Characteristics of Effective Church Planters

What does it take to be an effective church planter? Dr. Charles Ridley conducted a study of church planters in the United States and Canada. Based upon his research and subsequent field testing, he developed a list of thirteen characteristics that define effective church planters. For over a decade, these characteristics have been used to select church planters. Here is his list of characteristics and their definitions.

Visioning Capacity

• Being a person who projects into the future beyond the present.
• Developing a theme which highlights the vision and philosophy of ministry.
• Coping effectively with non-visioning elements.
• Not erecting artificial walls or limits either overtly or subconsciously.
• Establishing a clear church identity related to the theme and vision.
• Believing in God’s capacity to do great things.

Intrinsically Motivated

• Having a desire to do well and a commitment to excellence.
• Stick-to-itiveness and persistence.
• Having initiative and aggressiveness without the negative connotations.
• Having a willingness to work long and hard.
• Being a self-starter with a willingness to build from nothing.
• Having a high energy and vitality level; physical stamina.

Creates Ownership of Ministry

• Helping people to feel responsible for the growth and success of the church.
• Gaining a commitment of the people to the vision.
• Establishing a congregational identity.
• Avoiding stereotyping of the congregation by imposing unrealistic goals.

Relates to the Unchurched

• Communicating in style that is understood by the unchurched.
• Understanding the psychology or mentality of the unchurched.
• Moving and functioning in the personal space of the unchurched without fear.
• Quickly getting to know the unchurched on a personal level.
• Breaking through the barriers erected by the unchurched.
• Handling crises faced by the unchurched.

Spousal Cooperation

• Having an explicit agreement regarding each partner’s involvement in ministry.
• Having explicit rules regarding the use of home as an office.
• Evaluating the consequences of ministry demands upon the children.
• Functioning as a team through individual and collective action.
• Having a strategy for dealing with strangers.
• Modeling wholesome family life before church and community.
• Agreeing upon and sharing the ministry vision.
• Deliberately planning and protecting private family life.

Effectively Builds Relationships

• Responding with urgency to expressed needs and concerns of people.
• Displaying Godly love and compassion to people.
• Getting to know people on a personal basis.
• Making others feel secure and comfortable in one’s presence.
• Not responding judgmentally or prejudicially to new people.
• Appreciating and accepting a variety of persons.
• Spends time with present parishioners without ignoring them for new people.

Committed to Church Growth

• Believing in church growth as a theological principle.
• Appreciating steady growth without preoccupation with quick success .
• Committing to numerical growth within the context of spiritual and relational growth.
• Recognizing that non-growth is threatening and self-defeating.
• Establishing the goal of quickly becoming a financially self-supporting church.
• Not prematurely falling into a ministry of maintenance.
• Seeing the church project within the larger context of God’s kingdom.

Responsive to Community

• Understanding the culture of the community.
• Identifying and assessing community needs.
• Responding to community needs on a priority basis.
• Determining successes and failures of other attempts to respond to the community.
• Not confusing what the community needs with what the church wants to offer.
• Acquiring and understanding of the character and pulse of the community.
• Adapting the philosophy of ministry to the character of the community.

Utilizes Giftedness of Others

• Understanding the culture of the community.
• Releasing and equipping people to do the task of ministry.
• Discerning of spiritual gifts in others.
• Matching the gifts of people with ministry needs and opportunities.
• Delegating effectively in areas of personal limitation.
• Avoiding personal overload by delegating effectively.
• Not prematurely assigning ministry positions before people are equipped.
• Not placing unwarranted restrictions on other’s spiritual giftedness.

Flexible and Adaptable

• Coping effectively with ambiguity.
• Coping effectively with constant and abrupt change.
• Adapting oneself to the uniqueness of the particular church planting project.
• Shifting priorities and emphasis during various stages of church growth.
• Doing whatever is necessary whenever necessary.

Builds Group Cohesiveness

• Developing a nucleus group or groups as a foundation.
• Quickly incorporating newcomers into a network of relationships.
• Engaging others in meaningful church activity.
• Monitoring the morale of people.
• Utilizing groups effectively.
• Dealing with conflict assertively, constructively and tactfully.

Resilience

• Experiencing setbacks without defeat.
• Riding the ups and downs (i.e. attendance).
• Expecting the unexpected.
• Rebounding from loss, disappointments and failure.

Exercises Faith

• Possessing a conviction regarding one’s call to church planting ministry.
• Believing in God’s action.
• Having expectation and hope.
• Having a willingness to wait for answers to specific prayer requests.

Dr. Charles Ridley, A leading pioneer in church planting assessment, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana