Assessment Center | Registration | FAQs
What is Church Planter Assessment?
Starting a new church is a daunting task—one that takes divine enablement and specialized skills, along with lots of self-confidence and determination. The Wesleyan Church Planter Assessment Center is a rewarding, three-day journey of discovery that helps potential church planters and their sponsors clarify whether they have the specific calling, necessary gifts, and ministry skills to be an effective church planting leader. Using 13 research-based church planter qualifications and multiple perspectives, a group of trained assessors prayerfully evaluate candidates, using behavioral interviews, proven self-awareness inventories, self-discovery experiences, group projects, personal references, testing and interviews by a licensed Christian psychologist—all in a highly positive environment under the leadership of the Holy Spirit. You will walk away knowing yourself and God’s will better, with a clearer picture of your own ministry strengths and church planting aptitude.
Participating in an assessment event can lead to a gratifying new level of self-awareness and assurance about your specific ministry calling. Based on your own input, a “green light” will encourage you about becoming a lead church planter now; a “yellow light” is a signal that you have lead church planter potential but need to deal with some other issues first; or a “red light” will direct you toward another role besides leading a new church start.
The assessment process only evaluates potential church planter effectiveness; it is not a critique or judgment of your suitability for any other type of ministry. However, even persons not recommended for church planting say they value this experience, because it redirects their energy for exploring ministry options that are a better personal mission fit. While assessment is a predictor, it is not a guarantee of future church planting leadership success. It is not a substitute for church planter training. And it is not intended for persons who have already been officially appointed by their sponsoring agency and/or who are actually on-site and already involved in church planting. We want to help you make the best upfront decision about leading a church plant.
Assessment is just the great start you may need. Afterwards, we recommend that qualified lead church planters attend a training event (such as a church planter boot camp, workshop, college/seminary course, or church planting conference), where you will develop your own, individualized ministry action plan. Then, find a personal ministry coach to help you maximize the potential success of your intentional strategies for launching a new, healthy, multiplying congregation.
Next Steps...
Find out more about the Wesleyan Church Planter Assessment Center by clicking "FAQs"
Take the free “Initial Screening” survey at www.churchplanterprofiles.com. This tool will help you evaluate your readiness in the areas of church planting experience, entrepreneurial leadership, ministry experience, and relational evangelism. Based on your own private screening, you will decide whether to walk further down the church planting leadership path.
Complete the Wesleyan Church Planter Assessment Center registration form online by clicking "Registration" to attend one of our two annual events. A district or parent church may wish to be your sponsor to help pay for the registration fee—so be sure to talk to your district superintendent if you are a Wesleyan minister or member. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with full instructions.
After registering, go back to www.churchplanterprofiles.com to complete the “Full Planter Profile” (your greatly reduced cost for access to these superb tools is $89). Be sure to select “Wesleyan Church” as the Partner Agency to which your profile results will be sent. These will be used at the Assessment Center.
Wesleyan Church Planter Assessment Center Dates
We conduct two assessment centers each year at The Wesleyan Church World Headquarters, 13300 Olio Road, Fishers, Indiana. This year’s events will be held February 21-23 and August 14-16 2012.