Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018

Church Planter 
Training Intensive
May 16-20
2018
Minneapolis, MN

CHURCH PLANTER TRAINING INTENSIVE MAY 16-20, 2018 • MSP
Overview of Week
Schedule & Topics
PAGE WEDNESDAY1
• Start and Stop on Time
• Minimize Electronic Distractions
• Fully Participate - Work Hard, Play Hard!
WED THU FRI SAT SUN
S T A R T E A C H D A Y P R O M P T L Y A T 9 : 0 0 A M
Arrive before 1:00pm
Morning Devotional Morning Devotional Morning Devotional English Language 
Church Plant Visit:
• 9:10am Departure
• 10:00am Worship
Lakeside Cov. Church

• Steve Anderson
• lakesidecov.org
Get behind the scenes,
worship together, and
see a new Covenant
Church Plant in action!
Teachback Teachback Teachback
7 Systems of a Healthy
Missional Church
Connections: Follow-
Up and Engagement Stage 2: Preview &
Doing the ‘W’
Connections Lab
1 1 : 0 0 - 1 1 : 1 5 M I D - M O R N I N G B R E A K
Evangelism: leading
people one step closer
to Jesus
Ministry & Mission
(CMJ)
Stage 3: Soft Launch 
Stage 4: Hard Launch
Debrief + Q&A
Lab Time Children’s Ministry
Send: Consecration &
Commissioning
1:00pm Intros &
Welcome
1 2 : 3 0 - 1 : 3 0 L U N C H Español/Spanish
Language Church
Plant Visit:
• 1:30pm Worship
Nuevo Pacto Church

• Pastor Mauricio
Dell’Arciprete
• newcovc.org
Prerequisites & WCPP Evangelism Lab Stewardship
Fund Raising & Donor
Development
Biblical & Spiritual
Foundations
Worship
Stewardship Lab
Finances Lab Time
3 : 0 0 - 3 : 3 0 A F T E R N O O N B R E A K
English Speakers: 
Done by 2:00pm 
Rides to Airport

Spanish Speakers: 
Fly out early evening

Travel safe, and  
thanks for being
together this week :)
We’re praying for you,
your people, and the
thriving church God has
called you to plant!
Identity: Vision,
Mission, & Core Values
Worship Lab Discipleship
Getting Started:
Facilities, Admin/Legal
Leadership
Development
Discipleship Lab
Lab: Complete WCPP
DCP Panel Discussion
Culture: Development &
Communication
Four-Stage Launch:
Launching Strong
Self-Care
Lab Time
Leadership
Development Lab
Stage 1: Launch Team
Development
Lab Time: WCPP
Review with DCP
6 : 1 5 D I N N E R
Concert of Prayer &
Worship Service
Free Evening Special Fun Night Out Free Evening
WED THU FRI SAT SUN

Getting Around
Key Locations
 
PAGE WEDNESDAY2
Oak Ridge Hotel &  
Conference Center
1 Oak Ridge Drive 
Chaska, MN 55318
oakridgeminneapolis.com 
Minneapolis/St. Paul  
International Airport (Msp)
4300 Glumack Drive 
Minneapolis, MN 55111
www.mspairport.com
Church Plant #1 | English Language
Lakeside Covenant Church
Meets at Bluff Creek Elementary School 
2300 Coulter Blvd,  
Chanhassen, MN 55317
lakesidecov.org
Church Plant #2 | Español/Spanish Language
Iglesia Nuevo Pacto | New Covenant Church
Meets at Bethlehem Covenant Church 
3141 43rd Ave S,  
Minneapolis, MN 55406
newcovc.org

Table of Contents
Intros & Orientation 5
.............................................
Why Are We Here?
Why Plant Churches? 9
.........................................
The Four Commissionings of Jesus
Planting a Healthy Missional Church
Prerequisites for Covenant Agreement 17
.............
A Well-Conceived Church Planting Plan 19
..........
What is a WCPP?
Top 7 Challenges Facing Church Planters
1.0 | Prayer
2.0 | 10 Healthy Missional Markers
3.0 | Identity
4.0 | Marketing Plans
5.0 | Demographics
6.0 | Normal & Natural Pathways
7.0 | Evangelism/Discipleship Plan
8.0 | Leaders Development
9.0 | Model of Ministry
10.0 | Financial Plans & Budgeting
11.0 | Funding the Church Plant
12.0 | Launch Team Development
13.0 | Gathering Events and Strategies
14.0 | Core Ministries
15.0 | Strategic Launch Plan
16.0 | Church Location & Facility
17.0 | Behavioral Covenant
18.0 | Commitment to Self-Care
Biblical and Spiritual Foundations 49
....................
Sample Prayer Covenant
Developing a Prayer Warrior Network
Identity: Shaping Church Culture 55
.....................
Church Culture 59
..................................................
Clarity
Communication
Control
Celebration & Correction
Character
7 Systems of a Healthy Church 68
........................
The Outreach System
The Worship System
The Small Groups System
Bonus Systems: Pastoral, Reproductive
*[Remaining Systems in separate sections]
Leadership Development 79
..................................
Six Christian Leadership Styles
Understand Your Leadership Style
The Leadership System 84
....................................
The Connections System 87
.................................
The Ministry/Mission System 89
...........................
The Stewardship System 91
..................................
Finances 95
..........................................................
Discipleship 97
......................................................
Fruitfulness & Sustainability 101
............................
Launching Strong 102
...........................................
30-60-90 Project Revitalization Process
21 Insights on Fast-Growing Church Plants
Four-Stage Launch Process 107
...........................
Stage 1: Launch Team Development 109
..............
Sample Plan: Launch Team Development
Stage 2: Preview Worship/Ministry Dev. 117
.........
Stage 3: Soft Launch/Weekly Worship 121
...........
Stage 4: Hard Launch/‘Grand Opening’ 121
.........
Helpful “People Growth” Equation
Outreach Launch Plan Samples 123
.....................
Children’s Ministry 131
..........................................
Funding the Vision 133
..........................................
Fundraising
Fundraising Tips for Church Planters
Fundraising Letter Template
Ministry Development Workshop
Getting Started: Facilities 145
...............................
Getting Started: Admin & Legal 147
......................
Addendum 1: Articles of Incorporation
Addendum 2: Secretary of State Letter
Addendum 3: ECC 501c3 Letter
Personal Care & Development 159
........................
Ten Best Practices for Health and Wellness
Covenant for Self-Care
Church Plant Visits 163
.........................................
Worship Service Observation Guide 164
...............
Church Multiplication 169
......................................
Consecration & Commissioning 171
.....................
Church Planting Mistakes 175
...............................
Potential New Church Timeline 181
......................
Equipment Needs for Public Worship 183
.............
Book & Resource Recommendations 186
...........
Web Resources 187
...............................................
Top Tens! 188
.........................................................
Top Ten Church Planting Maxims
Top Ten Reasons for Starting New Churches
10 Healthy Missional Markers
PAGE WEDNESDAY3

Notes:
PAGE WEDNESDAY4

Wednesday 1:00 PM
Intros & Orientation
Getting to Know Your Covenant Church Planting Family
Covenant Director of Church Planting
• Alex Rahill (serves under SSC)
Conference DCPs & Church Planting Staff
• Mike Brown, Northwest (+AK) 
and Training Coordinator
• Jason Condon, East Coast 
and Coaching Systems Coordinator
• Brian Johnson, Midwest
• Fil Nesta, Midwest Director of Hispanic
Ministries (+ Covenant Church Planting),  
and Assessment Coordinator
• Dave Olson, Paciﬁc Southwest (+ Midsouth)
• Glenn Peterson, Canada
• Alan Tumpkin, Great Lakes
(with more Conference and Denominational
Church Planting stafﬁng in the works!) 
Start and Strengthen Churches (SSC)
• John Wenrich, Executive Minister
• Shaun Marshall,  
Director of Congregational Vitality
“We are committed to start and strengthen healthy,
missional churches, much like the Apostle Paul
started and continued to strengthen churches in the
New Testament. We believe the local church is God’s
foundational strategy to carry out mission in the
world. Through planting new churches and providing
resources to strengthen existing congregations, these
ministries seek to reach more people, in more places,
among more populations, with the hope of Christ.”
covchurch.org/what-we-do/strengthen-churches
Support Staff
• ElenaClaire Lindholtz
• Ryan Thompson 
PAGE WEDNESDAY5

Our Values: The “Four ALs”
Two historic questions early Covenanters asked one another:
• Biblical: “Where is it written?”
• Devotional: “How goes your walk?”
As they formed in the US, they chose the name “Mission Friends”:
• Missional: “Are we pursuing Christ’s purposes?”
• Connectional: “Are we together in Christian community?”
Our Beliefs: Covenant Affirmations
www.covchurch.org/who-we-are/beliefs/affirmations
1. We affirm the centrality of the word of God
2. We affirm the necessity of the new birth
3. We affirm a commitment to the whole mission of the church
4. We affirm the church as a fellowship of believers
5. We affirm a conscious dependence on the Holy Spirit
6. We affirm the reality of freedom in Christ
Our Mission: What We Do as the Covenant
www.covchurch.org/what-we-do • video: Covenant Mission & Ministry 2013 [vimeo.com/50717463]
Five Strategic Priorities
1. Make and Deepen Disciples
2. Start and Strengthen Churches
3. Develop Leaders
4. Love Mercy, Do Justice
5. Serve Globally
Table Discussion
• Which of these “family characteristics” resonates most with you?
• Why is it important to be connected with a larger family of faith?
• What are the challenges of not just being “independent”?
Staying Connected
• Take advantage of the many opportunities for connection, encouragement, and development!
• Examples: Fall Pastors Retreat, Midwinter, Conference Annual Meeting, Covenant Annual
Meeting, Cohort meetings (in some Conferences), Exponential Conference, and more
• Your conference should have an events calendar you can visit (better yet, possibly subscribe to)
PAGE WEDNESDAY6

