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!
"Assessment was extraordinarily valuable to me. It was challenging well beyond what I expected or imagined, but I felt more accepted and loved than I have in a very long time "

"This week was incredibly helpful and productive. I will highly recommend/require future church planters to come through this."

"Thank you for really caring! This was a much better week than I expected. I was very pleasantly surprised and will remember this experience as a very helpful and enjoyable time. The assessors are the best!"

"I was overall satisfied with this week. It was unbelievable! Thank you for your warmth. The presence of the Lord was here and it was extremely encouraging to be with like-minded couples. Thank you for all of your hard work and time it took to help us. We hope to keep in touch "

"Thank you so much for all of your preparation and for your encouragement in all matters concerning our walk with God, our relationship with the body, and our dev elopement toward seeking His will for our lives. "

"My wife and I had wonderful experiences with the assessors and made close friendships with the other couples."

"I enjoyed getting to know the other couples involved. It was heartening to see people with different giftedness and personalities called to Gospel ministry."

"We came into the week unsure of our gifting and call and what church planting is all about. We left with a real passion for church planting and a clearer vision for our role in the Kingdom."

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

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