Thirteen Essential Qualities for Church Planters

Found these on the the Christian Reformed Home Missions website. Obviously they are of interest to me because of my desire to plant a church in Portland, but also because these are qualities I think every pastor should possess – not just church planters. But so much for wishful thinking, eh?

Thirteen Essential Qualities for Successful Church Planters
(as identified by Dr. Charles Ridley)

1. Visionizing capacity

• being a person who projects into the future beyond the present
• developing a theme which highlights the vision and philosophy of ministry
• persuasively selling the vision to the people
• approaching challenges as opportunities rather than obstacles
• coping effectively with non-visionizing elements
• not erecting artificial walls or limits either overtly or subconsciously
• establishing a clear church identity related to the theme and vision
• believing in God’s capacity to do great things

2. Intrinsically motivated

• having a desire to do well and a commitment to excellence
• stick-to-itiveness and persistence
• having initiative and aggressiveness without the negative connotations
• having a willingness to work long and hard
• being a self-starter with a willingness to build from nothing
• having a high energy and vitality level; physical stamina

3. Creates ownership of ministry

• helping people to “buy in” and feel responsible for the growth and success of the church
• gaining commitment of the people to the vision
• establishing a congregational identity
• avoiding stereotyping of congregation by imposing unrealistic goals for which it cannot claim ownership

4. Relates to the unchurched

• communicating in a style that is understood by the unchurched
• understanding the “psychology” or mentality of the unchurched
• moving and functioning in the “personal space” of the unchurched without fear
• quickly getting to know the unchurched on a personal level
• breaking through the barriers erected by the unchurched
• handling crises faced by the unchurched

5. Spousal cooperation

• having an explicit agreement regarding each partner’s respective role and involvement in ministry
• having explicit rules regarding the use of home as an office
• evaluating the consequences of ministry demands upon the children
• functioning as a team through individual and collective action
• having a strategy for dealing with strangers
• modeling wholesome family life before church and community
• agreeing upon and sharing the ministry vision
• deliberately planning and protecting private family life

6. Effectively builds relationships

• responding with urgency to expressed needs and concerns of people
• displaying Godly love and compassion to people
• getting to know people on a personal basis
• making others feel secure and comfortable in one’s presence
• not responding judgmentally or prejudicially to new people
• appreciating and accepting a variety of persons
• spending quality time with present parishioners without overstepping them for new people

7. Committed to church growth

• believing in church growth as a theological principle
• appreciating steady and consistent growth without preoccupation with the quick success factor
• committing to numerical growth within the context of spiritual and relational growth (more and better disciples)
• recognizing that non-growth is threatening and self-defeating
• establishing the goal of becoming a financially self-supporting church within a specific period of time
• not prematurely falling into a ministry of maintenance
• seeing the church project within the larger context of God’s kingdom

8. Responsive to community

• understanding the culture of the community
• identifying and assessing community needs
• responding to community needs on a priority basis such that resources are most efficiently used
• determining successes and failures of other organized religious attempts to respond to community needs
• not confusing what the community needs with what the church wants to offer
• acquiring and understanding of the character and “pulse” of the community
• adapting the philosophy of ministry to the character of the community

9. Utilizes giftedness of others

• releasing and equipping people to do the task of ministry
• discerning of spiritual gifts in others
• matching the gifts of people with ministry needs and opportunities
• delegating effectively in areas of personal limitation
• avoiding personal overload by delegating effectively
• not prematurely assigning ministry assignments before people are adequately equipped
• not placing unwarranted restrictions on other’s spiritual giftedness

10. Flexible and adaptable

• coping effectively with ambiguity
• coping effectively with constant and abrupt change
• adapting oneself and one’s methods to the uniqueness of the particular church planting project
• shifting priorities and emphasis during various stages of church growth
• doing “whatever” is necessary “whenever” necessary

11. Builds group cohesiveness

• developing a nucleus group or groups as a foundation
• quickly incorporating newcomers into a network of relationships
• engaging others in meaningful church activity
• monitoring the morale of people
• utilizing groups effectively
• dealing with conflict assertively, constructively and tactfully

12. Resilience

• experiencing setbacks without defeat
• riding the ups and downs (i.e. attendance)
• expecting the unexpected
• rebounding from loss, disappointments and failure

13. Exercises faith

• possessing a conviction regarding one’s call to church planting ministry
• believing in God’s action
• having expectation and hope
• having a willingness to wait for answers to specific prayer requests

Filed under: Church, Church Planting, Evangelism, Leadership, Ministry