Why Are We Here?
What Do You Hope to Learn this Week?
•
•
•
•
•
•
Our Shared Learning Objectives
By the end of training, planters will understand and be able to implement:
• Self-Care Plan: Develop a perspective and plan for self-care and a healthy family life
• Normal & Natural Pathways: in this new church, what the normal & natural pathways are to…
• Make Disciples that are maturing in Christ
• Evangelize People so they come to a transforming faith in Jesus
• Reproduce Leaders that effectively lead, serve, and multiply
• Instill a Stewardship Culture of generosity, sacriﬁce, and faithfulness
• Multiply Churches that are healthy, missional, and also reproduce
• Four-Stage Launch Process: what it is, why it matters, how to follow and adapt for increasing
momentum in planting a healthy, missional, thriving, reproducing Covenant church
• Well-Conceived Planting Plan: develop a strategic timeline and detailed planning calendar for
the ﬁrst year that includes the four stages, special events, and key milestones
• Others:
Online Resource Folder | goo.gl/NhfvSP
Digital resources from this and several previous Trainings, includes:
• Well-Conceived Church Planting Plan Template - a template and guideline used to craft the
vision, cores values, identity, timeline, and strategy for a new church plant
• Handouts, Slides, Forms, etc. from many of the presentations
• and more!
PAGE WEDNESDAY7
“We do not rise to the level of
our expectations. We fall to
the level of our training.”
~ Archilochus, 
Greek Soldier, 650 BC
“For physical training is of
some value, but godliness has
value for all things, holding
promise for both the present
life and the life to come.”
~ The Apostle Paul 
(1 Timothy 4:8, NIV)

Notes:
PAGE WEDNESDAY8

Why Plant Churches?
When We Plant a Healthy Missional Church:
1. We Reach people who are far from God.
• Research shows that new churches have a higher conversion rate than any other evangelistic
activity. However, new churches have also proven to be the best method of reaching new1
generations, new residents, and new people groups.
2. We follow Jesus’ mandate to make Disciples.
• Planting new churches helps us to obey Jesus command to make disciples of every person that
we can. However, the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20) is not just a call to ‘make
disciples’ but to ‘baptize’. In Acts and elsewhere, it is clear that baptism means incorporating
somebody into a local worshipping community (Acts 2:41-47). A new church not only helps
reach new people but to bring them into the family of God and help them grow as disciples. 
3. Compassion is unleashed.
• Throughout the New Testament we see new churches unleashing compassion in their local
communities. We see resources shared, the hungry fed and God’s goodness poured out through
His people. This of course is what it means to “be like Jesus” who showed and shared the love of
Father throughout his life. Jesus came serving and saving (Luke 4:18). Our Lord fed the hungry
and shared the gospel. He healed the sick and preached the kingdom. Missional churches are
not just focused on good news but also on good deeds. In fact, in the church of Jerusalem, good
deeds led to good will which led to good news being shared (Acts 2:41-47). 
4. The planting church experiences increased Health and Benefit.
• Despite what some may think, the typical church that starts a new church tends to do better
itself. One reason is because churches committed to starting new churches focus on developing
and deploying leaders while engaging people with the gospel. These efforts help the mother
church grow in its own ministry muscle and impact while planting new churches. One study
demonstrated that churches which started other churches experienced a 22% increase in their
own worship attendance over the next 5 years, while financial giving increased 48%.2
Stafford, Tim (2007, September). Go and Plant Churches of All Peoples, Christianity Today. 1
Article discusses why crusades and personal witnessing are no longer the cutting edge of evangelism.
Data from Dr. Jeffrey Farmer’s PhD dissertation, “Church Planting Sponsorship,” New Orleans Seminary, 20072
PAGE WEDNESDAY9
“Go and make
disciples of all
nations…”
~ Jesus 
(Matthew 28:19-20)

5. It allows us have Greater Influence for Christ throughout our region.
• For any movement to thrive, it has to plant churches. According to Ed Stetzer, “Statistically
speaking, if a population just wants to "break even," it has to plant at least at a three percent
level—a denomination of 100 churches has to plant 3 to stay even considering attrition. A five
percent increase is needed to grow. Ten percent is needed to thrive.” 3
• If we honestly believe the Evangelical Covenant Church is a great place for people to find
Christ, then we need to expand our kingdom influence by planting churches.
Healthy missional churches are God’s plan for reaching lost people, reaching new people
groups, reaching new generations, making disciples, unleashing compassion, revitalizing
his church, transforming communities and expanding kingdom influence in our world!
This is why the ECC is committed to planting an increasing number of churches in an increasing
number of communities.
3 Reflection Questions
1. Which of these points resonates with you most deeply? Why? 
 
 
 
2. Why is your group interested in church planting? 
 
 
 
 
 
3. What goals does your group have for church planting?
 
Stetzer, Ed (2014, June) 5 Reasons Established Churches Should Plant Churches, Christianity Today3
PAGE WEDNESDAY10

The Biblical Basis for Church Planting
What is church planting?
Church planting is the name we use to describe the process by which new churches are
started. In the NT we see new churches…
• Evangelized into existence
• Discipled into maturity
• Unleashed to show and share the love of Christ

In most cases a church plant is distinctive because it is:
• Self-funded
• Self-governing
• Self-propagating
The phrase “church planting” is not found in the Bible, but it is used by Christians to describe the
process found in the Scriptures by which churches are started. The Apostle Paul is a prime example of a
church planter and we will return to his process at the end.
So why church planting?
In response to the commissions of Jesus, the disciples went out and preached the
Gospel, made Disciples and ultimately planted Churches!
• For example—when Thomas heard the words of Jesus in John 20:21, “As the Father has sent me so
send I you” he responded by going and planting churches AS FAR AS EAST INDIA. And even
today there are churches in EAST INDIA that speak of themselves as descendants of those
churches!
Common objections to planting:
• Rescue the Perishing syndrome
• Already Reached myth
• Professional-Church syndrome
• Parish Church mind-set
• Large Church mentality
• Western Christianity is in Hopeless Decline
PAGE WEDNESDAY11

Notes:
PAGE WEDNESDAY12

The Four Commissionings of Jesus
1. We are Sent
• Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on
earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son
and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I
have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very
end of the age.” - Matthew 28:18-20
2. To “All Kinds of people”
• He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the
third day, 47 and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all
nations, beginning at Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things.” - Luke 24:46-48
3. With a Message
• “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in
Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” - Acts 1:8
4. Empowered by the Spirit
4 Conclusions of the 4 Commissions
We are…
1. Sent by Jesus
2. To “all kinds of people”
3. With a message
4. Empowered by the Spirit
PAGE WEDNESDAY13
Again Jesus
said, “Peace be with
you! As the Father
has sent me, I
am sending you.”
~ Jesus 
(John 20:21)
“The commissions
of Jesus give us the
biblical basis for the
planting of Jesus’
churches”
~ Ed Stetzer

Paul’s example in the New Testament
The Pauline Cycle (David Hesselgrave)
1. Commissioning of church planters
2. Target audience is Contacted
3. The Gospel being Communicated
4. The hearers are Converted
5. Believers are Congregated
6. Faith is Conﬁrmed
7. Leaders are Consecrated
8. Believers are Commended
9. Cycle starts again…
Reﬂection Questions:
1. Why do you want to plant churches?
2. What’s the difference between church revitalization and planting new churches?
3. Which of the common objections to planting churches have you personally wrestled with? How
about those around you? Why?
4. How will you make sure that the gospel is being planted and preached?
5. What’s your group’s/church’s plan to serve locally, plant nationally, and be engaged in unreached
areas globally?  
PAGE WEDNESDAY14

Planting a Healthy Missional Church
“Go and make disciples of all nations…” - Matthew 28:19-20
When we plant a Healthy Missional Church:
1. We reach people who are far from God.
• Research shows that new churches have a higher conversion rate than any other evangelistic
activity.4
• However, new churches have also proven to be the best method of reaching new generations,
new residents, and new people groups.
2. We follow Jesus’ mandate to make disciples.
• Planting new churches helps us to obey Jesus command to make disciples of every person that
we can.
• However, the “Great Commission” (Matthew 28:18-20) is not just a call to ‘make disciples’ but to
‘baptize’. In Acts and elsewhere, it is clear that baptism means incorporating somebody into a
local worshipping community (Acts 2:41-47).
• A new church not only helps reach new people but to bring them into the family of God and
help them grow as disciples.
3. Compassion is unleashed.
• Throughout the New Testament we see new churches unleashing compassion in their local
communities. We see resources shared, the hungry fed and God’s goodness poured out through
His people. This of course is what it means to “be like Jesus” who showed and shared the love of
Father throughout his life. Jesus came serving and saving (Luke 4:18). Our Lord fed the hungry
and shared the gospel. He healed the sick and preached the kingdom.
• Missional churches are not just focused on good news but also on good deeds. In fact, in the
church of Jerusalem, good deeds led to good will which led to good news being shared (Acts
2:41-47).
4. The planting church experiences increased health and benefit.
• Despite what some may think, the typical church that starts a new church tends to do better
itself. One reason is because churches committed to starting new churches focus on developing
and deploying leaders while engaging people with the gospel.
• These efforts help the mother church grow in its own ministry muscle and impact while planting
new churches. One study demonstrated that churches which started other churches experienced
a 22% increase in their own worship attendance over the next 5 years, while financial giving
increased 48%.5
Stafford, Tim (2007, September). Go and Plant Churches of All Peoples, Christianity Today. Article discusses why crusades4
and personal witnessing are no longer the cutting edge of evangelism.
Data from Dr. Jeffrey Farmer’s PhD dissertation, “Church Planting Sponsorship,” New Orleans Seminary, 20075
PAGE WEDNESDAY15

5. It allows us have greater influence for Christ throughout our region.
• For any movement to thrive, it has to plant churches. According to Ed Stetzer, “Statistically
speaking, if a population just wants to "break even," it has to plant at least at a three percent
level—a denomination of 100 churches has to plant 3 to stay even considering attrition. A five
percent increase is needed to grow. Ten percent is needed to thrive.”6
• If we honestly believe the Evangelical Covenant Church is a great place for people to find
Christ, then we need to expand our kingdom influence by planting churches.
Healthy Missional Churches are God’s plan for reaching lost people!
• They reach new people groups, reaching new generations, making disciples, unleashing compassion,
revitalizing his church, transforming communities and expanding kingdom influence in our world.
• This is why the ECC is committed to planting an increasing number of churches in an increasing
number of communities.
Stetzer, Ed (2014, June) 5 Reasons Established Churches Should Plant Churches, Christianity Today6
PAGE WEDNESDAY16

