Our Ten Core-Competencies of Successful Church Planters:
The following is a list of our Ten Core-Competencies of successful church planters. A church planter must have these skills in order to be effective in their church planting mission. Hundreds of denominational leaders and thousands of church planters have confirmed these ten core-competencies through quantitative/qualitative research. The Evangel Free Church has provided the basic language explaining each competency for us. These competencies are based upon a study of scripture (see Ephesians 4, Matthew 28), a major research project by Dr. Charley Ridley (see Church Planter's Toolkit, chapter 2 by Robert Logan or Lab One Training Manual, COG). You can hear Dr. Ridely speak to these characteristics live at the next LAB ONE, near you.
Visionary Leadership Skills: You have a clear and compelling picture of what the new church will look like in the future and the broad brushstrokes of what it will take to get there. You are able to share repeatedly this vision in such a way that others follow his leadership and help make it happen no matter what the cost. You see the big picture (I Cor. 3:10, Rom. 15:20).
Starting-Gathering Skills: You have an entrepreneurial, risk-taking spirit and a history of starting new ministries groups, or business from scratch using only faith, vision and limited resources. (Romans 15:20). You are able to recruit a diverse group of other people to join with you in accomplishing this vision. People genuinely known you care about them ( 1Thess 2, 1 Peter 5).
Communication Skills: You have a growing ability to clearly communicate and apply God's Word in a compelling way that results in spiritual fruit. You understand the needs of the un-churched and can communicate in their "language" and culture. "Bill Hybels has said that teaching is to church growth what pitching is to baseball: about 85 percent of the game."6 (I Timothy 3:2)
Evangelistic Skills: You have the ability to relate to the un-churched? You either have the gift of evangelism or are willing to do the work of an evangelist (II Tim. 4:5). You are willing to spend 50 percent of your time in the first two years of the church plant in "people contact" time. You consistently reach out to the un-churched and influence them toward a relationship with Christ and His church. You have a passion to grow the church through evangelism (I Cor. 9:19-22). You understand the local community and you know what culturally relevant ministries to implement.
Discipling Skills: You must have the ability to build both individual people as well as church congregations. You have the ability to help people develop their spiritual maturity. You can assimilate new people into an existing core group. You have the ability to multiply the ownership of a growing ministry.
Equipping Skills: You utilize the giftedness of others by helping them to discover, develop, and deploy their spiritual giftedness in ministry (Eph. 4:11). Rather than handling the bulk of church responsibilities on your own, you invest the majority of your time in discipleship, delegation, and multiplication. You do not use lay workers as "helpers" in attaining your goals, rather you assist them to attain the spiritual potential God has for them.
Team Building Skills: You understand your own giftedness and the kind of leaders you need to complement your gift-mix. You have the ability to attract and lead other leaders. You know what it takes to identify, recruit, train and deploy lay leadership teams.
Group Building Skills: You are able to take people with widely different gifts and temperaments and mold them into a unified church body. You can lead the church beyond a single cell. You know what it takes to break the 100 and 200 growth barriers. You can lead the church in multiplying groups, services, ministries, and new church plants.
Church Planting Knowledge: You have a growing knowledge of church planting, church health, and church growth. You understand the principles and processes of church planting. You are committed to church growth and church health. You are committed to Mission USA's vision of "growing healthy churches that plant healthy churches." You embrace growing the church, both numerically and spiritually. You can implement church growth principles in an effective manner. You are familiar with the latest church planting resources.
Emotional Intelligence (EQ): You can easily adjust to the changes, challenges, and corrections that often accompany church planting. You learn from your mistakes. You are flexible and adaptable. You negotiate change successfully while not being thwarted from accomplishing your intended mission. You have the ability to hang tough in the difficult times of church planting. You stay the course in the face of major setbacks, disappointments, and opposition. You are a self-starter who is motivated to work with diligence and excellence. You have a high energy level and stamina.
