The SG Church Planter Assessment is a weekend-long intensive where prospective church planting candidates come together (with their wives).  And for 2 days, these prospective planters and wives have the opportunity to express the primary competencies that have proven to be key indicators in effective and fruitful church planters.  

During the weekend, the prospective church planters will demonstrate their competencies in public leadership through vision-casting, and preaching, and personal evangelism.  

They are also observed for the soft leadership skills of self-awareness, and others-awareness.  We ask the prospective church planting couples to open a window into their marriage relationship.  We explore the relationship between the prospective planting couple and their sending church, as well as the potential target location.  

And the purpose of the assessment is to come alongside the prospective church planting couple, and serve them in this moment in time, with discernment.  

We are very much aware that there are SG churches and elderships with proven track records in identifying, preparing, and deploying church planting pastors and teams. 

We are also aware that there are individuals who are seeking for objective input.  For a long time, I was compelled by the notion of planting a church.  But I also wrestled with an honest and abiding question – “Could I actually plant a church?”  “Do I have the competencies to start a new church?”  “Is now the time for my wife and me to take this step of faith?”  

Perhaps your local elder team has been praying – asking God to give you a church planter.  Perhaps there is someone on your ministry team about whom your eldership has been asking, “Is this our guy?”  

Perhaps your regional church planting committee is, or has been, seeking for clarity and confirmation regarding a particular potential planter, or alignment with a planter and a particular place, or the alignment of a planter, the place, and Sovereign Grace.  

Every couple on our assessment team have first-hand experience in forming, preparing, launching, and leading Sovereign Grace church plants.  And we feel confident that the Lord will help us to provide you, and your wife, and your local Sovereign Grace eldership the discernment you need to take the “next step.”  

The next church planter assessment weekend will March 12-14, 2026, in Charleston, SC.  

Click here to learn more about church planting with SGC or to contact us for more information about the next church planter assessment.