Assessment Center

"Choosing and retaining the right pastor is the key variable in planting a new mission."
-Lyle Schaller

Go directly to MNA Assessment Schedule
Why Be Assessed?
Planting a new church is a ministry requiring special gifts, abilities, experiences and calling distinct from typical pastoral ministry.

The MNA Assessment Center is a four-day event used to help evaluate interested pastors in the specific competencies for church planting. Some of the competencies include:

Vital Spiritual Life: exhibiting a compelling walk with God; living by grace, practicing love.

Strong Prayer Life: depending on God through prayer as a priority.

Personal Integrity: exercising strong biblical morality and principles in daily life.

Family Life: developing growing love relationships among family members who share the vision of ministry.

Evangelism: cooperating with God in leading people to salvation.

Visionary Leadership: leading others with grace to accomplish God's plan.

Preaching: proclaiming God's Word confidently

How Am I Assessed?
Candidates are involved in simulated church planting exercises, small group experiences, teaching modules, evaluation instruments and personal interviews with qualified and godly assessment staff.

During assessment you will enjoy fellowship with fellow candidates and staff through meals, worship times, classroom interaction and informal opportunities. Each person assessed receives confidential feedback, as well as a complete evaluation to assist in determining God's direction for a church planting ministry.

Benefits Of Assessment

Confidence and confirmation for the emboldened planter - You will be confident of your calling, giftedness and readiness for a church planting ministry.

Protection from the trauma and pain of burnout - Thoroughness in the process protects you and your family from unrealistic expectations.

Church leaders are more confident - Their investment of time, people and resources is better served by the assessment process.

Cost vs. Investment
The cost of assessment is relatively small considering the investment that individuals, churches and presbyteries make in starting a new church. It is a wise investment of God's resources to help couples faithfully and carefully discern God's will for their lives.

The MNA Assessment Center seeks to keep costs to a minimum by limiting them to lodging, food, materials and administrative needs. We are fully committed to keeping the assessment process "budget friendly".

Often, a candidate's church, presbytery or denomination will share the responsibility of the assessment cost. Applicants should contact their respective leadership for possible financial aid or assistance.

Please be assured that each candidate's assessment information is held in strict confidence and only released by his permission.

Call us for dates and location nearest you.

Note: Qualification for church planting by the Center does not guarantee placement.

What Others Have Said!
"This assessment has made me look at who I really am in Christ as a person. It has taught me to respect the vision of other church planters and has made me understand the call of leaders in the ministry."

"I am so respectful of the time, prayer and self you put into this process. It is extremely encouraging that this is the environment and process through which the PCA is putting its rising pastors. It deeply excites me for the future of the PCA."

"While we felt called to continue to plant churches before we came to assessment, I now share a better understanding of my husband's vision and look forward with great anticipation to the new work God is leading us to start."

"We have had the opportunity to review a number of church planting candidates who have gone through your assessment. Three of these men were well known to our committee and the assessment report confirmed our feelings about them. We want to commend you for a job well done."

"Our Presbytery's MNA Committee will not even consider a church planter who hasn't been approved by the Assessment Center."

Where Do I Start?
For information on the Assessment Center schedule, you may view by following this link MNA Assessment Schedule or contact Nancy Swindler at 678-825-1249. If you prefer to contact our office by mail:

Mission to North America, PCA
Assessment Center

Nancy Swindler, Assessment Assistant
1700 N. Brown Road, Suite 101
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8143
email: nswindler@pcanet.org
678-825-1249

Rev 11/16/07

Back to Church Planting