Acts 29 Network: Flower Mound, TX

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Testimonials

Testimonials of the Acts 29 Application and Assessment Process:

I have been thrilled with the process that Acts 29 has for potential members. Every step has been challenging, engaging, and personal. Acts 29 leaves no doubt that they are serious about not only planting churches, but also the spiritual health of the pastors and families we work with. I have been blessed by many of the pastors of Acts 29 through their teaching and preaching for years and assumed that, when the time came to plant, I would certainly apply to be part of the organization that I had gained so much for respect of for their passion for the gospel and planting gospel centered churches that plant gospel centered churches.

When the time to plant did in fact come, though, I worried that I would be too concerned with carrying the banner of A29 and not concerned enough with carrying the banner of Jesus through the process. It took a single meeting with one of our regional pastors to clear up any misgivings I had about what this process would be like. The men of Acts 29 are brothers who care about the truth of the gospel being shared through the great commission. They have confirmed our families call to plant while convicting us of possible idols we might carry. There is no doubt that this process challenges your own process and compels you to be closer with Jesus in your own life, not simply an organization.

The most significant truth of this assessment process has been that A29 and it's pastors truly care for you and your family, not to mention the flock you have been called to shepherd. This experience has been more about people and less about process. The men of A29 will move you by how much they are genuinely concerned for relationships with you as you go through the planting experience and beyond. Acts 29 really is a band of brothers, not simply an organization. The A29 members, at least in my region, truly are the church described in Acts 2:

[42] And they devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers....

[44] And all who believed were together and had all things in common. [45] And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. [46] And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, [47] praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47 ESV)

Joshua Proctor
Lead Planter of Redeemed Church | Cartersville, GA

The assessment process for me was a part of discerning my calling. I knew what I wanted to do, and what I felt that God was calling me to do, but I needed to be affirmed in the process. There is no doubt that the assessment was thorough and intense, but it is also life-giving and nurturing. God used that time to speak Gospel truths into my life, and to affirm what he was indeed calling me to do. It also exposed the heart of Acts 29 to be a network that cares for, equips and encourages its planters. My wife and I were very thankful for both the application and assessment process.

Justin Valiquette
Lead Planter of Salerno City Church | Salerno Italy

The application process for Acts 29 is thorough, efficient, and biblical. The testing, assessment, and coaching truly evaluates essential things. Things like my love of Jesus, priority leadership in my marriage and parenting, my Reformed theology, and my missional ministry philosophy. Acts 29 is deeply concerned that I love Jesus, my wife, and then the church. The process has faciliated in my wife and I an unparalleled time of unity and depth. It is clear they are most concerned with the gospel and my marriage rather than methods and styles. Thank you Acts 29! You've served to love Jesus and my wife more and to serve and lead my church better.

Josh Perry
Lead Planter of Crew Church | Huntington, WV

Sian and I really enjoyed our assessment interview. Obviously we were a little apprehensive to what was going to happen, but once we arrived and started we found it a real joy. The experience is one that I will never forget, not because it was terrible or the assessors 'beat me up' in anyway but rather the fact that it was my wife and I together sharing our heart for Jesus, the lost and planting churches with people who have the same heart. The wisdom, encouragement and advice that I received as a result of the assessment interview has been invaluable to us as a family and a church.

Steve Robinson
Lead Planter of Ramilies Road Church | Liverpool UK

As a planter that is part of a couple of different church planting networks, I have now been through a few different assessments. My wife and I have both remarked, both during the assessment process and since, that the thing that makes the Acts 29 assessment stand out was the emphasis on the healthy marriage and family of the planter. We have taken several different entrepreneurial profiles over the last few years, and they certainly have value, but to know that there are a group of men out there that care about my marriage and the health my family is really special, and it made my wife feel really comfortable with the direction that God was leading us in planting with Acts 29. The biggest blessing has been that the men who did our assessment continue to meet with us and talk with us and show that they still care about and are praying for a healthy family as we plant our church.

Eric Loyer
Lead Planter of Remedy Church | Toms River, NJ

I've sat through too many interviews: job interviews, pastoral interviews, scholarship interviews, medical interviews. Because of the tone and subject matter of most of those, I've developed a real aversion to interviews in general.

My wife and I have both been through rounds of personnel interviews with the mission board whom we serve with, and we expected our A29 interview to look a lot like those. In other words, we anticipated being probed, prodded, and pushed on until we were exhausted and left saying, "Well, we're glad that hoop is jumped through." Our experience with the network assessment process was exactly the opposite.

Our assessment interview was pastoral: the men and lady in that room really cared for our souls. They pushed us toward Jesus and the Gospel and helped us see how we can love Him and each other more. It was encouraged: I really believe that the team who assessed us believe in us and care for us as members of the body of Christ. It was beneficial: I have often come back to the wisdom that our assessors shared with us during our time. And it was worshipful: Sarah and I walked out of the building praising and thanking Jesus for allowing us to associate with the network.

Thank you for a different kind of interview. Thank you for teaching your assessors to embody what the network stands for, the Gospel fleshed out in all of life.

We're proud to be associated with Acts 29.

