Great Training Increases the Likelihood of Success

It seems like a no-brainer that great training increases the likelihood of success. It doesn’t quite guarantee success, but it will, without a shadow of a doubt, put you much closer to it than if you ignored training altogether.

I joked a few days ago that I might be the first over-trained church planter. While one can indeed over-train and over-prepare for something to the point of never acting on what God has called you to do, RARELY do any of us actually cross that threshold.

I am in Tulsa today with a group of ARC church planters from all around the country. Rick Bezet, the awesome pastor of NewLife Church in Arkansas is here to coach us today. Some of us will also be on a 3pm conference call with Dino Rizzo of Healing Place Church in Baton Rouge. I’ve read all of the church planting books, I read all of the church planting blogs, I have been to conferences, I have been through church planting boot camps, I have mentors, I have students, I have planted a church before launching The Courageous Church, but I still need training because the guys that are coaching us today have already been where I’m trying to go.

The truth is, that the jury is still out on whether or not I will be a truly "successful" church planter, but much of the success I have had so far can be attributed to good coaching and frequent training. Here’s some motivation for you. Works for me every time!