5 Hats every Church Planter Must Wear

When it comes to church planting, a church planter has to be ready to wear many hats.  Each hat requires a different skill set.  Here are 5 hats I think every church planter has to become comfortable in wearing from time to time.

1. Architect:

As a church planter you are also the cultural architect.  What does this mean?  The Church Planter is the primary leader when it comes to creating vision and the culture of the church.  And the thing about culture is that "culture" is the most significant factor of any organization.  It will always trump your vision and your mission.  So pay close attention to the culture that you are creating.

2. Salesman:

To be a good salesman you must bleed vision and be able to communicate well.  Two keys to being a good salesmen for your church is to communicate with passion and to be willing to make the hard ask.  Before setting out to sell the product...in the case of the church its the vision and mission of Jesus, ask yourself these questions...

- Why would someone come to our church?

- What makes us different?  What is our niche in the community?

3. Principal:

The Principal is the chief executor of a school.  Similarly, the church planter must become the enforcer...the person that ultimately makes sure that the details are carried out.  This requires attention to detail and specifically the systems of how everything operates.  To do this well...recruit and cultivate others to help in the details.  This job is way to big for one person to do.

4. Marketer:

Early on especially the church planter has to be focused on getting your name out there!  There are all kinds of methods to do this well, for instance: the web, personal networks, mailers, door hangers, facebook, blog, etc.  The list goes on and on and feel free to be creative.  In our early days we had people dress up as movie characters and pass out information about the new church at the movies.

5. Fundraiser:

New endeavors require greater resources.  You will need money to get a church up and running.  The larger the launch the greater the resources needed.  My estimate is for a large launch, a grand opening of over 300 people, you will need to raise somewhere around $300,000.  And this figure doesn't include the money needed to pay for multiple staff.  In the end, money is important however, success is not about the money!

Confessions of a Church Planter's Wife

Written during pre-launch days

It’s Melissa here! Lee asked me to do a post from the perspective of the “church-planting wife” – that’s one of my job titles right now, unfortunately not a paid position at this point but I’m working on it. =) Anyway, as I sit here and reflect on what to write in a few short paragraphs, I find it hard to articulate my heart on this whole issue – mostly because there is so much to say, so many different emotions, fears, excitements, etc., and each day seems to bring different things to the surface….

I also find, to be brutally honest, that I get weary of it all, this church plant business – I get weary of talking and worrying about the finances of it, esp. with the constant news of the economy blaring in our faces. I get weary of my husband’s time being consumed. I get weary of feeling a little homeless right now since we haven’t fully launched yet but have left Red Mountain – my home church for almost 20 years. I get weary of people trying to make conversation with me and asking “How are things with Harvest going?” because they don’t know what else to ask and I know they won’t understand my response anyway. Actually, I think my shoulders feel a little sore from shrugging a lot since I’m not sure how to respond at times….

But when it comes down to it, there is an inner peace amongst this “wearisome chaos” that can only come from our merciful Lord. The comfort and tranquility of living in obedience to Him is worth these burdens that are just really beginning in this crazy journey. I am so comforted by Paul’s words to the Galatian churches to “not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary” (Galatians 6:9). The bottom line is this; this is what God has called us to. Period. Who am I to question what my Father asks me to do? His will is GOOD and what greater calling do we have then to spread the news of His great love??? As cliché as it sounds, PEOPLE NEED JESUS. How foolish is it to let my selfish desire to be comfortable and to have a predictable life get in the way of this calling?!

And so…. I press on, simply put. I take it a day at a time, and try to make as many jokes as possible so Lee and I, and the insane but AMAZING people joining us, will keep laughing and smiling…. Once again, yet another thing I’m not getting paid for…. =)

Moving Past STUCK

Have you ever felt stuck or frustrated with where you are with God?  I know I have.  Eventually everyone finds themselves in a place where you may feel stuck or frustrated with where you are with God.  And to makes things worse...it is in those times it feels or seems like everyone else around you are doing great with their walk.  Here are four things I have found that have helped me move past those moments of frustration.  Not only have they helped me breakout...they have also led me to a deeper understanding of who God is in my live.  Furthermore, I have noticed these four things to be in the lives of every growing and maturing follower of Jesus.

Here are those four things.

1) Read your Bible...if you want to know God's will for your life you have to spend time reading God's will.

2) Belong to a local church...it is not enough to just attend a church every once in a while.  You and I are called to "belong" to a local church.  Belonging means you are part of the life of that church.  You are invested and that you actually plan and prioritize your life to be at church and involved in church.

3) Find out your spiritual gift...God has graciously given all of us at least one spiritual gift- all for the purpose of serving others.  Do you know what that gift is?  One of the best ways to find out is to get involved in serving.  Find a need and begin to fill it.  See what God reveals to you and enjoy the journey.

4) Include others in your life...If we are honest we have way to many superficial conversations on a day to day basis.  Growth happens when we have close friends that are willing to call us out when needed.  They know you well enough and care about your future that they want the best for you and that means that they don't always tell you what you want to hear.

These four things in NO way earn you more favor with God.  God loves you for who you are.  However, developing these four habits will help stir your affection for God.