Educational Level: Graduate, Master
Credit Hours: 3 Credits
Instructor: Dr. Terry Coy

Course Description:

A church planting strategy requires called church planters. This course will examine and evaluate the sources and methods for identifying and recruiting church planters. The student will gain an understanding of planter candidate motivations, obstacles to recruitment, and contemporary systems for planter development.

How This Course Benefits Students:

Church planting requires by its very nature a God-called church planter, whether a catalytic/sequential planter or a founding pastor/planter. Although God calls the planter, leaders of denominations, associations, networks, and missions agencies are charged with the task of identifying and recruiting planters who match their vision, mission, values, and doctrine. These leaders must relate with the sources for church planters, including academic institutions, local churches, and the business world. They must also be aware of the obstacles, dynamics, relationships, and potential pitfalls involved in recruitment. Furthermore, leaders must be able to facilitate and/or develop systems for planter recruitment, including marketing, ministerial networking, and farm systems. The goal of the course is to give church planting leaders and consultants the skills and tools that will be used by the Holy Spirit in helping planters understand and clarify their specific calling.

Why This Course Is Important:

Anecdotal information from current church planter leaders is that church planting is getting harder and taking longer. Some of the reasons include increased antipathy towards Christianity, ineffectiveness of current models, and fewer church planters. The dearth of planters only increases the urgency and significance of this course.