Resources in this category support a church planter's walk with God.
Ronnie Martin
If the fruit of humanity is humility, then the fruit of humility is hopefulness. And hopefulness comes through the refining fires of waiting. For there to be hope, there needs to be something unseen to be hoped for. “We look...
Dan Steel
A conversation recently has got me thinking about the place of lament in church planting, which may seem an unusual marriage of contradictory ideas, as church planting is often associated with excitement about what might be. The chance to reach...
Years ago, I heard John Piper share a story at a conference I attended. He said that someone once asked him, “John, how do I learn to be humble like you?” He replied, “Who said I was humble?” The pastoral...
Heather Oldham
Planting a church is a calling that demands faith, endurance, and a willingness to step into the unknown. For church planters and their families, the journey is filled with both joy and sacrifice—long hours, uncertain outcomes, and the weight of...
Noah Oldham
Church planting is both a thrilling and challenging endeavor. It is a call to step into the unknown, trust God for provision, and engage in spiritual warfare for the sake of the gospel. For those called to this mission, the...
J.A. Medders
Faithful and effective church planters must be men of prayer. You can only be faithful and effective when you pray to the Faithful One, to the Effector of gospel ministry. Charles Spurgeon taught his students in his Pastors’ College to...
Church planting demands vision and perseverance. As planters work toward the dream of a thriving church, they must also labor in the trenches of ministry. The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 5, provides invaluable exhortations for pastors and planters in...
The following 20 documents will help you as you develop a residency at your church. Most documents are intended for church planting or pastoral residencies. You may use documents as is or modify to meet the specific needs of your...
Barnabas Piper
As a pastor, it is hard not to constantly critique ministry. Whether we are a lead pastor, a solo pastor, or on a large pastoral team, when we enter a church service, we are nearly always “on”—observing, evaluating, anticipating what...
One of the most moving aspects of the planting pitfalls study for me was hearing testimonies from church planters and pastors about how deeply painful their planting journey had been for their spouses and children. Of course, this is not...
Kevin Spratt
Great leadership is never a one-size-fits-all formula. This eBook explores the complexities of pastoral leadership through the lens of church planters and revitalizers, uncovering the key competencies that define success in different ministry contexts. Based on a survey of 129...
You were not born a pastor, you were born a person. As Charles Dickens once said, “This must be distinctly understood, or nothing wonderful can come of the story I am going to relate.” Without receiving yourself as a person,...
Few hurts hurt like church hurt. People join churches expecting a place of love, grace, and safety–a place that looks and feels like the heart of Jesus. Sadly, the reality of sin often messes that up, and people get hurt....
Appropriate church planting metrics are a thorny topic that many of us struggle with. How do you know if it’s going well? How can you tell? Is it simply a matter of counting? And if so, what do we count?...
I was in the middle of small group when I received a barrage of text messages. People from different spaces in my life were desperately trying to reach me. Their pastor had been fired for a moral failure. They felt...
Jon Kelly
The goal of church planting is the fulfillment of the Great Commission. We are called to make disciples for the glory of Christ—everywhere. For the church to do this well, it will require intentionally engaging the lostness of our local...
“You can be impressive, or you can be known, but not both.” — Ray Ortlund Jr. The first time I heard these words, I had an epiphany. The dichotomy presented was the very tension I had so long lived in...
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,...
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