I still remember the day our church plant team sat in a living room, eating cold pizza and dreaming about what could be. Almost three years and countless coffee meetings later, I’ve learned that those early team dynamics shaped everything that followed. And man, did we learn some lessons the hard way.
You know that feeling when you’re halfway through assembling furniture and realize you skipped a crucial step? Church planting has those moments, too—except instead of a wobbly bookshelf, you’re building something that could impact generations.
Real Talk About Team DNA
Last month, I was talking with a church planter, and they seemed exhausted. He thought, “If I just preached good sermons, everything would fall into place.” Many church planters have thought the same thing over the years. The reality is – you don’t know what you don’t know.
Here’s what I wish someone had told me before we started:
1. Different is Good (Actually, It’s Essential)
Our first worship leader used to drive me nuts with her attention to detail. While I wanted to “just wing it,” she insisted on planning every transition and every moment. It turns out that her meticulous planning created the space for genuine spontaneity in our services. Go figure.
Then there’s our outreach coordinator, who never meets a spreadsheet he likes but can strike up a conversation with literally anyone. These differences used to stress me out until I realized: that’s exactly what makes us work.
2. Look for Holy Discontent
You want team members who can’t sleep at night because they care so much about reaching people. But – and this is crucial – that passion needs to come with a heavy dose of humility.
Take our kids’ ministry director, for example. She has this massive vision for reaching families in our area. But two weeks ago, I found her unclogging a toilet before service. When I tried to apologize for her having to deal with that, she just shrugged and said, “Part of the mission, right?” That’s the kind of humble hunger you need.
3. They’ve Got Grit in Their Genes
In one of our earlier church plants, we had to change our meeting space several times within a short time. The last time, the move-in and move-out dates were tight. Do you know who shined? The team members who didn’t need a detailed five-year plan to stay faithful. They just showed up, prayed hard, and got to work.
One of the team members calls it “holy stubbornness” – that refusal to quit even when things get messy. And trust me, things will get messy.
The Real Secret: It’s All About EQ
Let me tell you about my biggest facepalm moment as a church planter. We had this incredibly gifted guy on our team—let’s call him Tom. He was an amazing theologian and a great teacher—the whole package. But he couldn’t read a room to save his life. Team meetings became tension-filled, and eventually, he left.
That taught me something crucial: emotional intelligence trumps almost everything in church planting. Here’s what I look for now:
- People who can say “I messed up” without adding a “but…”
- Team members who notice when someone’s having a rough day
- Leaders who can disagree without making it personal
- Folks who understand that sometimes silence speaks louder than words
Non-Negotiables (Written in Permanent Marker)
There was this one time we compromised on character because someone was incredibly talented. Spoiler alert: it backfired. Spectacularly. Now we have some things we won’t budge on:
Character Beats Talent (Every Time)
We had a potential team member who was amazing with social media but had a habit of stretching the truth. We passed. One of the best decisions we ever made.
Team Chemistry is Everything
If you’re wondering whether someone’s a good fit, go on a road trip together. Seriously. Nothing reveals compatibility like eight hours in a car discussing vision, arguing about radio stations, and navigating fast food choices.
Growth Mindset Required
We look for people who get excited about learning, like our production team lead, who spent his vacation days watching tech conferences and YouTube videos to uplevel his team—not because we asked him to, but because he couldn’t help himself.
Getting Real About Results
Here’s the honest truth: our church plant looks nothing like what we initially imagined. It’s better! It is messier sometimes, sure—but better. Why do I say that? Because it’s not built on one person’s charisma or capabilities—it’s built on a team that’s learned to function like a family.
Last Sunday, I watched our team in action. Our main tech guy was troubleshooting the sound system while training a team member. One of the new greeters welcomed first-time guests like long-lost friends, and a young lady was doing ninja-level work of connecting members with small groups. None of them were doing what they initially signed up for, but all of them were exactly where they needed to be.
That’s when it hit me: the magic isn’t in finding perfect people; it’s in finding people who are perfectly committed to the mission and to each other.
Got questions about building your church planting team? DOVE USA has been walking alongside church planters for decades. Let us know how we can help!