Called to plant a church?

...Consider partnering with us!

The North Indiana Conference* is launching a church-planting movement. Consider joining us in carrying out this exciting, cutting-edge mission. Let's make an eternal, Kingdom difference!

*The North Indiana Conference is made up of nearly 600 United Methodist churches located in the north half of the state of Indiana.

North Indiana Conference's Vision

We have a vision of reaching the unchurched and non-believers of northern Indiana especially through the planting of new churches.

According to church-planting expert, C. Peter Wagner, "The single most effective evangelistic methodology under heaven is planting new churches."* We also recognize that churches plant churches better than people in a judicatory office. Therefore, we envision our existing churches planting new churches, and these new churches daughtering new churches.

By 2010 we envision a church-planting movement in Northern Indiana--one that is reaching the rich and the poor, the young and the old, the unchurched and the non-believers of all ethnic backgrounds.

Are you the one?
Are you passionate about reaching the unchurched and non-believers?
Do you sense a call from God to plant a church? Do you feel compelled?
Can you build something from nothing?
Are you a self-starter?
Do you have an allegiance to the United Methodist Church?

*C. Peter Wagner, Church Planting for a Greater Harvest (Ventura, CA: Regal, 1990, p. 11)

If so, here are your next steps...

Steps to Explore Being a Church Planter

Step One

Immerse yourself in church growth and church planting literature, training events, and network groups. Contact successful church planters and pick their brains.

Some books you might read include:
1. The Purpose Driven Church, Rick Warren
2. Planting Growing Churches for the 21st Century, Aubrey Malphurs
3. 44 Questions for Church Planters, Lyle Schaller
4. The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership, John C. Maxwell
5. NextChurch.Now, Craig Kennet Miller
Some training events you might attend include:
1. Goshen First UMC's Vision Conference (held in late April)
2. School of Congregational Development (held in early August)
Join the North Indiana Conference's Church Planter's Network, which regularly meets and interacts via email.
Begin regularly using a gift discernment and ministry placement process in your church, such as the following which, unless indicated, can be purchased through Amazon.Com, Zondervan, etc.
1. Developing your SHAPE to Serve Others, Brett & Deanne Eastman, et. al. (Saddleback Valley Community Church)
2. Network, Bruce Bugsbee, Don Cousins, Bill Hybels (Willow Creek Assoc)
3. Uniquely You; spiritual gift and personality assessments; phone: 800 501-0490, web: www.uniquelyyou.com
4. Now, Discover Your Strengths, Marcus Buckingham & Donald Clifton; uses Gallup's Strengths Finder profile; web: www.strengthsfinder.com
Help your church initiate a new ministry that is focused on reaching a new population group for Christ-for example a new on-site or off-site worship service, Bible study, or ALPHA group.

Step Two

Fill out the following form, or answer the following five questions in writing and submit them to Ed Fenstermacher. He will then let you know what your next step is.

Your Name:
Your Email:
1. Briefly describe three instances when you helped a non-believer enter into a relationship with Jesus Christ. Include approximately when (what year) they occurred.
2. Describe the last time you had an unchurched person in your home and/or a time when you spent time outside of church with an unchurched person or family.
3. List books, articles, workshops, etc. that you recently have read or experienced that provided you with key insight in the areas of church growth and/or church planting.
4. How do you systematically read your community to get a pulse as to what's going on in it--its needs, issues, fears, dreams, likes, dislikes, perception of religion, popular culture, etc.?
5. How do you identify potential leaders and how do you help people get involved in meaningful ministry?

Step Three

(scheduled either in the spring or fall)

If Ed suggests it, arrange through your district superintendent to be assessed as a potential church planter. You and your spouse, if you're married, will do the following:

answer thirty-three questions in writing,
complete a brief DISC Personality Profile,
attend a two-hour interview.

Step Four (if needed)

If so deemed by the Cabinet, be professionally assessed by Dr. Charles Ridley, Jim Griffith or someone else.

Step Five

If you have received a positive assessment and the Bishop and Cabinet are considering the possibility of appointing you to a church-planting opportunity, your district superintendent will ask you to give the North Indiana Conference permission to obtain the following:

check personal references,
conduct a security background check, and
get a financial credit history.

Assuming there are no "red flags," the Bishop and Cabinet would be ready to make an appointment.

Please note: A positive assessment does not mean you will definitely be chosen by the Cabinet to plant a church or off-site congregation. Being selected depends on what opportunities are available and to what degree they are a good match with you.