Recruitment: The Power of Relationships and The Local Church
Submitted by Steve Krier, Director of Church Planting
How did you become a church planter? How did you get connected to Converge?
People often ask me these questions. They are important questions and ones I am happy to answer. The simplest answer to this question is relationships.
The quick story of my journey goes like this: a pastor asked me to help in a youth group when I was 22 years old. I volunteered for one year before the church brought me on staff as a youth director. Over six years, I worked and became licensed as a pastor. I would attend Converge District Annual Meetings, where I met many great people. At one of these meetings, I spoke with a man who asked me if I had ever considered church planting. That man became a friend, then a mentor, and then my church planting coach. His name is Mark, and I am so glad God brought him into my life.
Ask any of our Heartland church planters, and they could give you the names of the people who have encouraged and mentored them through their journey. You would hear about pastors and friends who invited them to a conversation or an event. In these environments, they discovered their calling to plant a church.
Furthermore, you will find that our church planters served in meaningful ways in an established church before planting. In these encouraging and nurturing environments, God brought the right people at the right time to recruit them to plant a church.
I believe our next church planters are already serving in local churches. Our next church planter may be in YOUR church! God may use you to help them take their first step toward planting a church.
I invite you to consider a few questions: What men in your church exhibit the characteristics of an elder found in 1 Timothy 3 and Titus 1? Who in your church is leading the charge in evangelism? Who is starting new things, be it a Bible study, ministry initiative, or business? Who thinks about expanding the Kingdom of God? Who has the burden for parts of your city or neighboring towns because “They need a good church”?
Are there any people that come to mind? I encourage you to ask them if they have considered church planting.
What do you do if they say yes? What is next? The next step is to reach out so we can help! You can reach me by phone at (218)443-3378 or steve@convergeheartland.org.
I look forward to hearing from you.