and effective. Planters are pastors, preachers, counselors, evangelists, fundraisers, and leaders. You must lead the team, lead services, lead meetings, and lead volunteers. You need the toolbox of wise and practical leadership to be a faithful and effective planter.
- Where are you strong in leadership?
- Where do you need to grow?
- What is your experience in leadership?
We’ve built the New Churches website around the 9 Essentials. You can head to the home page and find articles, videos, podcasts, and more resources tagged and organized around the 9 Essentials. We want to help see faithful and effective church planters all around the world.
To learn more about the 9 Essentials, visit SendNetwork.com/9.
