Assessment - The Final Disposition

Tears. Laughter. Joy. Discouragement. Excitment. Redirection. Those are all appropriate descriptions of the reactions from the couples at the Assessment Center who received their final disposition this morning. Here are the ratings that are offered at an Assessment Center:

1. NOT RECOMMENDED — The important thing to remember is that this recommendation has nothing to do with whether a person should be in ministry. It is about whether they have the unique wiring that leads to planting successful churches. It takes an entirely different skill set to start a church from scratch than it does to “pastor” an established church.
2. STRONG CONDITIONS - Many of the necessary building blocks to be a successful planter are there, but there are some significant issues (personal, financial, psychological, etc.) that need to be worked through before proceeding. It will take from 18-24 months and then the candidate should go through the assessment again.
3. CONDITIONS - Lot’s a potential, but it is recommended that the candidate slow down a bit, address some more minor issues, evaluate their commitment to planting, and if those things are still positive in 3-6 months, then they should go for it.
4. RECOMMENDED - This assessment conveys that the assessors see both the building blocks and the readiness in the candidate and spouse to begin moving immediately toward planting.

Obviously, everyone arrives hoping for the last category. But most don’t receive it. Which means that at the end of this process, there is a wide range of emotions. Honestly, it is painful to watch the disappointment and sense the hurt when people are NOT RECOMMENDED. It is difficult at times to observe those who arrives so full of hopes be told that there are STRONG CONDITIONS and that they should go through a 1-2 year effort to work on other things. But this is what it means to “have wisdom” in the counsel of many. And that is why so many of us avoid sharing our plans with others. We don’t really want to have them tell us “NO“. And so many of us just jump into life situations we are not prepared for and that God did not design us for because we will not humble ourselves before others to have them speak into our plans. The net effect for us when we do that ranges from major personal disappointment to destroyed families and wrecked churches.

That is not to say that it is ever EASY. It’s not! Even for these ministry couples who want to serve the Lord with all thier heart, it is difficult to have your dreams re-directed by someone else. And so they walk away hurt and disillusioned. But over time, most begin to understand that God doesn’t value them any less. We are all designed for certain things… and starting a church just doesn’t seem to be in their spiritual DNA. But while planting a church may be in my spiritual DNA and others that were there this week, there are plenty of things that AREN’T in my spiritual DNA that others bring to the table. It is all for the good of the body. And we MUST learn to understand that the team depends on all of us embracing the role God designed us to play. Ultimately, it is for everyone’s best.

I am excited for those who will now begin their church planting journey. But I am equally excited for those who may take up another mantle while making significant contributions to God’s kingdom.

GO TEAM!