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This week, my wife, Marty, and I had the honor of attending a church planter's retreat sponsored by the Converge Northwest District and held at the beautiful Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center on the rugged Pacific coast in northern Oregon. Read on to discover just a small amount of what was seen and heard at that relaxed gathering. Maybe you and your church can learn from my observations.
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, 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.
I hate to write this blog. I've seen too many of these intentional mistakes made by church planters or pastors whose churches end up headed for trouble, splits, or dysfunction. Read on to discover when your pastor or church needs help because they are headed for trouble.
The church planting proposal is a document that serves as the "business plan" for the new church. It generally covers the first two years of new church development. In the proposal, the church planter puts into writing what God is laying on his heart. It spells out the initial vision or dream, the initial ideas of the culture of the new church, and its launch strategy. Keep reading to find out what content is needed in your proposal.
This blog is devoted to something I have observed over many years of ministry to potential and active church planters. I'm sure there are many more but I'll start the conversation by listing five signs you might make a good church planter.
This week, my wife, Marty, and I had the honor of attending a church planter's retreat sponsored by the Converge Northwest District and held at the beautiful Cannon Beach Christian Conference Center on the rugged Pacific coast in northern Oregon. Read on to discover just a small amount of what was seen and heard at that relaxed gathering. Maybe you and your church can learn from my observations.
After many years of experiencing ministry leadership and watching others do the same, I have come to the conclusion that pastors, church planters, and other ministry leaders operate in zones of ministry – some good, some are not so good, and some may be neutral. The following are some of the zones that you may find yourself in as you do ministry.
As a former church planter, coach, and trainer of church planters, and assessment team member in several church planter assessment centers, I highly value the need and importance of a CPAC. Here are 10 reasons why every aspiring church planter needs to go through the experience of a church planter assessment center.
This week I'm camped out in a hotel room waiting for a Converge Church Planter Assessment Center to begin tomorrow morning. I'll be one of many assessors on a team to help the candidates discern God's will for their first or next ministry. The center will be assessing 10 couples over a three-and-a-half-day period. I'm a veteran assessment team member having served in seven of them a while back, and I've been looking forward to another go at it. As I reflect on beginning the experience again tomorrow, I want to share with you a major observation - a ministry assessment experience should be required for all seminary students. Here's why I say that.
Pastors and church planters need good coaching in order to serve the Lord at their best. And, they need a coach who loves them and comes alongside them as a trusted friend and partner in ministry. What does this look like? Keep reading to find out how.