Created: 2012-09-26 17:57:11
I got a call from a leader in a regional church planting effort recently. His question: "where can we find more planters?â€Â It's a common question. Church planting has increased in popularity during the 20 years I've been involved, but there is still a shortage of willing and ready leaders. Where can you find more planters?
Be Findable
According to Google, 18,000 people search "church planting†every month. You may not have the resources to create an online presence like NAMB or The Church Multiplication Initiative, but most high school age nerds know how to create a Facebook page or Wordpress site. Find one and make your church planting effort findable.
Find Fishing Holes
If you were looking for a mechanic you'd have a lot more success at a car show than a craft fair. Your fishing holes will vary depending on your tribe or geography but start with colleges or seminaries. Look for local or regional conferences or events. And, of course, don't skip the big church planting events like Exponential.
Network, Network, Network
If buying real estate is all about location, location, location, then finding church planters is all about networking, networking, networking. Good networking isn't accidental - it's intentional. Depending on your role and responsibilities, set a reasonable goal. If you're full-time job is finding church planters for your movement, then make it a goal to have at least one networking conversation a day. If you wear a lot of hats, maybe it's only one conversation a week. The more conversations you have about church planting, the more church planters you're likely to find.