Planter Preparation
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Before soldiers go into battle, they sharpen their swords. In the same way, a mission planter desires to be as well prepared as possible for the challenge ahead. Improving church-planting skills is an ongoing process, the more that can be accomplished early, the better.
There are four general areas planters may develop as they prepare to plant a mission:
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Gain Knowledge – A mission planter is well served by learning both from the Scriptures and from the general body of knowledge of mission planting practice. This includes becoming familiar with information on church planting and leadership through written material and interaction with planters and experts in the field. |
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Sharpen Skills – Mission planters also want to assess their skills, identify which skills they may need to improve, and invest the time and effort to sharpen especially those skills that are necessary for mission planting. |
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Deepen Spiritual Life – Mission planting is a spiritual venture. Mission planters deepen their spiritual lives, both for the personal strength that they will need, and to model this spiritual walk to the flock that they will gather. |
A template to lead you through this process, Planter Preparation Goals, is available. Please finish reading through this section and complete the form, following its suggestions.
Gain Knowledge
Although practically any discipline of learning may positively impact your skills for mission planting, the most obvious areas to develop are Biblical insights and missiological principles.
BIBILICAL FOUNDATION
The entire Bible could be called the story of God’s mission to bring redemption to the world, beginning already in Genesis 3, where God promises that the seed of the women will crush the head of the devil. A mission planter may want to set the goal of reading the entire Bible from the prospective of missions. The book of Acts is particularly relevant, as we see God working through the early church all the way to Rome.
Read The Biblical Foundation that includes further resources and links on Scriptural teachings on missions.
MISSIOLOGICAL PRINCIPLES
Many resources are available in the general areas of missiology and mission planting. In these areas, we always remember that the thoughts presented must be consonant with Scripture. Please read Missiological Insights for an introduction to this discipline.
Sharpen Skills
In general, the set of skills for church planting would be similar to those in any ministry. In mission planting, however, some of these skills may be emphasized more than they would be in an established ministry. The converse is also true.
Skills emphasized more in mission setting |
About the same |
Skills emphasized more in an established ministry |
Self-initiative |
Preaching/teaching |
Hospital/Shut-in Calling |
Vision casting |
Youth |
Administration |
Evangelism |
Conflict resolution |
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Leadership development |
Interpersonal skills |
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A church planter should consider two avenues to assess his skills in the above areas.
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Self assessment – mission planters may already be quite familiar with the areas of ministry that need to be developed.Nebel and Ogne (1995, 6-1) suggest the following ways to develop the skills necessary for mission planting.
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The Planter Preparation Goal Worksheet is designed to help planters identify these skills and develop a plan of action to address them.
See Empowering Leaders though Coaching, (Nebel and Ogne 1995), for a full description of this section.
Deepen Spiritual Life
Mission planting is indeed a spiritual venture. While it is very much within the heart of God to see His church expand, grow and thrive, the devil, the world and our flesh will do everything within their power to thwart this vision. A mission planter bears in mind the description of Eph 6:12 that reveals the struggle of the people of God against dark spiritual forces. This especially applies to mission planting.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." |
Mission planters do well to apply both Law and Gospel to themselves. Mission planters ought to be keenly aware of their shortcomings as sinners and how this sin affects their ministry, their effectiveness, their relationship with others, and exposes them to the arrows of the devil and to the wrath of God. Remembering the position of all humanity as “poor, miserable sinners” can guard the mission planter from arrogance and self-reliance, which is not only spiritually toxic, but has the possibility of shipwrecking the mission efforts.
Mission planters also need to apply the balm of the Gospel to themselves as well. God knows that we are not up to the task of being his prophets and pastors. Nonetheless, He has chosen us for this great privilege in spite of our sin. Applying His forgiveness to the mistakes that mission planters make, personally and professionally, is critical. Everyone fails in many ways. Knowing God’s forgiveness and restoration is absolutely required, not only for mission planters, but for every Christian.
As in any ministry, a mission planter will have both days of joy and disappointment. When trying to begin a ministry from scratch, the threat of “failure” looms more largely than in an established congregation. A mission planter finds comfort and joy in the Gospel and contentment with the blessings that God sends whatever they may be. The redemption as a child of God sustains a mission planter during dark and difficult days.
"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Rom 8:28
God, the Holy Spirit, has promised to be present with all His people through Word and Sacrament, the Means of Grace. Connecting to these means by careful, daily growth in the Word, by living in the remembrance and promise of Baptism and by receiving the Lord’s supper frequently strengthen Christians for whatever challenges may be ahead.
In response to grace, the Christian:
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Grow Self-Understanding
Even from a human perspective, it is easy to see God’s wisdom in not giving every gift necessary for the church to a single person. The church is the body of Christ; each has a role to play. God wants us to work as a team.
Church Planter candidates normally will have taken a personality profile, either the PI or DISC. These surveys provide insights to:
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The church planter will review with the Planter Assessment Coordinator what these insights are and how they can be shared with the coach and mentor. These normally will occur at the Church Planter Orientation, but also may occur at other times.
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Law and Gospel (Walther 1897) is the classic resource in our church on this subject.For resources for the study of the Word of God, consider:
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