Church Planter Assessments

Pre-assessment

After submitting your application through Send Me, your next step in the planter process is pre-assessment. A set of online instruments asks a series of questions that will help you gauge your readiness to become a church planter. The three areas of focus are church planting capacity, personal character and, if married, the health of your marriage.

This discovery pathway is valuable in helping reveal the authentic you. Depending on the results of your pre-assessment process, you may be invited to attend the Send Network Assessment Retreat.

Assessment Retreat

This two-day retreat can be one of the greatest gifts a church planting candidate will ever receive. You will learn more about your strengths and growth opportunities in these two days than you probably have before, or ever will again. In an environment of encouragement and support, experienced leaders from the context where you desire to plant will measure your church planting readiness in nine essential areas: calling, emotional and spiritual health, family dynamics, vision, leadership, communication, missional engagement, disciple-making and social skills.

Assessors, along with a representative from your Sending Church, will gather together at the end of the two-day retreat to make a recommendation and develop a growth plan for each candidate. There are four possible recommendations:

Assessors, along with a representative from your Sending Church, will gather together at the end of the two-day retreat to make a recommendation and develop a growth plan for each candidate. There are four possible recommendations:

Ready
This candidate is thoroughly prepared for the task of planting in this environment.

Ready With Conditions
This candidate is ready, but there is an issue of concern. Proceed ahead in the planting process while working with a coach on strengthening that area of concern.

Further Development Needed
There are several areas indicating a planter is not yet ready to plant in this context. A recommendation toward a church planting internship is likely. A development plan will be drawn up and given to the candidate.

Cautioned
In some cases, the greatest gift that can be given to a prospective church-planting candidate is the honest appraisal that church planting is not likely his path in ministry. This transparency will save a would-be planter from some painful and discouraging days.

Orientation
Upon receiving a “Ready” or “Ready with Conditions,” candidates planting in one of the 32 Send Cities will be invited, at NAMB’s expense, to attend a three-day orientation at our offices in Alpharetta, Georgia.

This will be an encouraging and culture-building time of networking, inspiration and pure fun. In these three days, you will experience the rationale behind, and expressions of, our Send Network values of brotherhood, multiplication and kingdom.

The orientation gathering culminates in an unforgettable experience of collaborative commitment to your city. It is our prayer that these days might shape the early steps and future trajectory of kingdom-first movements across North America.

The orientation gathering culminates in an unforgettable experience of collaborative commitment to your city. It is our prayer that these days might shape the early steps and future trajectory of kingdom-first movements across North America.

Deadlines
90 Days Out – Candidate should have application completed and started on CPIA.
Up to 60 Days Out – The center can be populated by 8 SEND CITY candidates, 2 Non Send, and 2 Non SBC Candidates (8-2-2 Ratio).
60 Days Out – The center populated on a first registered, first reserved basis.
40 Day Deadline – Candidate must have completed CPIA, Questionnaires, Registration and Candidate Rep Registration to attend. The 40 Day Deadline is now a hard stop.

Travel
NAMB will assist with travel expenses for candidates traveling to a Send Network Assessment Center Retreat Hub from a partnering Send City (with the exception of Baltimore/DC). NAMB will reimburse candidates for mileage and up to two hotel nights. Candidates will be responsible for meals and any other travel expenses they may incur. Candidate Reps are not reimbursed for travel expenses.

Candidate’s Check List

Registration
Application (Must be completed 90 days out from retreat.)
* References
* Background Check
* Credit Check
* Ministry Safe Training

Pre-Assessment Retreat Questionnaires on the Send Portal (This takes an average 2 days to complete.)

Candidate Questionnaires

Calling & Vision Questionnaire
* Leadership Questionnaire
* Missional Engagement & Planting Questionnaire
* Communication Questionnaire
* Emotional & Spiritual Health Questionnaire
Spouse Questionnaires (if married)
* Calling Questionnaire
* Health Questionnaire
CPIA Pre-Assessment on the Send Portal (Must be completed 60 days out from retreat.  This takes an average of 25 days to complete.)

* Church Planter Assessment
* DISC Assessment
* Church Planter 360
* Prepare Enrich (if married or engaged)
* Spouse Church Planter Assessment (if married)
* Spouse DISC (if married)
* Spouse Church Planter 360 (if married)

Retreat Registration (Link will be sent upon completion of Pre-Retreat Questionnaires.)

* Candidate Retreat Registration & Payment
* Candidate Rep Registration

Download this Check List

Retreat Assignment on Send Portal (Once Candidate and Candidate Rep are BOTH registered, pre-retreat activates are assigned in the Send Portal. These will take 2 weeks to complete.)

  • Module 1 – Mini sermon and 3 minute vision cast (30 minutes to complete)
  • Module 2 – Calling (7 days to complete)
  • Module 3 – Self-leadership (7 days to complete)