Quest training in Carlsbad, California

by Ron Hamilton, Conference Minister

The CCCC is committed to recruit, assess, train, coach and resource church planters as we develop a church multiplication movement in our Conference. After being identified and assessed, the planter gathers a core group devoted to the mission of starting a new church. Once that core group reaches a critical mass of 15–30 people, the planter and the core group participate in a 3-day training called, “The Kingdom Quest.”

This training begins by providing teaching about the needs and opportunities for church planting in this generation. The instruction helps solidify the identity of the planter and leaders as sons/daughters of God with unique gifts to be used in the beginning of the new work. The leaders then work together to build a pathway for the new church, and to identify the values, vision, giftedness, mission and structure of the new church community.

The Greenhouse Project in Oceanside, California joined in the Quest training in March. This church plant is led by Sam Harrell and the core group members were sent out by the Carlsbad Community Church. Members of the Missions Committee of the Carlsbad Church also participated to help them understand and support the new work. Pastor Harrell says,

The Quest training was an invaluable experience. Throughout the weekend the facilitator, Ron Hamilton, pushed our team into the scriptures in a loving and challenging way that helped us draw out our rock-solid identity in Christ, and from that identity, clarify the ways God is specifically calling our core team to love God, love others and make disciples. I really like how the training helped further develop our church’s vision in ways that directly lead to action. The Greenhouse Project is already being more fruitful from the Quest training.