Wednesday 1:30 PM
Prerequisites for Covenant Agreement
4 Key Prerequisites for Covenant Agreement Signing (minimums)
• 30 Adults: initial Launch Team of 30 adults in place
• 1/3rd Funding: fundraising pledges of $50-75k,  
with $15-30k received beforehand (“matched” ~2:1 by Conference & Covenant)
• 1 Support Church: at least one church in place as a  
Parent, Partner, or Mission Friend Church
• Well Conceived Planting Plan for Church Planting: bit.ly/2amFXZA
Working Definitions for Support Churches
Misc.
• Incorporation, EIN, Tax-Exempt Status, & Covenant Certificate of Fellowship
• CovConnect Profile, Pension, Benefits
• Conference-specific administrative pieces
PARENT CHURCHES PARTNER CHURCHES MISSION FRIEND
DEFINITION: Provide initial core
of at least 30 Launch Team
members and “third stream”
funding of $50-70k over 3-4 years.
Significant relational connection
between both churches
Provide substantial portion of
initial Launch Team members and
some of the “third stream”
funding over 3-4 years,
equivalent to roughly 1/2 to 1/5
of a “parent church” commitment
Commit as entire church or
through individual members to
tangibly support through
prayer, resources, volunteering,
and the occasional celebrated
Launch Team member
FEATURES: primarily nearby
mission field, full support, fishing
license for Launch Team, baby
shower for start-up equipment,
blessing and celebration.
Think “Mom & Dad”
Nearby or regional mission, seek
to “tithe” members, tangible
support & encouragement, “baby
shower”, short-term missionaries.
Think “grandparents and
siblings”
Opportunity for measurable
healthy missional efforts,
picture on the fridge, care
packages, project volunteers.
Think “aunts, uncles,  
and cousins”
CHURCH NETWORKS:
(parish, multi-site, campus…)
Emerging Category: Everything a Parent Church provides, plus
significant ongoing coordination, collaboration, and regional impact.
Think “Whole Household & Extended Family”
PAGE WEDNESDAY17

Room Activity: 3 Groups, 3 Minutes, 3 Bullet Points
Each Group takes on One Key Prerequisite  
(from the ﬁrst three: Launch Team, Funding, Support Church)
1. Take three minutes 
2. Construct three bullet points 
•  
 
 
 
 
•  
 
 
 
 
•  
 
 
 
 
3. Convince the other two groups your prerequisite is the most important one!
PAGE WEDNESDAY18

Instructions for Using Template
Two Options | Online or File Download: Short URL: bit.ly/2amFXZA
• Online Google Doc Users (recommended):
o File → Make a copy...
o Rename and Save to Your Personal “Google Drive”
• Download Your Own Copy:
o File → Download as
o Choose Preferred File type (.docx, .pdf. etc.)
o Save to Computer/Device
Plan Checklist
1. Prayer Focus Outlined
2. Intercessory Prayer Team Recruited
3. Plan to live into Healthy Missional
Markers
4. Identity Plan Completed (Seed
Verse, Name, Vision, Core Values)
5. Marketing Plans
6. Demographics Report on Target
Area Completed
7. Community Assessment Report
Done
8. Normal & Natural Pathways
Defined
9. Evangelism/Discipleship Plan
10. Leadership Development Plan 
11. Delineated Model of Ministry
12. Finances — Budget and Cash
Flow for first 12 Months
13. Funding in Place
14. Support Church(es) recruited
15. Launch Team Gathered
16. Gathering Plans/Events
Scheduled
17. Core Ministry Teams Identified
18. 12-Month Launch Plan outlined
19. Location and Facility Identified
20. Behavioral Covenant Created
21. Self-Care Plan 
PAGE WEDNESDAY20

What is a WCPP?
Before planting a church, each church planting pastor,
sensing the call of God to plant, must ask some very
important questions...
• What will this cost in terms of time, money, and resources?
• Who will we reach?
• Where will we plant?
• What will be the unique DNA of this new church?
• How will we live out of that uniqueness?
• Who will partner with us?
• Where will the laborers and initial resources come from?
These are just a few of the questions each
planting pastor must wrestle with prior to
beginning the process of planting a new
church.
In our system these questions must be answered
prior to the signing of a Covenant Agreement,
which is our contract with a planting pastor.
Contained in this resource are some templates,
tools, and worksheets that will help in the process
of developing a strong church planting proposal.
These are intended to help in developing a plan
but we fully realize that each situation and
opportunity is unique and you will need to
contextualize the resources to fit your
circumstances.
The first thing we will ask you to develop is a
strong intercessory prayer team, and a strong
prayer ministry within the growing church. This
is first and foremost a spiritual exercise and you
WILL come under spiritual attack. Church
planting means you will be operating behind
enemy lines the entire time you are planting, so
prayer is foundational.
The proposal will explain where the focus of
ministry will be, who you are attempting to reach,
any partnerships anticipated, funding, where you
will meet, how the church will be structured, how
the church will be staffed, and an explanation of
why you believe this plan will accomplish the
goals you have set. The proposal will also contain
a clear description of the vision behind this new
church (the big, scary, God-given dream of what
this could be), the mission statement (a stated
plan for how you will live into the vision), and the
core values (the non-negotiables you will build
this ministry on) driving this new work. The
proposal will also include a budget, a plan for the
first 18 months of the church including a
calendar of events that will outline the gathering
strategy, an outreach/evangelism plan, launch
team meetings, discipleship activities, serving
opportunities, community engagement, ministry
team building, and worship gatherings, with a
clear plan to achieve the benchmarks as discussed
in the Church Planter Training Intensive (CPTI),
and as outlined by your church planting coach or
Director of Church Planting.
This may seem like a very intensive process to go
through to see a new church begin, but it is for
your benefit that we ask you to be prayerful,
strategic and have a fully developed plan. We
want you to be wise about the planting process.
We also want you to count the cost prior to
beginning a planting project. Our goal is for you
to bring this project to life in a healthy, well-
thought out way that will result in a thriving
church that will be both fruitful and sustainable.  
PAGE WEDNESDAY21
“Suppose one of you wants to
build a tower. Will he not first
sit down and estimate the cost
to see if he has enough money
to complete it? For if he lays the
foundation and is not able to
finish it, everyone who sees it
will ridicule him, saying, ‘This
fellow began to build and
was not able to finish.’”
– Jesus (Luke 14:28-30 NIV)

Top 7 Challenges Facing Church Planters 7
1. Leadership development and reproducing culture
2. Financial self-sufﬁciency and viability
3. Team development and volunteer mobilization
4. Systems, processes and cultures
5. Vision casting and avoiding mission drift
6. Evangelism and discipleship
7. Spiritual, physical and mental health of planter and family
This list was included because this study conﬁrms the necessity for a well-conceived plan
that addresses all of these topics. It is important that we begin by thinking through all of
these key components of healthy, missional church planting.
From Exponential-Sifted. 7 Top Challenges Study done by Todd Wilson (Exponential Director) and Ed Stetzer (Lifeway7
Research) and many other planters and Directors of Church Planting
PAGE WEDNESDAY22

1.0 | Prayer
The very first thing you must do as one called to plant a new church is to really seek God on every
decision. Jesus never did anything in His ministry that He did not bring before His Father in prayer. In
John 8:28, Jesus said,
“When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am and that I do nothing on my
own but speak just what the Father has taught me.” (NIV)
The single most important thing you can do is bathe everything you do in prayer and ask others to join
you in bringing each decision before the Father. Don’t just invite God to join you in what you’ve decided
to do, but learn to faithfully follow God where He’s already at work and is calling you to join Him.
Spiritual warfare is real. We probably need to say that again, “Spiritual warfare is real.” Don’t dismiss
how badly the evil one wants you to fail, get distracted, or be defeated. And He won’t come at you in his
red jammies holding a pitchfork, because any Christ follower would know how to handle that. Instead
he will attack in subtle ways that will pull you away from doing the things God is calling you to do, that
cause you to be unable to fulfill God’s plan, or he will attack your family, marriage, relationships, or
finances.
Prayer is job one in church planting.
1.1 | Prayer Action Plan
Begin by praying and asking God whom you should ask to become prayer intercessors for you, your
family and this new work.
1. Assemble a list of possible intercessors.
2. Contact them all and invite them to be on your team. (The suggestion is that you have at least 30
people on your intercession team, and that you develop a smaller team of very close friends or family
who you can call at any time with emergency needs.)
3. Have them all fill out the Prayer Covenant (a sample is at the end of this section). After they’ve
completed it, copy it and send a copy back to them to place somewhere to remind them to pray for
you, for your family, and the church regularly.
4. Many have created a magnet with a family photo on it, the name of the church, and the words,
“Please pray for us.” This can be placed on the refrigerator of those who commit to pray as a
constant reminder not to neglect this sacred duty.
5. Make a commitment to share prayer needs regularly (typically monthly in the form of a newsletter).
Be sure to include not just requests but the answers to previous requests you asked your team to be
praying about.
6. Commit, as the pastor of this new work, to pray at least weekly for your intercessors. They are also
stepping out into dangerous territory by committing to support you and the church.
7. Renew your Prayer Covenants each year and add people as some drop off the list.
We have included several good prayer resources in this section. Make sure you build a strong team and
commit to be a church that prays about everything. Seek God for clarity, give Him thanks for His
provision and protection, and ask very specifically for what you need. God delights in answering our
prayers.
PAGE WEDNESDAY23

1.2 | Intercessory Prayer Team
1. 26.
2. 27.
3. 28.
4. 29.
5. 30.
6. 31.
7. 32.
8. 33.
9. 34.
10. 35.
11. 36.
12. 37.
13. 38.
14. 39.
15. 40.
16. 41.
17. 42.
18. 43.
19. 44.
20. 45.
21. 46.
22. 47.
23. 48.
24. 49.
25. 50.
PAGE WEDNESDAY24

