Preparation for Church Planters

I've come across a couple of on-line training resources for church planters. I haven't had a chance to read through the materials but I thought I'd link to them for future reference.

First, the Church Planting Group of the North American Mission Board has a Preparation for Church Planting Self-Study Guide. Its purpose is "to help the church planter confront three issues: (1) Whose kingdom am I building? (2) What is the church as the body of Christ? (3) Am I a church planter?"

Second, Elmer Towns has a manual called Getting A Church Started (pdf) that is geared - from what I can see - to the traditional church model. Towns comments: "I do not consider myself an authority on establishing new churches. I have interviewed men and have written their stories. They are the authorities. I am simply the channel through which the story is told."

Finally, while I'm on the topic of church planting, let me link to my friend Gary Carter's Church Creation Toolbox software program that is designed to help church planters with ideas, administrative tools, and other resources.