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