How to Discern if You Might Be Called to Plant a Church
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Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, maybe you have an interest in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, perhaps you are interested in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
First and foremost, pray for discernment about ministry direction. Don't just offer a quick prayer for help. Pray daily and fervently for direction from the Holy Spirit and for knowledge of the ministry of church planting. Intercede for a season. It could be for a month, three months, a year. Pray until the Lord of the harvest removes the burden on your heart, or God lets you know that you are to take the next step in your direction.
As you pray, seek counsel from godly people who have observed you in life and ministry. Let them know what you are thinking, and seek guidance and discernment. If God is calling you, He will use others to confirm His calling. Listen to them prayerfully and carefully.
Read and absorb books and resources such as websites, blogs, vlogs, and YouTube channels that focus on disciple-making and church multiplication. Ask those who are planting churches to share with you resources that will inform and encourage you in that ministry. A starting place for good reading in church planting are the books, Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im, Starting a New Church by Ralph Moore, and The Honest Guide to Church Planting by Tom Bennardo. Read or listen to everything you can get your eyes and ears on by Ed Stetzer.
Visit with three active church planters or church planting leaders and ask lots of questions. Listen intently to their answers. Watch carefully what they do. Keep a journal or log of your observations.
Seek out and attend a church planter assessment process. The best is offered by Converge, called the Church Planter Assessment Center or CPAC. A CPAC is a gold standard for helping discern a call to church planting. Both husband and wife are required to attend and fully participate in a CPAC.
If there is one close to where you live, find and attend a church plant less than five years old. Get to know the planter and church planting leadership team, and volunteer to serve in a ministry of that new church.
If you are a seminary student, sign up for a class or two on church planting.
What other options or steps of faith toward a church-planting ministry can you add to this list?
[Photo by GreenForce Staffing on Unsplash]
/Blog/Blog/Blog/Church-Grief-When-a-Pastor-Leaves/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
When a pastor leaves a church for any reason, the pastor, his family, and the church will experience grief. Go deeper with me on that topic in this blog.
/Blog/Blog/Blog/The-Principle-of-Two-or-Three/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
Some of us have learned the hard way the principle of two (or three) in church ministry. Let me share it with you. The principle of three goes like this: Whenever you start a ministry, begin with two leaders, if not three. When you do, the probability of success increases significantly if not exponentially. Read on to find out more about this important principle.
/Blog/Blog/Blog/The-Importance-of-a-Church-Health-Checkup/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
How to Discern if You Might Be Called to Plant a Church
/Blog/Blog/Blog/How-to-Discern-if-You-Might-Be-Called-to-Plant-a-Church/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
By charlie worley
Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, maybe you have an interest in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
Maybe you are considering planting a new church and would like to know if this is a calling from God. Or, perhaps you are interested in becoming a church planter and want to know if you should take the next step in that direction. If your answer is yes to one of the above statements, read this blog for some advice or encouragement as you seek discernment from God and others.
First and foremost, pray for discernment about ministry direction. Don't just offer a quick prayer for help. Pray daily and fervently for direction from the Holy Spirit and for knowledge of the ministry of church planting. Intercede for a season. It could be for a month, three months, a year. Pray until the Lord of the harvest removes the burden on your heart, or God lets you know that you are to take the next step in your direction.
As you pray, seek counsel from godly people who have observed you in life and ministry. Let them know what you are thinking, and seek guidance and discernment. If God is calling you, He will use others to confirm His calling. Listen to them prayerfully and carefully.
Read and absorb books and resources such as websites, blogs, vlogs, and YouTube channels that focus on disciple-making and church multiplication. Ask those who are planting churches to share with you resources that will inform and encourage you in that ministry. A starting place for good reading in church planting are the books, Planting Missional Churches by Ed Stetzer and Daniel Im, Starting a New Church by Ralph Moore, and The Honest Guide to Church Planting by Tom Bennardo. Read or listen to everything you can get your eyes and ears on by Ed Stetzer.
Visit with three active church planters or church planting leaders and ask lots of questions. Listen intently to their answers. Watch carefully what they do. Keep a journal or log of your observations.
Seek out and attend a church planter assessment process. The best is offered by Converge, called the Church Planter Assessment Center or CPAC. A CPAC is a gold standard for helping discern a call to church planting. Both husband and wife are required to attend and fully participate in a CPAC.
If there is one close to where you live, find and attend a church plant less than five years old. Get to know the planter and church planting leadership team, and volunteer to serve in a ministry of that new church.
If you are a seminary student, sign up for a class or two on church planting.
What other options or steps of faith toward a church-planting ministry can you add to this list?
[Photo by GreenForce Staffing on Unsplash]
/Blog/Blog/Blog/Training-the-Church-to-Be-the-Church/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
What does your church offer for training or equipping the saints for the work of ministry (Eph. 4:12 ESV)? Have you ever asked that question as a church leader or pastor? Here are some ideas about who needs regular training and about what.
/Blog/Blog/Blog/Planning-a-Healthy-Sabbatical-for-the-Pastor-Part-2/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
If you want your pastor, whether serving in a lead role or another pastoral role, to be successful, stay healthy, last longer, and grow in ministry maturity, make sure he takes a sabbatical. But what does a sabbatical look like for the pastor and the church? Read on to find out more.
/Blog/Blog/Blog/Planning-a-Healthy-Sabbatical-for-the-Pastor-Part-1/?link=1&fldKeywords=&fldAuthor=&fldTopic=0
If you want your pastor, whether serving in a lead role or another pastoral role, to be successful, stay healthy, last longer, and grow in ministry maturity, make sure he takes a sabbatical. But what does a sabbatical look like for the pastor and the church? But what is a sabbatical? Read on to find out more.
