7. ARE DEDICATED TO THE HOLISTIC GROWTH OF THE CHURCH 

The planter of healthy churches believes in holistic church growth. He/she seeks not only numerical growth, but also organic and spiritual growth. 

• The church should grow in the following areas: 

1. The believers grow SPIRITUALLY. 

2. The church should grow ORGANICALLY. 

3. The church should grow EXPONENTIALLY. 

• The importance of follow-up (Job 39:13-17) 

The church planter ‘plants’ the church in every sense of the word because he evangelizes but he also disciples new converts. That is, he doesn’t just sow the word, he also cultivates it. 

In the same way that the ostrich forgets her young, the foolish church planter doesn’t provide the follow-up the disciples need (Job 39:13-17). 

8. RESPOND TO THE COMMUNITY 

The planter should know what the community is like and guide the church to relate to it. The planter responds to the needs of the community. This enables him to get to know more and more what the community is like and how the church can serve it. Congregations that get involved with and focus on the needs of their communities are going to have greater penetration into the community and will be more accepted by them. 

“During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, ‘I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat.” Mark 8:1-2 

Possible needs: 

• Family/marriage problems • Alcoholism • Loneliness • Injustice • Hunger, poverty • Literacy education • Inadequate housing • Employment • Others 

9. USE THE GIFTS OF OTHERS 

The successful planter knows how to use the gifts of others in different aspects of the ministry. He motivates and involves others, according to their gifts, in order to accomplish greater results. 

Activity: 

List the people who are presently involved in your church plant and the gifts that you are aware of: 

Were you able to do this easily or do you need to identify the gifts of each person? 

In your church plant, teach about spiritual gifts and give each person an opportunity to identify their gifts. 

10. ARE FLEXIBLE 

The planter recognizes that things do not always happen according to expectations, and even less so when planting a community of believers. He needs to be able to make changes as situations require. 

Two recommendations: 

1. Working with human beings requires flexibility, since each person has his own will, his own ideas, and her own desires. 

2. The planter should not interpret the suggestions of others as mandates, because not every idea is a good one. Being willing to consider people’s ideas doesn’t mean doing whatever others say without thinking things through. 

Reflect: 

Can you give a recent example of a situation where you needed to be flexible? How did you handle it? What would you like to change about your response? 

11. MAINTAIN UNITY IN THE CHURCH 

The planter knows how to create environments and spaces to foment commitment and fellowship. He/She knows how to deal with conflict in a healthy way, modeling patience, good listening and respect for people with whom he/she disagrees. 

“…so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others...” Romans 12:5 

The church planter isn’t only concerned about bringing new sheep into the fold, he also works to unite them in a single body. For a body to work well, it has to be united, joined by the same cohesive understanding. The church is a cohesive body of individual believers that needs structure, reason and purpose in order to be joined together and minister. The strength of the church is in its unity. 

May the brothers be united 

Because that is the first law; 

May they have true union 

At all times, 

Because if they fight among themselves 

Those from the outside 

12. SHOW ADAPTABILITY TO THE CONTEXT 

The planter adapts to his environment, and identifies with his new context. He should be “a Roman to the Romans, and a Greek to the Greeks.” 

Paul requires Titus to submit to circumcision in order to not offend the Jews. A good church planter is willing to leave behind his citizenship, culture and preferences, understanding his surroundings and accepting the necessary changes in order to reach the lost (Galatians 2:3). 

The fish that adapt survive. 

“I have learned the secret of being content in every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.” Philippians 4:13

13. PRACTICE THEIR FAITH 

No legitimate planter lives by his own efforts, but by the power of God. The planter lives out his faith and believes in the faithfulness of God to provide everything necessary to reach the goal. 

“‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD.” Zechariah 4:6 

• Some work hard for the Lord but forget the Lord of the work. 

• The desired results do not always come quickly. The church planter must have faith that the Lord will bring about fruit at the proper time. 

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS NOT MENTIONED. 

Compare the list you came up with at the beginning of the session with the 13 characteristics just listed. Which characteristics have not been mentioned? 

Read over the list of characteristics and give an example of how a specific characteristic was evident or not evident in a church planter’s ministry (without using names!). What difference did that make?

PLANTING HEALTHY | CHURCHES LEADER’S MANUAL www.multiplicationnetwork.org 22 Exercise | Self-evaluation 

Instructions: Using the following scale (1-5), rank yourself in the points box. 

1 = Not at all 2 = Rarely 3 = Sometimes 4 = Usually 5 = Always 

characteristic 

rating 

example of when you demonstrated this 

I can picture the ministry 

It comes about (vision) 

I am self-motivated 

I include others in ministry 

I reach non-believers 

I have the support of my spouse 

I can relate well to others 

I am dedicated to church growth 

I respond to the community 

I use the gifts of others 

I am flexible 

I maintain unity in the church 

I show adaptability 

I practice my faith 

Key texts | 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 

Ways to use this questionnaire: 

1. Use your answers as a starting point for discussion with a person you trust, for example a mentor or denominational leader, to help you determine if you really should be involved in planting a church. Ask your mentor to evaluate you in these areas and to help you grow in the areas that need attention. 

2. Pick the two areas you are weakest in and write two actions steps that will help you grow in each area. Make sure you choose actions that are specific, realistic, and have a deadline. Report to your mentor on these. 

Conclusion: 

• The experiences of various planters, both those who were successful and those who failed, allow us to better define some of the characteristics that God uses to plant healthy churches. 

• Remember that church planting is a task in which the Lord, on whom we depend, has a direct participation. The work does not depend only on the planter having certain characteristics. Paul said, “Neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow” (1 Cor 3:7). The church can be planted only if we collaborate with God. He will build His church. No matter how well-trained and how thoroughly evaluated the church planter may be, he will not be successful in his church planting ministry if God is not the head. He deserves all the glory and the honor.

Last modified: Friday, August 10, 2018, 1:54 PM