1.3 | Prayer and God
Key Scriptures on Prayer
1. Psalm 127:1-2, Pray that God will build this new church and give you freedom from anxiety and worry.
2. Jeremiah 33:3, Matthew 7:7, Pray that God will reveal to you the things you need to know to fulfill your call
to plant this church.
3. Galatians 5:22-23, Pray that God will fill you with the fruit of His Holy Spirit in every situation, meeting
and setting.
4. Galatians 6:9, Pray that God will give you and your team the strength you need to keep going, even in the
face of challenges and trials.
5. Joshua 11:15, Pray that you will do all that you need to do and leave nothing undone that needs to be done.
6. Proverbs 16:18, Pray that God will protect your heart from becoming prideful.
7. Matthew 28:19, Pray that God will use you to fulfill this Great Commission
8. 1 John 1:9, Pray that you will always have transparency in your relationship with God
9. Acts 6:7, Pray that wherever God leads you the Word of God will spread and have impact.
10. John 17:15, Pray that God would protect you, your family and this new church each day.
11. Galatians 6:9, Pray that you and those who gather with you to start this new work would not grow fatigued
and never give up.
12. 2 Peter 3:9, Pray that as God sends you out to start this new work that none would perish, but find eternal
life, where you bring the Word.
13. Psalm 37:4, Pray that you would wake up each day and delight yourself in the Lord.
14. Psalm 91, Pray that the protection and deliverance of God would be yours each day and in every
circumstance.
15. I Corinthians 15:58, Pray that you and your team would be steadfast, and immovable, always abounding in
the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain.
16. Ephesians 4:1-7, Pray that God would maintain the unity of the church through everything you encounter.
17. Ephesians 6:10-20, Pray that God would place the full armor on you and all those who engage this ministry
as you enter enemy territory.
18. Philippians 2:14-15, Pray that you might be lights in a very dark world.
19. Philippians 4:19, Pray that God would supply all that you need as you move through this planting
experience.
20. Acts 26, Pray that we would always have boldness to proclaim the Gospel no matter the circumstances.
21. John 15, Pray that we would care as much as God does for that one lost soul.
22. Luke 10:25-37, Pray that we would always have our neighbor’s best interests at heart.
23. Luke 11:1-13, Ask God to continually teach each of us how to pray and trust.
24. Matthew 6:19-24, Pray that our treasures would be accumulating in heaven as we seek to live into God’s call
on our lives.
25. Acts 2:47, Pray that the Lord would add to your number daily those who are being saved.
PAGE WEDNESDAY25

1.4 | The ______________ Covenant Church Prayer Covenant
We will pray for the ________________ Covenant church planting team regularly,
remembering their need for:
• God’s Protection From The Evil One.
o John 17:15 “I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should
guard them from the evil one.”
• God’s Direction Through His Word.
o John 17:17-18 “Make them pure and holy by teaching them your words of truth. 18 As you
sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
• God’s Provision For All Their Needs.
o Philippians 4:19 “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.”
• Open Doors To Share Christ.
o Revelation 3:7 “He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he shuts doors, and no one can
open them.”
• Unity And Love For Each Other.
o Ephesians 4:1-3 “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the
calling with which you were called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with longsuffering,
bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of
peace.”
We will pray for the people in the _________________ area so that they:
• Would Be Released From Satan To Follow Jesus As Lord.
o 2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, the god of this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who
don’t believe, so they are unable to see the glorious light of the Good News that is shining
upon them.”
• Would Give Favor To And Receive The ______________ Team Members.
o Acts 2:47 “Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the
church daily those who were being saved.”
Thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer. People follow Jesus Christ as a direct result of
faithful believers talking to God on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Praying the truth of the Bible is our
most effective weapon against evil in this world (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Please remember us continually
because we know that we will face spiritual warfare. Our prayer partners are the Most Valuable Players
on our team.
_________________________________________________
Prayer Partner
PAGE WEDNESDAY26

Describe How Your Church Will Live into the 10 Healthy Missional Markers.
1. The Centrality of the Word of God
2. Life Transforming Walk With Jesus
3. Intentional Evangelism
4. Transforming Communities Through active Compassion, Mercy & Justice Ministries
5. Global Perspective and Engagement
6. Compelling Christian Community
7. Heartfelt Worship
8. Sacriﬁcial and Generous Living and Giving
9. Culture of Godly Leadership
10. Fruitful Organizational Structures
3.0 | Identity
3.1 | Seed Verse
What passage of Scripture or Seed Verse best articulates the call you have to plant this
new church?
3.2 | Church Name
What is the name and how does it ﬁt with the seed passage or verse?
PAGE WEDNESDAY27

3.3 | Our Vision: What do you hope to become?
Developing your Vision statement 8
Vision Must:
• Be God given—it comes through prayer, fasting and waiting on God.
• Be Future focused
• Flow out of God’s purposes and plans for this new church
• Be God’s assignment for your particular ministry.
The Test of a Godly Vision:
• Should be so big that without God you are destined to fail
• Should promote faith, and not fear
• Should move people to action
• May create a holy discontent in people
• Will glorify God and not the pastor or other people
If this church could do anything for God over the next few years, and know with certainty
that it would happen, what would it be?
The Vision of this new church is…
Adapted from “How to Plant a Church in the 21st Century” by Bob Logan and Tom Clegg8
PAGE WEDNESDAY28

3.4 | Our Core Values
The Values below will allow us to create the church and community we believe God is
calling us to be. These are the non-negotiable convictions and priorities that guide all our
actions.
The Core Values of this new church are:
•
•
•
•
•
•
(Try to limit to 3-6 Core Values)
Describe your plans to get the word out about your church:
• Logo design
• Website
• Facebook page
• Twitter Account/Other Social Media
• Street signage for Sunday gatherings
• Posters/ﬂyers/door hangers to let the community know that you are there, worship times, contact
info, etc.
• Other
PAGE WEDNESDAY29

5.0 | Demographics
Before you plant you always need to do a “soil analysis.”
One of the very ﬁrst steps in planting a new church is to learn all you can about the people and the
community where you are hoping to plant. You need to be the most informed person about your
neighborhood or community you can possibly be.
If you want to meet the needs of the people in your community, then you need to know
what those needs are. 
5.1 | Results of a Good Demographic Study:
• You will know who lives in the area you are planning to plant.
• You will know the community trends, age demographics, educational achievement, income levels,
and shifts that are happening.
• You will be able to identify who your target group or groups are.
• You will be able to identify the needs of the groups you are targeting.
• You will know the basic social dynamics of the groups in your target area.
• You will have a snapshot of the beliefs of the key groups in your area. 
Key Demographics to Pay Attention to:
• Population/Household trends
• Ethnicity of the community
• Population and age trends of the children in your community
• Household family types
• Adult educational attainment
• Employment statistics
• Religious practices
• Preferred church styles, leadership etc.
A good demographic study may take 15-20 hours to complete.
PAGE WEDNESDAY30

Steps to Complete a Demographic Study
1. Define the geographical boundaries of your study.
Decide on the area your ministry will reach. In most cases this will not be more than a 2-3 mile
radius from the center of the community you are trying to reach and in large cities may be much
smaller. As you define the study area think about natural boundaries, specific people groups you
hope to reach, where the schools are located, and other key defining characteristics.
2. Take a Windshield/Walk-Thru Survey of the Community or Neighborhood.
Drive and walk through the community and take notice of the people, the schools, the businesses,
churches, recreational facilities, playgrounds and parks. Look to see how many houses are for sale,
how much of the community is multi-family housing, the level of poverty or affluence, public
transportation, etc. Be a detective and look for good clues that will help you as you develop your
plan.
3. Check with the Chamber of Commerce, City Government, Schools, Police Dept., etc.
They can often confirm what you’ve been seeing and hearing, or disclose information you wouldn’t
have found any other way.
5.2 | MissionInsite
The Evangelical Covenant Church provides you with access to a demographic tool called
MissionInsite. www.missioninsite.com
• This resource is available for unlimited use as the costs are covered by your conference and the
denomination. This resource will allow you to customize the reporting area so you can get the
information you need. Remember, the more heavily populated the area is, the smaller the
geography you will want to generate reports on.
• Your Director of Church Planting will give you an access code and instructions so you can establish
an account to use this resource. Gather as much community information as you possibly can. Filter
out what will be helpful as you begin to develop more specifics. Utilize the video helps and the
worksheets that are provided.
• Utilize the MissionInsite ExecutiveInsite Worksheet, drawing information from the
ExecutiveInsite report, to begin building a better understanding of your community: (worksheet
found on MissionInsite.com webpage under Resources)
Discovering Ministry Opportunities with MissionInsite
You may create an ExecutiveInsite report for any ministry area. Each ExecutiveInsite report is
organized around 12 themes or “Insites” which are strategic for discovering ministry opportunities.
ExecutiveInsite may be used to analyze regional as well as local areas including neighborhood block
groups. When using community based information to analyze ministry opportunities we suggest you
consider how far people readily travel for work or shopping in order to define your ministry area. You
may also want to consider natural, regional, or transportation barriers that impact your location within a
ministry area.
PAGE WEDNESDAY31

5.3 | Community Assessment
Following the demographic study, we suggest utilizing a resource like, Rapid Community Assessment by David
Mills (available through Amazon). This resource gets you out in the community to conﬁrm the
information you gleaned through your work with the demographic tool. It is a simple community survey
tool that can help you build your plan.
Key Questions to Ask:
1. What do you think are the greatest needs in this community?
2. What are the key things you think I should know about this community?
3. If you were looking for a church, what kind of things would you look for?
4. What advice do you have for me as a pastor of a new church
5. Who else do you think I should talk to about the community?
6. Are you an active member of a nearby church?
7. Are you interested in hearing more about the new church?
How will your church:
1. Make Disciples
2. Evangelize People
3. Reproduce Leaders
4. Instill a Stewardship Culture
5. Multiply Churches that Multiply Churches
PAGE WEDNESDAY32

7.0 | Evangelism/Discipleship Plan
7.1 | First 12 Months
In the ﬁrst 12 months of this new church what will be the evangelism/discipleship
strategies you will utilize to reach your community or neighborhood? (Please reference
this Church Planter Training Workbook for examples and ideas)
7.2 | Action Plan
List three (3) speciﬁc action plans you will implement to make sure this is “baked into the
DNA” of the new church.
1.
2.
3.
PAGE WEDNESDAY33

8.0 | Leaders Development
8.1 | How will you identify leaders?
8.2 | How will you equip leaders?
8.3 | Describe your stafﬁng plan.
PAGE WEDNESDAY34

