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Am I a Church Planter?

Church planting is an exciting calling that requires faith, sacrifice, preparation, perseverance, and the support of others.

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If you sense that God may be leading you toward church planting, take some time to prayerfully work through the questions below. There are no perfect answers. The goal is to honestly consider where you are, what God may be doing in your life, and what steps may be ahead.

Calling and Surrender

Am I called to plant a church?

  • Am I convinced that God is calling me to plant a church?

  • How has that calling been confirmed by pastors, mentors, and other trusted leaders?

  • Am I willing to surrender my plans, comfort, reputation, or resources to follow that calling?

Marriage and Family

Is my family ready to take this journey with me?

  • Is my spouse supportive of the possibility of planting a church?

  • Have we honestly talked about the sacrifices, opportunities, pressures, and uncertainties that come with church planting?

  • Are we preparing our family, not just ourselves, for the journey ahead?

Sending Church and Pastor

Am I being sent and supported by my church?

  • Is my pastor affirming my calling to plant a church?

  • Is my sending church willing to pray for, support, and invest in this mission?

  • Am I willing to receive honest feedback and accountability from trusted leaders?

Community and Demographics

Do I understand the people I hope to reach?

  • Have I spent significant time getting to know the community where I hope to plant?

  • Do I understand the people, culture, needs, opportunities, and challenges of that community?

  • Has what I’ve learned about the community shaped my vision and strategy?

Financial Readiness

Am I prepared for the financial realities of church planting?

  • Do I have a realistic financial plan for my family during the first three years?

  • Do I have a realistic financial plan for the church plant?

  • Have I begun building relationships with churches, individuals, or organizations that may provide financial support?

Entrepreneurial Experience

Have I demonstrated that I can build something from the ground up?

  • Have I ever started, built, led, or significantly grown something from the ground up?

  • What did that experience teach me about leadership, initiative, perseverance, and problem-solving?

  • What experiences have prepared me to navigate the uncertainty and challenges of starting something new?

What's next?

If these questions have caused you to think, pray, and wrestle with what God may be doing in your life, don't feel like you have to figure it all out on your own.

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The next step isn't necessarily to start a church. The next step is to start a conversation.

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Talk with your spouse. Talk with your pastor. Talk with trusted mentors and leaders. Share what you are sensing and invite them to help you discern whether church planting may be the next step God is leading you toward.

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