Jerry
International Church Planter

After much preparation for assessment--trying to figure out what the "right answers" were going to be, Becky and I resolved (through much prayer and tears) to go into the process and be completely transparent about past sin in our marriage, my relatively new call to plant, and where we needed help theologically. We knew the gospel and we knew what the gospel was doing in our lives. We were met in the assessment by 4 gospel men who asked us some very hard questions. We shared our heart about our sin, our calling, our family, we said "I don't know" in some areas regarding theology and vision. At the end of the assessment these 4 men affirmed the work of the gospel in our marriage and the call on our life. They did not however give us an immediate green light to plant a church. We needed time to work on things- Becky and I knew this. So we worked hard…One year later after moving to Nashville and working with The Axis Church as a resident, we were regionally re-assessed and given the go ahead to plant Resonate Church. Our assessment was an experience that is dear to us. I am so very confident in the gospel men that are in the Acts 29 Network. They are bold enough to ask hard questions, tender enough to shed tears over another couple's sin, and caring enough to say "NOT YET" if the time isn't right to plant a church. Thankful to be part of this brotherhood.

Shane England
Lead Planter of Resonate Church | Nashville, TN

The A29 application/assessment process was brutal and traumatic for me; a three hour grueling interview followed by a dozen prerequisites spread over 10 months. As I reflect on it now I praise God for the work he did in me and my wife through this time. My anger has turned into compassion through the grace of God. Although personally humbled throughout the process I now stand more confident in what God has called me to be... a church planter not needing to be ashamed but qualified for the work and hits which are to come.

This process is not for the faint hearted. Put your hope in Jesus not your own strength and let him use this process for yours (and your ministry's) ultimate good.

Pete Cavanagh
Lead Planter of Rope Factory Church | Warragul, Australia

First off, the whole assessment for A29 is well worth it. The assessment interview was definitely the icing on the cake. It was a privilege for my wife and I to sit around a table with talented, God-fearing men and share our passion and vision for God's church and the church we feel He wants us to plant in Katy. These men spoke into our lives, giving correction and encouragement equally, providing a game plan for the best way to continue on and be successful. Each of these men were friends prior but became brothers afterward.

Ryan Prater
Lead Planter of Cross Community Church | Katy, TX

I have to admit that I was incredibly intimidated regarding the assessment...I think I even asked for a do-over on the phone interview half-way through it all. What made me feel safe, valued, and honored however was the very first question the assessment panel asked my wife. "What does Luke do on a daily basis to disciple you and the kids?" Wow! I knew immediately that A29 valued my need to be a noble husband and father even over a church planter. I knew that A29 would be unsatisfied with a large church and an unhealthy family. My wife felt honored and protected and I felt the weight to a whole new level, appreciating so much A29 testing the fences of our home before they endorsed our vision to plant. I still want a do-over on the phone interview.

Luke Thomas
Lead Planter of Legacy Church | Knoxville, TN

My wife and I are glad that the leadership of A29 takes God seriously as He commands all new leaders “be tested first” (1Tim3.10). We found the group interview assessment not only helped us to figure out if we should be in or out, but was eye opening for our sanctification as we entered into the planting process together.

The team of assessors were thorough and often unrelenting. Why not? If you love someone you want to make sure they are ready for the task before them, and aware of the issues they will personally face on the journey. We felt his love, and the team’s, as they challenged our gifting, marriage, personal life with Christ, and overall call to the task. Thanks for taking the time to walk with us in the process; we have seen the fruit of your labor already.

Matt Klingler
Lead Planter of Community Rising | Silver Springs, MD

Not knowing what to expect, my wife and I were a little nervous before our assessment. But within minutes of meeting with the pastors who interviewed us, we realized it was not as much of a grilling as we thought it would be. The questions were direct and challenging but it became obvious the motivation was from a ’let’s get to know who you really are’, not a ‘put ’em on the hot seat and see what happens’ one. We left feeling as if we had bared our souls to men who cared. So even if they decided we were not ready, what went on around that table was fruitful and encouraging. The whole Acts 29 experience has been great and we look forward to forging great friendships among them as we partner to forward the gospel.

Scott Wallace
Lead Planter of Christ Alone | Palmdale, CA

I began to explore assessment with Acts 29 after the London bootcamp in 2009. I had been part of the leadership of a church plant in Manchester for several year, but was following a calling (endorsed by the church in Manchester) to move to Norfolk and plant a church there. So the timing was very good.

The amount of questionnaires and tests that I needed to complete was quite daunting initially, but my experience of the application process was that it was really helpful. The questionnaires forced me to crystallise my thinking and plans and meant that I learnt lessons from my previous church planting experience and thought issues through more thoroughly. Although it did take time to complete the tasks, it was an enjoyable, creative process. I am convinced that BroadGrace got off on a firmer footing because of the way the Lord used this process.

The phone interview was a useful chance from my end to consolidate this. Then Flick (my wife) and I had our assessment interview in Sheffield in May 2010. I was and continue to be impressed by the biblical wisdom of interviewing a couple rather than just the planter. The interview was thorough, godly and affirming. It was divided into two halves, with a break for us to grab some lunch while the assessment team considered how they wanted to use the second half of the time. This is a very good structure as it means the interview covers everything necessary as the team can regroup. The stress was very much on pasturing us and seeking the Lord’s will and calling. It didn’t feel at all like a job interview, more a meeting with friends who love you enough to speak truthfully into your life.

I have now been on the team for a couple of assessments and my admiration for the process has only been increased by this experience. If you are considering church planting and reading this then I recommend you submit to the Acts 29 assessment. If you do so humbly, I cannot see how the Lord would not use it to bless you and clarify what he is calling you to.

John Hindley
Lead Planter of BroadGrace Church | Hoveton, Norfolk, UK