Preventing Discouragement and Keeping Church Planters Productive on the Field

From the EMQ January 2010 issue: Preventing Discouragement and Keeping Church Planters Productive on the Field, by David A. Diaso:

The responses to a survey I conducted [of 180 workers interviewed] demonstrated that church planters are more likely to be motivated to continue if the following are in place:

• a clear definition of the criteria for success;
• a clear description of tasks required to plant a church;
• training, coaching, and mentoring in tangible church-planting principles; and  
• consistent encouragement and feedback from the mission agency and team leader/supervisor.

Diaso then gives 4 recommendations based on his research:

1. Mission agencies and team leaders/supervisors must provide a clear definition of the criteria for success.
2. Mission agencies need to provide for a clear description of tasks required to plant a church.
3. Mission agencies need to provide training, coaching, and mentoring in tangible church-planting principles.

4. Mission agencies and team leaders/supervisors need to provide consistent encouragement and feedback.

Read the whole thing (requires a subscription to EMQ).