What will the normal rhythms be for this community of believers?
• Worship Times And Locations
• Small Groups, Missional Communities, House Church, Life Groups, Etc.
10.1 | Income Sources First Year
First Year Projections for Giving, Fundraising, Appropriations
10.2 | Anticipated ﬁrst year expenses
10.3 | Spreadsheet
Create a simple budget spreadsheet that lists expected ﬁrst year income & expenses
• Budget Tools in Online Folder: goo.gl/NhfvSP under “Finances, Budgets, Fundraising, Financial
Stewardship” folder
PAGE WEDNESDAY35

11.0 | Funding the Church Plant
11.1 | Support Churches or Ministries:
Prerequisite: You will need at least one Support Church prior to signing a Covenant Agreement.
Parent/Partner Churches or Ministries commit to help the church plant in these areas:
• Financial support
• People sent
• Other tangible support (temporary help for events, use of ofﬁce equipment and space, support or
hosting of events, etc.)
• Prayer Support
List your Parent/Partner Churches or Ministries and their level of commitment to the
church plant:
1.
2.
3.
4.
PAGE WEDNESDAY36

11.2 | Individual Supporters and Donors:
(These are not launch team members and their tithes. This is outside fundraising.)
Please list names and ﬁnancial commitments.
Names Support
Committed
Names Support
Committed
1. 21.
2. 22.
3. 23.
4. 24.
5. 25.
6. 26.
7. 27.
8. 28.
9. 29.
10. 30.
11. 31.
12. 32.
13. 33.
14. 34.
15. 35.
16. 36.
17. 37.
18. 38.
19. 39.
20. 40.
PAGE WEDNESDAY37

Who will help you launch this new church? You can’t do it alone and shouldn’t do it alone.
Prerequisite: You will need 30-40 committed adults prior to signing a Covenant Agreement.
List names of committed launch team members below.
Names Names
1. 21.
2. 22.
3. 23.
4. 24.
5. 25.
6. 26.
7. 27.
8. 28.
9. 29.
10. 30.
11. 31.
12. 32.
13. 33.
14. 34.
15. 35.
16. 36.
17. 37.
18. 38.
19. 39.
20. 40.
PAGE WEDNESDAY38

13.0 | Gathering Events and Strategies
13.1 | Laborers for the Harvest
Every new church needs laborers and like-minded people to help implement the vision.
Where will they come from?
13.2 | Activities or Events
What activities or events will you use to reach people in the ﬁrst 12 months of the new
church?
 
PAGE WEDNESDAY39

14.1 | Ministry Team Stafﬁng
What ministry teams will be necessary to live into the vision?
Who will lead these teams?
14.2 | Training
What will you do for training?
14.3 | Resourcing
How will you resource those ministries?
PAGE WEDNESDAY40

15.1 | 12 Month Schedule
Assuming a speciﬁc start date, outline a comprehensive 12 month schedule that lists
launch team activities, outreach events, gathering events, preview services, leadership
development, core ministry development, regular worship gathering dates and times.
(Recommended: Use or adapt the “W” model.)
PAGE WEDNESDAY41

15.2 | Sample Benchmarks/Timeline from Covenant Agreement
These benchmarks will serve as helpful guidelines for measuring the healthy, missional vitality of this
new church. While primarily for the purpose of focused eﬀorts and tailored coaching, their pursuit will
also indicate the viability and sustainability of this church planting project. As the church develops,
these benchmarks may be adjusted accordingly with the consent of the East Coast Conference
Director of Church Planting.

A. Well-Conceived Planting Plan: Draft your ministry plan, discuss, and update with your coach.
[Examples and template at bit.ly/covchurchplantplan]

B. Initial Launch Timeline & Goals: December 2017 – June 2019

KEY: DR = Discipling Relationships, LT = Launch Team Members, WA = Worship Attendance, KM = Key Ministries Letter Grade Quality
C. Discipling Relationships: Those who are intentionally receiving discipleship, with the commitment to
disciple others when ready, for the ongoing reproduction of disciple-making disciples

D. Launch Team Members:

1. Prerequisite of 30 Adults for Initial Launch Team before signing Agreement

2. Launch Team Members are those who’ve personally and officially committed to the full launch of
Awesome Covenant Church

3. Planter provides initial list of names and contact info to DCP by Dec 1; add to list each month

E. Worship Attendance: Through prayer, evangelism, invitation, events, marketing, follow-through,  
and more, reach or surpass goals for each stage

F. Key Ministries: Develop key ministries of Worship, Children, Hospitality, Follow-up & Connection,
Small Groups, Evangelism & Outreach. Improve “letter grades” accordingly throughout each stage

G. Worship Facility: Secure worship facility by Feb 15, 2016 that can host at least 200 worshipers

H. Personal & Partner Church Fund-Raising: $85,000

1. Prerequisite of raising approximately One-Third of Funding before signing Covenant Agreement

2. Read Funding Your Ministry and Asking (both provided) by Dec 1, 2017

3. Develop a fundraising strategy in consultation with your Coach and Director of Church Planting

4. Pledges: secure pledges and commitments for at least $60,000 by Jan 1, 2018

5. Initial Fund-Raising: Receive at least $20,000 by March 1, 2016

6. Ongoing Fund-Raising: Based on initial fund-raising, set new goals and strategy for remainder

I. Stewardship & Sustainability: Congregational & Financial Goals by end of each project year

1. Year 1: 130 in worship attendance, 33% progress towards Financial Self-sufficiency

2. Year 2: 160, 66% progress towards Financial Self-sufficiency

3. Year 3: 190, 100% financially self-sufficient by time Appropriations end

4. Year 4: 220, 105%, preserving or using surplus for parenting or partnering in church planting

5. Year 5: 250, 110%, using surplus for parenting or partnering in church planting

J. Multiplication & Membership: Furthering the Shared Mission in Years 4-5

1. Church Planting: Parent or Partner with other churches in the planting of your first church plant

2. Member Church. Upon meeting the necessary criteria and missional viability requirements,
complete process for becoming a full member congregation in the Evangelical Covenant Church 
STAGE
1. Launch Team
Development
2. Preview Worship/
Ministry Development
3. Soft Launch/ 
Weekly Worship
4. Hard Launch/ 
“Grand Opening”
Post-Launch 1: 
Depth & Stability
Post-Launch 2: 
Outreach & Growth
Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
DR: 6 8 10 12 14 20 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
LT: 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70 70 70 70 N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A
WA: N/A N/A N/A 80 100 120 90 110 125 150 130 130 130 135 140 145 160 150 145
KM: N/A N/A C+ B- B B B+ B+ B+ A- A- A- A- A- A A A A A
PAGE WEDNESDAY42

16.0 | Church Location & Facility
16.1 | Why this location?
Why is this the best location for you to fulﬁll the vision for this new work?
(Refer to section 16.3 on the next page for recommendations)
16.2 | Pros and Cons
Describe the pros and cons of the location you have chosen.
PAGE WEDNESDAY43

16.3 | Facility Selection Checklist
Key Questions to Ask:
1. Is the location near a major road? Can you get there without complex directions or ﬁghting trafﬁc?
2. Is the location near the people you’re trying to reach?
3. Are there barriers that will cut you off from the people group(s) you’re trying to reach?
4. Is there adequate parking and easy access?
5. Is the facility handicapped accessible?
6. Is this a place that looks good from the curb? Does it communicate the message you want to
communicate about the church?
7. Does the worship space have adequate lighting? Heat? Air conditioning?
8. Is there room for children’s ministry, hospitality ministry, and room to grow?
9. Is the space too big? Or too small? It’s okay to pack people in, but as the church grows you will
need to be able to spread out. If the space feels full now guests will feel there is no place for them.
10. Are there any restrictions on churches meeting in this facility?
11. How long will the church be allowed to meet at this location?
12. How much space is available for worship?
13. Will the church be required to provide seating?
14. Are there time restrictions for the day you will meet? Do you have to be out early because of other
activities?
15. Who sets up?
16. Who cleans up?
17. Any restrictions on food or beverages?
18. Will we have access to any equipment? (lighting, sound, video, etc.)
19. Is there storage available on site?
20. Will the church be allowed to put up signs outside and inside?
21. Are there parking restrictions?
22. How much will it cost? Are there any extra costs not included in the facility rent?
You should visit every facility more than once, hopefully with those who will be responsible for
key ministry areas, or with your DCP or coach. (hospitality, children’s, worship, etc.) 
PAGE WEDNESDAY44

Create a one page Church Behavioral Covenant for your new church
17.1 | Who are we?
17.2 | Creating Unity and Harmony
How will we live in harmony and unity with each other?
17.3 | Commitments
What commitments are we making regarding our faithfulness in attendance, ﬁnancial
support, serving, etc?
PAGE WEDNESDAY45

17.4 | Sample Behavioral Covenant (or Relational Covenant)
How to Talk about Change (and other highly charged topics) – so you can have “balcony conversations”
where you can speak the truth in love and not have “basement conversations” where you beat-up on
people who are not there or berate people and avoid speaking the truth in love.
Behavioral Covenants—Holy Manners for a Faith Community:
“A behavioral covenant is a written document developed by leaders from Scripture, agreed to and
owned by its creators, and practiced on a daily basis as a spiritual discipline. The Covenant answers
the question, “How will we behave (how will we live together?) when we don’t understand each other
and when we don’t agree?”
– Gil Rendle, Behavioral Covenants in Congregations
Guidelines for Loving Relationships and Values to Guide Our Interaction
• Colossians 3:12-17
• 1 Thessalonians 5:12-26
Example of a Behavioral Covenant from one Evangelical Covenant Church…
• We seek to build each other up and not tear down.
• We respect and honor the ofﬁce of pastor and other lay leaders.
• We seek to communicate clearly and completely.
• We offer our opinions with charity and humility.
• We make positive investments in one another’s lives.
• We seek to discover what is best for our church as a whole, not what may be best for us or for some
small group in the church.
• We accept disagreement, conﬂict and evaluation as normal and natural.
“The answers are not in the data,
the answers are in the conversations you have about the data
as the Holy Spirit leads and guides”
PAGE WEDNESDAY46

