By Brent Lacy

Church planting is one of the most effective ways to reach unchurched people. New churches reach new people at a significantly higher rate than established churches. The research on this is consistent and compelling.

But church planting is also one of the most demanding callings in ministry. A planter who starts without the right preparation, the right character, and the right support will not just fail personally. They will leave a trail of people who trusted them and were hurt by the experience.

Before you plant, assess honestly. Here is how.

Area 1: Calling

The first question is not “can I plant a church?” It is “am I called to plant a church?” These are different questions.

A genuine calling to church planting is typically characterized by three things: a persistent, specific burden for a particular people or place; confirmation from others who know you well; and a willingness to pursue the calling even when it is hard and the results are slow.

Ask yourself:

• Is there a specific community or people group that I cannot stop thinking about?
• Have others who know me well affirmed this calling, or am I pursuing it primarily on my own conviction?
• Am I willing to plant a church that stays small for years before it grows?
• Is this calling persistent over time, or is it a season of excitement that may pass?

Area 2: Character

Church planting will expose every weakness in your character. The isolation, the financial pressure, the slow growth, the criticism, and the weight of responsibility will all press on the places where you are weakest.

The biblical qualifications for elders in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1 are not just requirements for established church leaders. They are the baseline for anyone who wants to plant a church. Work through them honestly.

Ask yourself:

• Am I above reproach in my personal life, marriage, and family?
• Am I able to manage conflict without becoming defensive or retaliatory?
• Do I have a pattern of finishing what I start, or do I tend to move on when things get hard?
• Am I financially responsible? Church planters who are not managing their own finances well will not manage a church’s finances well.
• Do I have genuine humility, or do I tend to surround myself with people who agree with me?

Area 3: Gifts

Not every gifted pastor is gifted for church planting. Church planting requires a specific combination of gifts that not every pastor has.

The most effective church planters tend to be strong in evangelism, leadership, and vision-casting. They are able to recruit and develop other leaders. They are comfortable with ambiguity and can function without the structure of an established church.

Ask yourself:

• Do I regularly share my faith with unchurched people, or do I primarily minister to people who are already Christians?
• Am I able to recruit and develop other leaders, or do I tend to do everything myself?
• Can I function effectively without clear structure and established systems?
• Am I able to cast a compelling vision that motivates others to sacrifice for it?

Area 4: Support

No church planter succeeds alone. The research is clear: church plants with a strong sending church, a committed core team, and adequate financial support have dramatically higher survival rates than those without.

Ask yourself:

• Do I have a sending church that is genuinely committed to this plant, not just supportive in principle?
• Do I have a core team of 8-15 committed people who are ready to plant with me?
• Do I have 12-18 months of financial support secured before I launch?
• Do I have a coach or mentor who has planted a church and can walk with me through the process?

Area 5: Spouse and Family

Church planting is a family calling, not just a personal one. A planter whose spouse is not genuinely on board, or whose family is not prepared for the demands of planting, is setting up everyone for significant pain.

Ask yourself:

• Is my spouse genuinely called to this, or are they supportive because they love me?
• Have we talked honestly about what the financial pressure of church planting will feel like?
• Have we talked about what it will mean for our children to grow up in a church plant?
• Does my spouse have a support system of their own, or will they be isolated in this new community?

What to Do with Your Assessment

If you have worked through these five areas honestly and you still believe you are called to plant a church, the next step is not to start planning. The next step is to share your assessment with three or four people who know you well and ask them to respond honestly.

If their response confirms what you believe, pursue the calling. If their response raises significant concerns, take those concerns seriously. The people who know you best are often the most reliable guides to whether you are ready for something this demanding.

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