Develop a Discipleship System
Assessment Tools: Why We Need Them
By Marcelo Gomes
Why do we use assessment tools for church planters? Are they relevant and necessary? I’m an ordained elder in the New England Conference and have served as a church planter, mentor, and lead pastor in churches in Brazil and the U.S. since 2002. I’m also a licensed psychoanalyst in the United States with nineteen years of clinical experience. I want to share with you in this series why we should see assessment tools as vital components in the process of recruiting and sending planters to the field.
Assessments help planters identify skillsets and development potential. They are not intended to approve or disapprove someone. Path 1 is committed to offering outstanding tools and assessment resources that will serve planters and developers in the global church.
As church planters, we must have a clear vision of the goals and objectives that will shape our ministry. A church planter assessment is an invaluable tool to help us evaluate our strengths and weaknesses so that we can maximize our potential in starting a new church. In this article, we'll discuss what goes into a successful assessment, why it's important, and how to use the results to your advantage.
As church planters, we must have a clear vision of the goals and objectives that will shape our ministry.
A successful assessment should include both personal and ministerial assessments. Personal assessments look at the individual's spiritual health and maturity. This includes looking at people’s faith journeys, spiritual gifts, life experiences, relationships with others, and attitudes toward serving God in their daily lives. Ministerial assessments measure skills related to management, leadership, communication, teaching, preaching, evangelism, discipleship, and more. These assessments typically include self-taken tests, psychological assessments, interviews with peers or experts, discernment retreats, and coaches who can give feedback on individuals’ skillsets.
Church planters need to assess themselves before embarking on a new ministry because assessment allows them to become aware of any areas that need improvement or further development before they begin leading a church planting project. Taking the time to understand where they are spiritually and ministerially will help inform their decisions about which ministry opportunities may be better suited for their gifts and abilities. It will also help them identify any areas in which they need additional training or support from other church planters or experts to be successful in starting a new church.
Once planters have completed their assessments, they should take time to reflect on the results. They should ask themselves: “What are my strengths? What are my weaknesses? How can I use my strengths to serve others better? Where do I need additional training or support?” Answering these questions will help planters prioritize their next steps so that they can move forward with confidence knowing that they are equipped with the necessary skills for success. The key is to not let weaknesses hold them back; instead, they should focus on leveraging their strengths while seeking assistance in areas where needed.
Church planters’ assessments are an invaluable tool for evaluating personal and ministerial aspects before embarking on new ministry ventures. The assessments provide an opportunity for self-reflection that helps planters become aware of any areas that need improvement or further development before they begin planting.
By understanding where they are spiritually and ministerially, planters can make informed decisions about which ministry opportunities are best suited for their gifts and abilities while preparing themselves adequately through training or assistance from experts, when needed. Ultimately, assessments help ensure that people have all the tools necessary for successful ministry!
Feel free to contact me at [email protected] for more information about how Path 1 can support you with assessment tools.
Dr. Marcelo Gomes is the Director of Training & Church Planting Systems with Path 1 at Discipleship Ministries.
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