1. Do I have the support of my spouse and family?
2. Do I have an accountability partner or spiritual director?
3. Are my personal affairs in order?
• My ﬁnances, marriage, other relationships. Church planting will amplify the weak places in
your life. It is another place spiritual warfare will manifest.
4. What is your plan to protect your marriage, family and home?
• Describe how you will practice good self-care, Sabbath keeping, and keep yourself morally
accountable.
• Describe how you will build fun into this journey.
• Describe your commitments to the spiritual disciplines.
PAGE WEDNESDAY47

18.1 | Covenant for Self-Care
For the stewardship of the life I’ve been given and the ministry to which I’ve been called in
Christ Jesus…
1. I will develop the weekly habit of observing the following spiritual disciplines (beyond sermon prep
and teaching opportunities). List at least 3:
•
•
•
2. I will regularly set aside time to be present with my family for meals and family activities.
3. I will schedule and use all of my vacation time, and any other holidays and days off I am given each
year, as approved by my Covenant Agreement or Letter of Call.
4. I will attend retreats and continuing education opportunities each year as outlined by the
Department of Ordered Ministry and my Conference coach.
5. I will strive to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This will include regular check-ups with my Dr., and
maintaining a healthy weight (unless such conformity is deemed to be risky by my physician).
6. I will engage in some form of exercise regularly (at least 3 times a week), at a level approved by my
physician. List your intended exercise plan:
•
•
7. I commit to a healthy nutrition plan that will allow me to maintain the proper weight.
8. I will strive to get at least 7 hours of sleep each night.
9. I will order my personal affairs regarding the proper documents (insurance, wills, power of attorney
and guardianship for my minor children). I will make known the location of these documents to the
following individuals. List at least 2:
•
•
10. I commit to a regular accountability relationship and/or spiritual direction. List those individuals:
•
•
I covenant all of the above with my Director of Church Planting, and/or my coach, with
whom I will share a mutual accountability relationship for our self-care as clergy.
___________________________________ ___________________________________
Church Planter Coach 
PAGE WEDNESDAY48

Wednesday 2:00 PM
Biblical and Spiritual
Foundations
Planting a church is first and foremost a spiritual exercise.
That means this all begins and ends with prayer. It’s also
abundantly clear from scripture that the evil one doesn’t
want this to happen and will do whatever possible to
distract, disrupt, create disunity and dysfunction. The good
news is, we have the answer to all of that. Prayer Works!
So, each of us needs a covering.
Key Questions:
1. How will you specifically pray for this new church?
2. What does Ephesians 6 offer us as we step out in faith?
3. How will you lead your team to pray?
4. Who will you ask to be on your intercessory prayer
team? 
PAGE WEDNESDAY49
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
his mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God, so that you can take
your stand against the devil’s
schemes. 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. Therefore
put on the full armor of God, so that
when the day of evil comes, you may
be able to stand your ground, and
after you have done everything, to
stand. Stand firm then, with the belt
of truth buckled around your waist,
with the breastplate of righteousness
in place, and with your feet fitted
with the readiness that comes from
the gospel of peace. In addition to all
this, take up the shield of faith, with
which you can extinguish all the
flaming arrows of the evil one. Take
the helmet of salvation and the
sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God.
And pray in the Spirit on all
occasions with all kinds of prayers
and requests. With this in mind, be
alert and always keep on praying for
all the Lord’s people. Pray also for
me, that whenever I speak, words
may be given me so that I will
fearlessly make known the mystery
of the gospel, for which I am an
ambassador in chains. Pray that I
may declare it fearlessly, as I should.
~Apostle Paul (Eph. 6:10-20 NIV)
“More things are wrought by prayer
than this world dreams of.”
~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson

Notes:
PAGE WEDNESDAY50
Work on my Well-Conceived
Church Planting Plan
• See Section 1.0
• Prayer: start building
an action plan!

Sample Prayer Covenant
Mike Brown, Northwest Conference DCP
The [Church Name] Covenant Church Prayer Covenant
We will pray for the [Church Name] Covenant church planting team regularly,  
remembering their need for:
• God’s protection from the evil one. John 17:15 - “I do not pray that you should take them out
of the world, but that you should guard them from the evil one.”
• God’s direction through His Word. John 17:17-18 - “Make them pure and holy by teaching
them your words of truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world.”
• God’s provision for all their needs. Philippians 4:19 - “And my God shall supply all your needs
according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.”
• Open doors to share Christ. Revelation 3:7 - “He opens doors, and no one can shut them; he
shuts doors, and no one can open them.”
• Unity and love for each other. Ephesians 4:1-3 - “I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech
you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, 2 with all lowliness and gentleness,
with longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, 3 endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in
the bond of peace.”
We will pray for the people in the {City, Town, Neighborhood] area so that they:
• Would be released from Satan to follow Jesus as Lord. 2 Corinthians 4:4 “Satan, the god of
this evil world, has blinded the minds of those who don’t believe, so they are unable to see the
glorious light of the Good News that is shining upon them.”
• Would give favor to and receive the ______________ Team members. Acts 2:47 “Praising
God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were
being saved.”
Prayerfully signed,
_________________________________________________
[Church Name] Covenant Church Prayer Partner
Thank you so much for partnering with us in prayer. People follow Jesus Christ as a direct result
of faithful believers talking to God on their behalf (1 Timothy 2:1-4). Praying the truth of the Bible is
our most effective weapon against evil in this world (2 Corinthians 10:3-5). Please remember us
continually because we know that we will face spiritual warfare. Our prayer partners are the Most
Valuable Players on our team. 
PAGE WEDNESDAY51

Developing a Prayer Warrior Network
Article by John M. Bailey, Church Planting Group, North American Mission Board
Intro
Recently, while reading the first chapters of the
book of Acts, I noticed something rather strange.
First, I noted that the disciples, while waiting in
the upper room, prayed. And prayed. And
prayed. In fact, it seems they prayed for days. I
noted that Peter preached a very short sermon to
the residents of Jerusalem... maybe 15 minutes at
best. The result? Three thousand were saved. As I
reflected on my own ministry, I noted that I tend
to preach a long time, pray little, and see just a
few saved. Sound familiar?
Through prayer, God greatly multiplies our
efforts. As a church planter, there is no greater
need than the establishment and communication
with a prayer support team.
Who?
This may not be as easy as you think. Your prayer
warriors will need to know specific prayer
requests. Some of those requests may be about
specific people in your ministry or on your
leadership team. I suggest strongly that you enlist
individuals to serve on your team who know you
personally but who do not live in your area of
service. This gives you the freedom to speak
openly and honestly without fear of your requests
becoming local gossip.
I would suggest that you recruit as many people
as possible to serve on your team. Start with a
minimum of 50 and grow from there. I would
also include your sponsoring and partnering
churches.
As you have opportunities to share your vision for
your plant, it is crucial that you carry with you a
way to enlist prayer warriors. Even a legal tablet
will work as long as you use it. Never stop
enlisting prayer warriors!
It might not hurt; however, to establish a local
prayer network which includes your church
members and local pastors. Naturally, you would
not include sensitive subjects, but I believe that
the creation of this second team will benefit both
your plant and those praying for you. It reinforces
the importance of prayer and allows them to
participate in your ministry.
What?
I am a big believer in being very specific with
your prayer requests. Asking the Lord to bless the
missionaries is wonderful, but blessings come in a
variety of forms! Be specific with your requests. I
would also make sure that I stay balanced in my
requests. Your prayer requests might include the
following:
1. Specific requests for you and your family. Be
honest about your struggles and needs
2. Prayer for your vision and values. Include
updates and be honest about your struggles
3. Prayer for your leadership and financial
needs. Be specific
4. Prayer for upcoming events and speaking
opportunities
5. Prayer for your strategy. Keep them updated
6. Prayer for the lost by name
7. Prayer for your sponsoring churches
8. Prayer for your mentor or coach
9. Prayer for your vision, that you would see the
community as God sees it.
10. Prayer for resources. Be specific about your
needs
PAGE WEDNESDAY52

Not only would I send out my prayer requests, I
would also send out praises as well. Those
praying for you want to know what God is doing
in your midst. Testify of His greatness! Don’t
forget to send pictures or direct them to a web
site where you post pictures.
I would also ask them to send to you prayer
requests. Pray for them even if they do not send
you requests.
It would be advantageous to include with each
prayer letter a short section on how to improve
their prayer life. Coach them in their praying,
teaching them how to pray using Scripture.
Suggest books on prayer. Not only will this help
them in their praying on your behalf, I believe that
it will add value to your letter.
When?
I would send out a newsletter each month unless
something urgent comes up.
How?
There are many ways to send your requests. My
personal preference is via email, but would send a
minimum of two communications a year via
regular mail. I believe that this shows you value
their partnership, and could be included with a
Christmas or thank you card. There are a
number of ways to create your database, just
keep it accurate and up-to-date. 
Resources
• Maxwell, John (1996), Partners In Prayer, Thomas Nelson Publishers.
• Sanchez, Daniel R. (2002), Church Planting Prayer Strategy, North American Mission Board (visit
www.churchplantingvillage.net, click Church Planting Resource Library, scroll down to prayer section) 
PAGE WEDNESDAY53

Notes:
BREAK | 3:00 PM ~ 30 Min 
PAGE WEDNESDAY54

Wednesday 3:30 PM
Identity: Shaping Church Culture
 
Purpose
“And God said, ‘Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing
plants and trees that produce fruit with seed in it, according to
their various kinds.’ And it was so.” ~ Genesis 1:11
Vision
What you aspire to be. The Destination you hope to reach;
the preferred picture of the future.
Mission
How you are going to accomplish the vision. The road map or
the GPS that gets you where you want to go.
Core Values
A set of boundaries to guide your behavior and deﬁne who
you are. The guard rails along the highway that help keep you
on the road , moving safely toward your destination.
Activity
How clear is our identity?
PAGE WEDNESDAY55
It all begins with God’s Word
Why is “Zera” (“seed”/scriptural
foundation) important?
“The grass withers and the
ﬂowers fall, but the word of our
God endures forever.”
~ Isaiah 40:8
“So is my word that goes out
from my mouth: It will not return
to me empty, but will accomplish
what I desire and achieve the
purpose for which I sent it.”
~ Isaiah 55:11
“For the word of God is alive and
active. Sharper than any double-
edged sword, it penetrates even to
dividing soul and spirit, joints and
marrow; it judges the thoughts
and attitudes of the heart.”
~ Hebrews 4:12

