Church planters are ordinary people whom God has called and equipped to do an extraordinary thing—to start a healthy church in a community that will positively impact people with the life-changing message of Jesus Christ. This simple description provides at least four characteristics of effective church planters.

Contrary to what you might think, church planters do not come from an elite class of “super-Christians.” Rather, they are simply ordinary men and women from all across North America who obey a call from God. Right now, God is calling people from all professions, education levels, languages, and cultures to proclaim the message of Jesus Christ to North America. Some of these people plant churches in the communities where they currently live. Others plant churches in a completely different place reaching a completely different people group from themselves. Some are able to plant full-time, others part-time. Some plant bi-vocationally, others are lay planters. Some serve on a church planting team, others plant as individuals.

Throughout Scripture we see God actively calling people to do specific tasks. We see God calling David out of the sheep pens to become the shepherd of Israel (Ps. 78:70-72). We see God telling Philip to go up to the chariot and share Jesus Christ with the Ethiopian official (Acts 8). Could God be calling you into church planting?

One thing is for certain—the call of God to plant a church is paramount to the success of the church plant. Church planting is not just a good idea or a method of escaping a current situation. It is something that God calls people to do. If you feel God may be moving in your life to plant a church, begin with lots of prayer and search the Scriptures. Read about others in the Bible who were called. Talk it over with your family and pastor. Ask God if He is calling you.

Church planters come in all shapes and sizes. Yet, most church planters share some common qualities that give them the perseverance, stability, influence, and clarity of purpose they need to gather a nucleus of people. They exhibit strong personal motivation; an ability to create a sense of ownership among all who are involved in the ministry; a passion to reach the lost; a knack for building relationships and an awareness of the community; flexibility, adaptability, and resilience; and a deep, vibrant faith in God. Of course, no two people have exactly the same combination of gifts and abilities. That isn’t important. What is important is that each one brings to the church plant those abiding gifts that consistently prove to be effective. Some of these gifts are:

Faith (1 Cor. 12:9) The ability to envision what needs to be done, to act with conviction, and to trust God to accomplish what others might see as impossible.

Leadership (Rom. 12:8) The ability to lead others to passionately pursue God’s vision for a specific community or situation.

Evangelism (Eph. 4:11) The ability to clearly present the gospel of Jesus Christ to unbelievers and lead them to embrace Christ as Lord and Savior.

Communication/Teaching (Rom. 12:7) The ability to clearly, compellingly, and creatively communicate truth in a relevant and timely manner.

Discernment (Phil. 1:10) The ability to make the right decision at the right time in new or unfamiliar situations.

Planting a church in a community that will positively impact people with the gospel of Jesus Christ is an extraordinary thing. In fact, it’s a God-sized thing. Church planting is difficult, demanding, and exhausting; yet, it is satisfying, uplifting, and exhilarating. If that kind of challenge appeals to you, then God may be calling you into church planting.

Is God calling you into church planting?

If your honest answer to that question is “yes” or “maybe,” then your friends at Impact Ontario want to help you get started!

Church planters must be people of vision determined to be obedient to the call of God. None other need apply.

God calls church planters from many different backgrounds but all will share similar traits. Passion for the lost, faith in a miracle-working Saviour, lots of get-up-and-go, good people skills, and family support…these mark a church planter.

If you are considering church planting ministry...

• Interview seasoned church planters. Hear their story. Tell them yours. Get their perspective on the joys and hardships of church planting.
• Download the “Could God Be Calling Me Into Church Planting?” PDF form (pre-assessment workbook) to find out whether God might be calling you to consider starting a new church.
• Schedule a formal assessment which measures qualities a church planter needs to plant a church successfully. Impact Canada can help you with scheduling this assessment. Contact Jim Tune (jim@impactcanada.org) to inquire about an assessment.
• Study church planting books.
• Search the internet for material on church planting.

And pray for God's direction! Church planting is too risky to attempt without seeking God's will.