Church planting

Prospective Planters

We formed the Church Plant Training Center to identify, develop, launch and coach church planters. The training center utilizes leadership development, subject matter expert equipping, and hands-on experiences in the life of the church to prepare prospective planters for the rigors to come. The center also offers “Essentials Training”, a nine-month set of learning modules that prepare the planter for a successful start enroute to becoming a church planting church.

Essentials Training modules are offered to anyone in the city who wants the learn the art and science of planting from seasoned experts and current church planters.

Our process of Identifying, Developing, Launching, and Coaching!

Identifying

The process starts when you reach out to us via email to set up an initial interview. In that email, please include a current resume and cover letter explaining why you are interested in possibly planting with us. Please include a summary of why you feel called to plant a church in Austin, Texas.

Developing

We run a two year residency program. Year one focuses on the foundation of leading in the church, building the personal and leadership rhythms necessary to pastor a local church. The resident will also be immersed in Hill Country culture and DNA while getting hands-on ministry experience leading and building ministry. In year two, the resident has discerned where God is leading them to plant and begins the process of developing a missional core team in order to launch the church. Church planter essentials training occurs during year two.

Note - while year one of the residency is a paid position with benefits, in year two, the prospective planter is required to raise their own funds to cover their salary and benefit needs.

Launching

When the church planter successfully meets the requirements for launch, the elders of Hill Country give the green light to launch. Year two of the residency is geared to equipping the planter to be ready to launch well.

Coaching

Every new planting pastor is required to continue in a coaching relationship with Hill Country for the first three years post launch. We have found, and national statistics bear out, the chance of long-term church viability and impact are directly correlated to the planting pastor receiving ongoing coaching.

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