Individual Work on Theme Verse,
Vision, and Core Values
Group Presentations & Critique
Color Dot "Votes"

= Nope. (weak, missed the mark)
= Maybe? (vague, needs clarity)
= Yes! (I get it and it speaks to me)
Red
Yellow
Green
PAGE WEDNESDAY56
VISION & VALUES EXAMPLES:

Artisan Church, 
Rochester NY

Theme Verse: 
“For we are God’s masterpiece,
created in Christ Jesus to do good
works, which God prepared in
advance to be our way of life.” 
– The Apostle Paul (Ephesians 2:10)
Vision: 
“encounter God, 
embrace people, engage culture, 
in the Way of Jesus.”
Values:  
Awe, Beauty, Roots, 
Community, Justice
“Fruitful Organizational
Structures”:  
3 Circles: Worship, Guilds, Groups.  
Ministry Calendar: strategic
rhythms of outreach, evangelism,
discipleship, and deployment;
Quarterly Members “Gallery”; etc.
Post-It Note Feedback:
• write brief helpful
suggestions
• slap on giant sheets
near the related item

Notes: 
PAGE WEDNESDAY57
Work on my WCPP
• See Section 3.0 -
Identity
• Who are we and what
are we called to do?
VISION & VALUES EXAMPLES:

Lighthouse Covenant Church,
Minneapolis MN

lighthousempls.org
Vision: 
We desire to be a multiplying movement that
shares the love of God, cultivates followers
of Christ and transforms our communities.
Values: Simply put, we exist to cultivate
followers of Jesus Christ who are:
• Christ-centered
• Justice-driven
• Culturally conscientious
• Community oriented
• Spirit-led
Life Church, Canton MI

lifechurchcanton.org
Vision: In a nutshell, LifeChurch is a group
of real people from all walks of life who are
being transformed by Jesus Christ. We do
this in three ways that we refer to as KNOW,
GROW and GO (Matthew 28:19-20):
• Know Jesus
• Grow Together
• Go Serve
Values:  
Our motto is:  
“Real People. Real God. Real Life.”

Notes: 
PAGE WEDNESDAY58

Wednesday 5:00 PM
Church Culture
Vision and mission can paint a compelling picture of who you can be in the future, but
Culture tells the truth about who you are in the present.
After committing their energy to developing vision, mission and values language, many leaders start
focusing on the wrong things…
• New sign, better coffee hour, younger members, new bulletin, praise songs, etc.
• Attitudes
• Habits
• Unconscious values
• Unchecked sin/error
• Unresolved conﬂict
• Norms
• Assumptions
• Silos/Cliques
• Control issues
• Personalities
• Historic Events
Why Does Culture Matter?
“Culture determines and limits strategy.” 
~ Edgar Schein, Organizational Leadership and Culture 
 
“Toxic culture is like carbon monoxide: you don’t see or smell it, but you wake up dead!” 
~ Samuel Chand, Cracking Your Church’s Culture Code 
 
“The fact is, culture eats strategy for lunch.” 
~ Dick Clark, Merck (also attributed to Peter Drucker)
Culture happens. Don’t let it happen to you. Instead,  
SHAPE YOUR CULTURE.
“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the
God of peace will be with you.” ~ Philippians 4:9
PAGE WEDNESDAY59

Culture Shaping Key #1:
Clarity
“Let us examine and probe our ways, And let us return to the LORD.” ~ Lamentations 3:40
How Culture is Cultivated (and Perpetuated)
• Stories
• Rituals
• Artifacts
• Symbols
• Language
• Heroes
• Habits
Table Talk:
1. When we talk about our Church, what Stories will we tell? Is there a Shared
Language that we will use? What types of Symbols, Heroes and Habits should be
mentioned whenever someone thinks about us?
2. When we evaluate our culture clues, is our vision/mission/values language  
Accurate or Aspirational?
3. What stories, habits, and language can we use to Shape our Future? 
PAGE WEDNESDAY60

Culture Shaping Key #2:
Communication
“Let every word you speak be drenched with grace and tempered with truth and clarity. That way you
will know how to give each person an appropriate response.” ~ Colossians 4:6
Which of the four communication quadrants represents the way we currently
communicate? How can we foster more honest and honorable communication?
Table Talk:
Where have I/we been strongest in my communication as a leader?  
Where must I/we improve?
H20 Communication
Culture
Dishonest Honest
Honorable
▪ The Halo Eﬀect
▪ Hero Worship
▪ Hyperbole/Rhetoric
▪ Bobbleheading
▪ Discretion
▪ Seasoned Speech
▪ Biblical Conﬂict Resolution
▪ Constructive Conversations
Dishonorable
▪ False Witness
▪ Slander
▪ Manipulation
▪ Accusation
▪ Passive Aggression
▪ Blindsiding
▪ Attacking
▪ Gossip
▪ Bypassing
▪ Tactlessness
PAGE WEDNESDAY61

Culture Shaping Key #3
Control
“Be on guard for yourselves and for all the ﬂock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers,
to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood.” ~ Acts 20:28
“Why are you the only judge? Why do you let these people crowd around you from morning till evening?
That isn’t the best way to do it. You and the people who come to you will soon be worn out. The job is
too much for one person; you can’t do it alone. You will need to appoint some competent leaders who
respect God and are trustworthy and honest. Then put them over groups of ten, ﬁfty, a hundred, and a
thousand. Having them to share the load will make your work easier. This is the way God wants it done.”
~ Exodus 18:14-23
Table Talk:
1. How will decisions be made in our Church? How will decision-making authority be
distributed?
2. How will resources be allocated and aligned when decisions are made? What normal
and natural ways can we insure accountability of resources to vision and strategy?
3. How will decisions be EXECUTED?
PAGE WEDNESDAY62

Celebration & Correction
“Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke,
and encourage your people with good teaching.” 
2 Timothy 4:2
Celebration: Celebrate culture heroes.
Correction: Whatever is tolerated will be perpetuated.
Correction
• Developed by words
• Makes me feel loved
• Draws me close
• I learn a better way
• I develop greater conﬁdence
• I become more responsive
• I grow 
Condemnation
• Damaged by words
• Makes me feel shamed
• Pushes me away
• I think I am bad
• I develop deeper insecurity
• I become more defensive
• I hide 
Table Talk:
1. What people or systems will be responsible for leading celebration and correction in
our Church?
2. How do we personally feel about correction? How might those feelings inﬂuence
accountability in our Church?
3. How will we regularly celebrate those who are modeling the best of our culture?
4. In what ways can we practice healthy correction?
PAGE WEDNESDAY63

Character
“Join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk
according to the example you have in us.” ~ Philippians 3:17
“Let no one despise your youth, but be a pattern for the
believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.” 
~ 1 Timothy 4:12
When your character no longer
strengthens your culture,
YOU ARE NO LONGER LEADING.
Table Talk:
1. How do I (how do we) model healthy, missional values and
practices NOW? Where might we need to grow/change?
2. What practices, habits and language do I need to make
part of my personal intentional leadership?
3. What story do we want future generations to tell about
our Church?
PAGE WEDNESDAY64
“…Be assured that when we speak
to you we’re not after crowd
approval—only God approval.
Since we’ve been put through that
battery of tests, you’re guaranteed
that both we and the Message are
free of error, mixed motives, or
hidden agendas. We never used
words to butter you up. No one
knows that better than you. And
God knows we never used words
as a smoke screen to take
advantage of you. Even though
we had some standing as Christ’s
apostles, we never threw our
weight around or tried to come
across as important, with you or
anyone else. We weren’t aloof with
you. We took you just as you were.
We were never patronizing, never
condescending, but we cared for
you the way a mother cares for
her children. We loved you dearly.
Not content to just pass on the
Message, we wanted to give you
our hearts. And we did.”
1 Thessalonians 2:3-8

 
PAGE WEDNESDAY65
Dear Church, 
 
Older & Wiser, 
Future Me (2022)

Notes:
DINNER | 6:15 PM
After Dinner
Concert of Prayer  
& Worship Service
(then free evening afterwards) 
PAGE WEDNESDAY66

Thursday 9:00 AM
Morning Devotions
Review & Teach-Back of Previous Day
•
•
•
PAGE THURSDAY67

Thursday 10:00 AM
7 Systems of a Healthy Church
Acknowledgements: ECC Church Plant Training; Nelson Searcy—Healthy Church Systems; Rick Warren—Purpose Driven
Church; Thom Rainer—Simple Church

Goal today
• A better grasp of the underlying systems that make a healthy missional church (ie. Keys to
discipleship process).
• A preliminary discussion on how we can strengthen those systems in our church
Introduction
A healthy body requires healthy
systems
What happens if one of these systems
begins failing?
Just as a body, though one, has many
parts, but all its many parts form one
body, so it is with Christ. 1 Corinthians
12:12 NIV
In the same way…
A healthy church requires healthy
systems.
• What are those systems?
• What do healthy churches have ﬁgured
out?
Now you probably know more of those systems than you realize.
ACTIVITY
Take 5 minutes to write down your spiritual journey. Only include major milestones along the
way. Start when you were far from God all the way to today.
PAGE THURSDAY68

Jesus summarizes a disciple-making process
1. Baptize → Teach → Go
2. Call → Train → Send
3. Evangelize → Equip → Empower
The System
• An organizational Habit
• The Normal and Natural way we do something
• Ask the “right” Question
• Deﬁne the process
• Ask a follow-up question: can the average person in our
church do this?
• Grade your system: Ask, “how can we raise this score 1-2
points in the next year?
• Include
o Teaching
o Equipping
o Participatio
PAGE THURSDAY69
The Biblical Foundation
Then Jesus came to them
and said, “All authority in
heaven and on earth has
been given to me. Therefore
go and make disciples of all
nations, baptizing them in
the name of the Father and
of the Son and of the Holy
Spirit, and teaching them to
obey everything I have
commanded you. And
surely I am with you always,
to the very end of the age.”
Matthew 28:19-20 NIV

