Becoming a Church Planter

Open Bible has put together a process to assess and prepare those who sense a calling to be church planters. The process is purposefully thorough. We have discovered that by taking more time to lay a good foundation, the potential for success increases. Church planting is not an easy task. Training, planning, and preparation are essential. Through the various assessment stages, we are able to identify training and coaching issues that will increase your effectiveness in ministry. This process has been created for your benefit, and so that we can be good stewards of our resources.

Listed below are the seven stages involved with doing an OBC church plant. This process is intended to assess and train potential church planters. Depending upon the assertiveness of the church planting candidate, the process can take as much as a year. A lot of work is involved, but regardless of whether you end up planting a church, going through the process will help improve your personal, ministerial identity and increase your ministry effectiveness.

1. Contact stage. Informal interview conducted, by phone or in person. 

2. Assessment stage.

a. Initial Self-Assessment Packet.
b. Reference based assessment. (Based on evaluations filled out by those who have seen the candidate in ministry and know the candidate’s character.) 
c. Second interview. In person, based upon self-assessment and references. 
d. Formal assessment done by a trained professional. OBC pays for assessment. Candidate pays to get there. 
e. Final review of initial assessment. This provides one more opportunity to look over the prospect’s self-evaluation/assessment, the reference assessments, interview notes, and make any follow-up phone calls necessary and make a recommendation to the district/region regarding approval for the next stage. Approval sought from board or its designees. 

3. Training stage.

a. Pre-bootcamp training and preparation. This would include the churchplanter’s toolkit assignments and initial demographics research on target group. In order for a prospect to attend a bootcamp at OBC expense, he or she would be required to have these assignments completed at least 45 days prior to the bootcamp. Candidate pays for bootcamp materials and is reimbursed when completed. 
b. Assignment review. Church planting director would review the assignments. If the assignments indicate preparedness on the part of the church planter, he can be approved for attendance at a bootcamp paid for by OBC. If the assignments need further work, the church planting director can prescribe additional assignments. 
c. Support and fundraising guidelines will be provided. 
d. Bootcamp attendance. 

4. Proposal Stage.

a. Planter submits a formal proposal for the church plant within 45 days of completing bootcamp. 
b. First year budget is submitted. 
c. Funding strategy is defined. 
d. Proposal, budget and funding strategy are reviewed by the regional executive director, district director and church planting director. 
e. Final approval from the regional board or its designees. Note: At some point in this process, it would be beneficial for the candidate to meet with the full board. When this occurs may depend upon the scheduling of regional board meetings, etc.

5. Birth preparation stage.

a. Fundraising goals reached. 
b. Housing, job, etc. found in the target community. 
c. Intercessors recruited. 
d. Launch team in place. 
e. Launch date set (may be for first meeting, not necessarily the first grand opening service) 
f. Administrative structure in place (for handling finances, tithes, etc.) 
g. Incorporation, bylaws, etc. Charter. (This may occur after the field launch.) 
h. All necessary curriculums chosen (for children’s, youth and discipleship ministries). 
i. With field launch approval, OBC funding begins as agreed in a formalized contract.

6. Field launch stage…work in target area begins according to plan.

7. Church launch stage…services begin. 

These stages may be modified from time to time as we discover ways to make the process more effective. Additional reading or training materials may be assigned. The order may be adjusted based on when bootcamps and board meetings occur, etc.

One additional note: If not already licensed with Open Bible, church planters will be expected to apply for ministerial credentials with Open Bible Churches as part of the preparation process. You may request a credential application by contacting Ken Groen, Regional Executive Director, at (877) 482-6491, CENREGOBC@aol.com .

If you are interested in becoming an Open Bible church planter, please contact:
Randy Loescher
Church Planting Director, Central Region
PO Box 702558
Tulsa, OK  74170-2558
(918) 814-8181
randytulsa@aol.com

Becoming a Church Planter * Models for Church Planting * Regional Support * Church Planter Responsibilities * Forms * Getting Your Church Started * Church Planting Resources

Open Bible Churches Central Region

2500 Casady Dr.
Des Moines, IA 50315
515.282.6491
info@openbiblecentral.org

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