1. Passion for the Lost
It goes without saying that unless a church planter has a passion for the lost, he will plant a church that will grow through transfer growth from other churches. Such a pastor will concentrate on programs to attract people and his pulpit ministry will be mainly a "topical preaching style" that entertains the crowds. Christians dissatisfied with their own churches are easily attracted to such a church. Although this church is growing, the Kingdom is not growing. The kind of church planters we need are ones that have the spirit of Paul. He said, "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else's foundation." (Romans 15:20) We need pastors with such a passion for the lost that they will aggressively target those who have been blinded from the gospel. 1 Timothy 2:3-4 "This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth." 2. KINGDOM MENTALITY
I have heard people say that "denominations are from the devil." How sad! How ignorant! When God created a flower, He did not just create on white flower with one fragrance. He created thousands of different ones with different fragrances and different structures. Which one is right? Which one is more "flower" than the other? When they are together in a bouquet they enhance one another, never denying the other an existence. Ephesians 4:3 "Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace." We have been called to unity not uniformity. There is a huge difference between the two. A church planter that is respected by God is one that will not hurt the body of Christ. Visit the other pastors in town and tell them of your intentions. 3. A VISIONARY
Proverbs 29:18 "Where there is no vision, the people perish…" A church planter must be a visionary in the sense that he gets his vision from the Lord.
It is necessary that he wait on the Lord for vision. It must never be a quick idea he received in his mind. Take Habakkuk as an example.
Habakkuk 2:1-3 "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved. [2] And the Lord answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. [3] For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry." (KJV) 4. A LOVE FOR PEOPLE Thjs almost goes without saying. No church planter will ever be effective if he does not have a love for people. Why plant a church if it isn't motivated by the love of Christ Jesus. Paul said, "For Christ's love compels us because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died." (2 Corinthians 5:14 NIV) To the Thessalonians he said: "We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers." (NIV) 5. WILLING TO SACRIFICE
Sacrifice is part of the church planter's life. Pioneering is far more difficult that maintaining. Often the church planter has to sacrifice the comfort of an established church or ministry to start this new church from scratch. Most of the times, there is a financial sacrifice until the church is fully established. Listen to what Paul, the church planter says: 2 Corinthians 4:7-12 "But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body. 11For we who are alive are always being given over to death for Jesus' sake, so that his life may be revealed in our mortal body. 12So then, death is at work in us, but life is at work in you." (NIV) This scripture verse is the motto of the church planter. 6. FAMILY SUPPORT It is so important that the church planter has the support of his family. If the devil is going to attack the church planter, it is going to be in his family. It is an old tactic of his. That is why Paul gives these instructions to Timothy: 1 Timothy 3:1-7 "Here is a trustworthy saying: If anyone sets his heart on being an overseer,A he desires a noble task. 2Now the overseer must be above reproach, the husband of but one wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, 3not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. 4He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him with proper respect. 5(If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God's church?) 6He must not be a recent convert, or he may become conceited and fall under the same judgment as the devil. 7He must also have a good reputation with outsiders so that he will not fall into disgrace and into the devil's trap." (NIV)