Once a year for over a decade, I had the privilege of teaching a week-long seminar to a group of church planters in Kiev, Ukraine, at Kiev Theological Seminary. One of my favorite memories was when we were doing student introductions and testimonies.
I will never forget one particular (muscle-bound) brother from Lithuania named Emmanuel. Before his conversion, he had spent some time in prison. He spoke about his rough former life, sharing that the only time he opened a Bible in those days was to use its pages to smoke various substances. But now he’s opening the Bible to proclaim it!
How do you go from smoking the Bible to preaching the Bible?
Jesus changes lives. That’s how. Due to Christ’s work in his heart, Emmanuel not only became a new creation, but he also became a humble and effective church planter.
In addition to the obvious necessity of conversion, what else is needed to be a faithful church planter? Please allow me to list ten traits of a faithful, Christ-centered church planter.
1. Spiritually Vibrant Planters
Faithful and effective church planters live out of the overflow of a Christ-adoring heart. They walk with and depend on God. As those who have been raised with Christ by the Spirit, they walk by the Spirit, displaying the fruit of the Spirit in their character and fruitfulness in their ministry. This kind of godliness not only glorifies God, but it also makes up for a lot of gaps in one’s gifting.
Spiritually vibrant planters realize that, as George Mueller used to say, the first business of our day is to get our hearts “happy in the Lord.” The church flourishes under humble, happy, and holy leaders.
2. Theologically Clear Planters
We need leaders who understand Scripture, lead from biblical convictions, and are gospel-fueled in motivation. Faithful church planters and pastors desire to saturate their cities and the nations with sound doctrine. Therefore, having theological clarity in one’s teaching and leadership is essential.
Christianity is not the only religion in the world to have missionaries and preachers. What makes our mission and our proclamation unique is what we declare—namely, the gospel. This is why theological clarity matters.
3. Ecclesiologically Robust Planters
Christ-centered church planters understand what a healthy church is. They understand who makes up the church; they have a grasp on sound church polity; they comprehend the ordinances of baptism and the Lord’s Supper; they seek to shepherd people faithfully. Further, they desire to plant more healthy churches through intentional leadership development.
A clear ecclesiology on the front end will motivate church-planting efforts. And it will inspire faithfulness to shepherd those God places under the church planting-pastor’s care (Heb. 13:17).
4. Relationally Healthy Planters
Faithful church planters who are married seek to cultivate strong marriages, and they manage their households well. Planters who are single seek to be faithful in their singleness. Additionally, relationally healthy planters practice the “one anothers” in an exemplary way, and they seek to deal with conflict in a gospel-centered, God-honoring way.
Moreover, good church planters know the importance of friendship and they seek to cultivate gospel partnerships. All of these relational dynamics flow from a big heart for people. Spurgeon once said that “a man must have a great heart if he is to have a great congregation.” Such warmth, love, and welcome arises from one’s own deep awareness of Christ’s warmth, love, and welcome.
5. Expositionally Skilled Planters
We need leaders who handle God’s Word faithfully and Christocentrically, and who lead people to worship and mission in their application of Scripture.
While the ability to teach is a gift from God (Rom. 12:7; Eph. 4:11; 1 Pet. 4:10–11), it is also a skill that planters/pastors should seek to develop (1 Tim. 4.11-16). Good church planters will seek to improve in their preaching through evaluation, personal reflection, observation of good preachers, reading, and by attending helpful preaching seminars and workshops.
6. Evangelistically Passionate Planters
Faithful church planters do the work of evangelism with everyday gospel intentionality. They live missional lives as they engage with people in their networks (where they shop, live, play, eat, and work). They also practice hospitality, opening their lives and their homes to outsiders.
Good church planters desire to see people saved in their city. Therefore, they will pray for unbelievers, invite them into their home, to a restaurant, or to some kind of event, serve them, give resources to them (such as books or podcasts), and share the gospel with them. They are constantly looking for opportunities to explain the good news.
7. Contextually Wise Planters
Exegeting one’s context is important in church planters. Good planters are culturally savvy. They live as missionaries in their cities, designing ministries that fit their context.
While there are some normative aspects of church planting (such as the gospel and our confession of faith), there are also situational aspects of church planting. The former are unchanging, but the latter seek to apply the unchanging truths to the lives of people in a certain context. Good church planters pay attention to the various trends, beliefs, hopes, fears, and idols of those in their community. They will seek to apply the gospel to these issues.
8. Globally Engaged Planters
We need leaders who immediately think about the nations from the beginning of their plant, and who seek to invest in the Kingdom of God around the globe. Christ-centered church planters are called to make Jesus’ last command our first priority: to make disciples among the nations (Matt. 28:18–20).
Great Commission church planters will build global partnerships in order to make disciples and to mobilize the local church for mission. They will pray consistently for people groups, and for the gospel to advance around the world. These kinds of planters will also give generously to this work, and will lead others to do the same.
9. Practically Diligent Planters
Church planting is hard work, and faithful church planters seek to develop good rhythms of work, rest, and play. Wise planning, retreats, and learning to sabbath are essential for the longhaul.
One doesn’t have to neglect practicality to be a theologically driven church planter. Good church planters should seek to implement best practices if they are in alignment with sound doctrine and fit one’s context. Such planters are constantly learning, evaluating, and improving systems and structures, initiatives, and events.
10. Eschatologically Motivated Planters
We need leaders who take the long view, doing everything for the glory of Jesus in light of His return and coming Kingdom. The “well done” we are looking for is from Jesus. When we have an eschatological vision, we can endure hard times, suffering, grief, disappointment, and challenges.
Good church planters can say with Luther, “There are two days on my calendar: this day and that day.” We live today in light of the coming of Jesus Christ. All the trials and pains of church planting should be viewed in light of the glorious future that awaits the saints. One day we will see His face. And we will not regret having served Jesus faithfully through all the highs and lows of life.
Tony Merida | Vice President of Planter Development, Send Network; Pastor of Preaching & Vision, Imago Dei Church, Raleigh, NC