Notes:
BREAK | 11:00 AM ~ 15 Min 
PAGE THURSDAY70

The 7 Systems
The Outreach System
Q: “How do we engage with people in our community and invite
them into a relationship with Christ?”
• Action steps we take to achieve this
o Teach on Evangelism with practical applications: prayer, care, share
o Equip people with invite card/series postcard
o Create a clear easy invite event with a next step. (ie. coinciding with new series (Matthew
Parties!)
o Give an invitation to receive Christ every Sunday
• How do we monitor success (ie. whether this is actually happening) in this area?
• Our current score on a scale of 1-10 is _______
• What can we do this season to raise that score 1-2 points?
• Important things to monitor in this area
o Visitor ﬂow
o Attendance
o Commitments to Christ
PAGE THURSDAY71

The 7 Systems
Lab Time: The Outreach System
LUNCH | 12:30 - 1:30 PM
PAGE THURSDAY72
Work on my WCPP
• See Section 7.0
• Evangelism  
Action Plan

The 7 Systems
The Worship System
Q1: “How do we plan, implement and evaluate the weekend
service(s) at our church?
Q2: “What is our goal on Sunday morning? What do we hope will
happen for people?”
o Warm greeting and hospitality at multiple touch points
o Worship Design Grid 6-12 weeks out
o Multiple elements for worship engagement and creative support
o Evaluation of service immediately and at worship design meeting
BREAK | 3:00 PM ~ 30 Min 
PAGE THURSDAY73

The 7 Systems
Lab Time: The Worship System
PAGE THURSDAY74

The 7 Systems
The Small Groups System
Q: “How do we move people into small groups at our church in
order to grow and become like Christ?”
o Seamless with Connections Systems – Offer invitations at those events
o Starting Point, Church Wide Initiative (CWI)
o LifeGroup Connect Event
PAGE THURSDAY75

Bonus Systems: Pastoral, Reproductive
(also could include Mission, kids, etc)
The Pastoral System
Q: “Is our pastor healthy?”
o
o
o
The Reproductive System
Q: “How will we be a church that plants other churches?”
o
o
o
*[Remaining Systems in separate sections] 
PAGE THURSDAY76

Additional Scripture Resources: Matthew 22:37-40; Matthew 28:18-20
1. Outreach – Luke 19:10; Luke 24:45-48; 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim 2:3-4 Matthew 28:19
2. Worship – Matthew 22:37-38; Hebrews 10:25; 1 Cor 14:26
3. Connections – Hebrews 10:25; Matthew 28:19 (incorporation); “one another”
4. Small Groups/Discipleship – 2 Tim. 2:2; Gal 4:19
5. Ministry/Mission – Jn 20:21; Eph 2:10; 1 Cor. 12:7; 1 Peter 2:9-10; 4:10-11 (CMJ)
6. Stewardship – 1 Cor. 16:1-2; 2 Cor. 9:6-8; Leviticus 27:30;
7. Leadership – 2 Tim. 2:2; 1 Tim 3:1
OUR CHECKUP
System Score Next Step Leader
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
This is why church planters complete a monthly report.
PAGE THURSDAY77

Notes: 
PAGE THURSDAY78

Thursday 4:00 PM
Leadership
Development
Reproducing leaders that effectively
lead, serve, and multiply
2-2-2 Principle* (from 2 Tim. 2:2)
1. 1st Generation: Paul → Timothy
2. 2nd Gen: Timothy → “Reliable People”
3. 3rd Gen: “Reliable People” → “Others”
4. 4th Gen: “Others” → ...
Recognizing Potential Apprentices
The Must-Haves:
• Spiritual Velocity (what’s their movement/direction, not just position in relation to Jesus?)
• Teachability (are they open to being developed and sharpened?)
• Relational Intelligence (do they get people, and do people like them?)
The Bonuses:
• Missional (are they willing to sacrifice for God’s mission?)
• Discerning (can they wisely discern things in people and situations?)
• Inclusive (do they love to bring people alongside them?)
• Biblically Knowledgeable (do they have a strong grasp on God’s Word?) 
5 Steps of Leadership Development
1. I do. You watch. We talk.
2. I do. You help. We talk.
3. You do. I help. We talk.
4. You do. I watch. We talk.
5. You do. Someone else watches. You talk…
* Ideas and highlights on this page adapted from Developing an Apprentice, by Community Christian Church.
Highly recommended. $10 at www.lulu.com/shop/community-christian-church/developing-an-apprentice/
paperback/product-21570087.html
PAGE THURSDAY79
“And the things you have heard me
say in the presence of many
witnesses entrust to reliable people
who will also be qualified to teach
others”  
~ Paul to Timothy (2 Timothy 2:2)
“The best leaders are not those who
have the most followers but those
who develop and deploy other
leaders. The true test of a leader’s
influence is to look at what is left
behind once the leader is gone.”
~ Neil Cole, Journeys to Significance
(recommended book)
3 Question at each
debrief (“We talk.”)
• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• How can we improve?

Six Christian Leadership Styles
Created by Dave Olson
Overview:
• All three legs are required
• The seat provides strength and stability
• legs “should” be near the same length
Spirituality:

• “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all
your soul and with all your mind.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 22:37)
• commitment to deep spiritual transformation that  
brings about the life-changing work of God in people
• Biblical insight and passion
• Devotions and intimacy with God
• Authentic self-revelation
• “PRAY”
Chemistry:

• “Love your neighbor as yourself.” ~ Jesus (Matthew 22:39b)
• an inviting relational atmosphere within your church that connects people to God’s community
• Personal relationships
• Small group dynamics
• Leading large gatherings
• “PLAY”
Strategy:

• “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…” ~ Jesus (Matthew 22:19a)
• process of sequential actions that produce fruitful ministry in line with God-directed goals.
• Ability to anticipate tomorrow
• How to get from point A to point B
• Delegation and administration
• “PLAN”
Group Activity: self-select into the three groups in different parts of room
• Joined by a leader representing your group’s Leadership Style
• Leader with own group: What are our strengths & weaknesses?
• Leader rotates and asks:
• What about us annoys each other? :-)
• How should we communicate with you and show we value your style?
• How can you do the same toward us?
NOTE: every planter can request personalized link for online testing tool for lead pastor, staff, & teams
Additional Covenant Resources: www.covchurch.org/what-we-do/develop-leaders 
PAGE THURSDAY80

Understand Your Leadership Style
There are Six Leadership Styles 1  
(see diagram next page)
1. Relational Leader
• Leadership Sequence:  
CHEMISTRY - Spirituality - strategy
• APEST 2 Type is often: Shepherd (Pastor) -
interpersonal intelligence helps them connect  
to people in a warm and caring manner.
2. Inspirational Leader
• CHEMISTRY - Strategy - spirituality
• APEST: Evangelist - social intelligence helps connect with
people, especially in crowd context
3. Sacred Leader
• SPIRITUALITY - Chemistry - strategy
• APEST: Teacher - their greatest gift to the church is
communicating to people the deep things of God
4. Imaginative Leader
• SPIRITUALITY - Strategy - chemistry
• APEST: Prophet - like to look to the future and call the
people of God to become who God created them to be.
5. Mission Leader
• STRATEGY - Spirituality - chemistry
• APEST: Apostle - ability to lead the mission of God into
the future, through the development of ministries, ministers
(both professional & lay), and mission endeavors
6. Building Leader
• STRATEGY - Chemistry - spirituality
• APEST: Apostelist (hybrid of an Apostle & Evangelist) -
primary love is growing the church or organization they
serve, while simultaneously making it better and stronger.
Pragmatic visionaries that focus on strategy and structure,
they typically stay in a location for extended times, never
tire of creating “more” and “better”
1 There is a four page detailed report available for each style that will help you understand how God has
created you to lead. Go to www.leadershipstool.com/sixstyles for a copy of your Leadership Style.
2 APEST = shorthand for Five-fold Gifts of Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Shepherd, and Teacher 
PAGE THURSDAY81
“So Christ himself gave the
apostles, the prophets,
the evangelists, the
pastors and teachers, to
equip his people for works of
service, so that the body of
Christ may be built up.”
~ Paul (Ephesians 4:11-12)
Implementation in a
church context
• Mission Leader
(Apostle) sets Agenda
[“Pauline”]
• Imaginative Leader
(Prophet) analyzes the
Target (the Culture)
• Inspirational Leader
(Evangelist) leads
People to Christ
• Relational Leader
(Pastor) disciples the
Converts
• Sacred Leader
(Teacher) lays
(reinforces) the
Scriptural foundation
• Building Leader
(Apostelist) grows the
Church [“Petrine”]
~ Johannes Reimer, 
New Testament Scholar

#  
Complementary,
Styles
Complementary,
Styles
Complementary,
Styles
Sacred
Leader
Inspirational
Leader
Imaginative
Leader
Mission
Leader
Building
Leader
Relational
Leader
TheImaginativeLeaderisgifted
byGodtointeractpowerfullywith
aninnovativevisionfromGod,then
leadpeopletostepoutinfaithand
liveoutthatnewwayofbeingthe
peopleofGod.
Strongest7in
Spirituality
Strongest7in7
Chemistry
Strongest7in7
Strategy
TheBuildingLeaderisgiftedby
Godtostrategizeforgrowth,
enlistotherleaders,andthen
togetherleadthewayinenlarging
themissionofGod.
TheInspirationalLeaderisgifted
byGodtoconnectpowerfullywitha
crowd,andmotivatethemtofollow
Jesus,byencouragingthemto
engageinthemissionofGod.
TheRelationalLeaderisgiftedbyGod
toconnectemotionallywithindividuals,
andinspirethemasagrouptofollow
Jesusandloveeachother.
TheSacredLeaderisgiftedbyGod
toconnectspirituallywithpeople,
andencouragethemtogrowdeeper
withGod,whilebringingattentionto
thevoiceoftheHolySpirit.
MissionLeaderisgiftedbyGodwith
spiritualvisiontoforeseewhatisneeded
intheimmediatefuture.MissionLeaders
callpeopletofollowadeeperGospel,
whilemultiplyingdisciples,expanding
ministriesandstartingnewventures.
PAGE THURSDAY82

Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018

Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018

Recommended

Recommended

More Related Content

What's hot

What's hot (20)

Similar to Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018

Similar to Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018 (20)

Recently uploaded

Recently uploaded (20)

Workbook: Church Planter Training Intensive, Minneapolis MN, May 2018